Laois man who lost his sight urges support of Irish Guide Dogs charity

A Mountrath man who has lost his eyesight is urging Laois people to support the Irish Guide Dogs charity, after the great support he has gained from it.

Sean Byrne says he is lucky to have his supportive family and his guide dog Elf, which helps him to stay surprisingly independent.

He spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live at the Laois Live Well Expo on April 4, where he was manning the Laois branch of the Irish Guide Dogs Association with his wife Louise and gorgeous labrador Elf.

Sean was a sales rep in the agricultural industry, but he had to leave his job after his sight began failing, as it necessitated driving. 

"Honestly that was the worst thing, that I couldn't drive any more, it was a huge loss of independence," he said.

"I was fully sighted until 2001. I have an eye condition called Congenital Glaucoma.

"I got surgery but it unfortunately caused scarring. In 1995 I needed a corneal transplant but it didn't work. I've had six of them.

"The last surgery was in September 2022 and now it is total blackness.

"I have my guidedog and a great family, I am lucky," Sean said.

"Without them we'd be lost," Louise agreed.

"That's why guidedogs are so important. He would be totally reliant on me otherwise," she said.

"They are so valuable, please support them. People don't realise how valuable they are," Sean said.

"To have that independence, to go somewhere on your own and know you are safe as well.

"I go for a walk every day. We live a mile outside Mountrath. In fairness to Laois County Council there is a great path in. I walk to the shop and visit my family and walk home," he said.

Sean is one of the recent participants of the inclusive nationwide drama project, Sightless Cinema. The radio play was screened in the Dunamaise Arts Centre last February. 

"It is coming back again to Laois," Louise adds. 

Elf is Sean's third guide dog. Despite the crowds and petting he was experiencing at the busy expo in Portlaoise College, he is quiet and gentle.

"They are named before we get them. Every litter gets the next letter of the alphabet so all his siblings have names beginning with E. They cost about €65,000 to train and maintain as a working guide dog.

"85% of that has to be fundraised. There is no cost to us. that is why we have a Laois branch of the Irish Guide Dogs.

"There are nine guidedogs and assistance dogs in Laois at the moment. Assistance dogs for people with Autism are becoming very popular," he added.

See https://www.guidedogs.ie/ on how to support it or become a foster puppy owner.

The Laois Live Well Expo was organised jointly by Active Ageing and Healthy Laois.