‘Muffin’ melts hearts for Roscommon and county wins top award for dog-friendly venue
At the Petmania Ruby Heart Awards 2025 Muffin O'Byrne was a runner-up in the Goldie Oldie category, pictured here with Alannah O'Byrne.
Pets and those who love and support them were honoured this week at the Petmania Ruby Heart Awards 2025 and among them were Roscommon winners.
The celebration of the unique bond between humans and animals was held on Wednesday in Kilkenny, and hosted by broadcaster and animal welfare advocate Fionnuala Moran. The inaugural event brought together stories of survival, support, and unwavering companionship from across Ireland.
Created to recognise the everyday heroes of the animal world whether four-legged, two-legged, or behind the scenes, the Ruby Heart Awards highlighted the vital role pets play in our lives and the importance of those who care for them.
There were 750 heartfelt nominations submitted from across the country, the final ten winners were chosen through a mix of public vote and independent judging.
The Dog-Friendly Venue Award – sponsored by DogFriendlyIreland.ie was won by Strokestown Park/ The National Famine Museum. Take your dog to lunch, explore the visitor centre or take part in regular pet friendly events like “Paws and Claus” - Strokestown Park offers one of Ireland’s most welcoming venues for adventures with your pup. “The thoughtful, inclusive approach to canine visitors sets a national standard for dog-friendly venues,” said the adjudicators.
“Winning this award is a proud moment for the team at Strokestown Park,” said Eilish Canty. “We hope it inspires other businesses in our region to also become dog friendly.”
Runner-up in the Dog Friendly Workplace category was Cloverhill Nursing Home. "We are over the moon, telling our residents and the smiles it brought to their faces was heartwarming. It has created a lot of chat and praise to the home they are living in,” said Madeline Gibbons.
Meanwhile runner-up in the Goldie Oldie category was Muffin O'Byrne from Castlerea. "Being a finalist has made me so proud of Muffin, it has given him recognition for the last 13 years of love he has given to me, my family and friends,” said Linda O'Byrne.
