Almost €4,000 raised at Longford presentation of Breege's Bus to Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind

Breege’s Bus, a bus dedicated to the memory of the late Breege O’Neill (née Reilly) and which will be used by the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, was unveiled on Sunday evening, August 20 in Ballinalee.

Breege was born in Gelsha, Ballinalee in 1957 and at birth had some loss of hearing and some loss of vision. In 2016 Breege was diagnosed with cancer and she passed away in June of 2021.

Breege’s Bus is now based at the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind centre in Cork where it will be used to ferry around blind and partially sighted students when they are training with their guide dogs.

The bus it replaced was 23 years old, so hopefully Breege’s Bus, because of its quality, might even be in service for more years.

PICTURES | Longford presentation of Breege's Bus to Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind honours memory of late Breege O'Neill

Husband of the late Breege and guide dog owner Tom O'Neill compiled the following message of thanks. 

“We had a wonderful evening in Farrell's Bar and Lounge, Ballinalee on Sunday, August 20. We had traditional music from 5pm with the young people of the area in the bar organised by music teacher Maebh Donnelly of Ballinalee.

“Breege’s Bus was welcomed into the village by bagpipe player Benny McGuinness. The youngsters played for a couple of hours and when the formalities were over local singer Bríd Shaughnessy took over. The crowd were completely overwhelmed when Mick Flavin arrived unannounced to sing a few songs. He knew Breege of Breege’s Bus through dogs as his beloved Duke and her dog Qeb played together in Ballinamuck. The man who held it all together all evening was Paul Lynch and Albatross.That was all happening in the bar. 

“In the lounge after the formalities there were accordions, banjos, spoons,  bodhrans, flutes and tin whistles going until closing time, all organised by Sean Nevin of Longford. Thank you sincerely everybody for giving of your time and talents.

“Local man Matt Tully organised a B.B.Q. and a bucket was left in the front seat of the bus for donations. This evening was to be a celebration not a fundraiser, but people came from everywhere and at the time of going to press, the wonderful sum of €3,840 was made from donations and the B.B.Q. and has been lodged with Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind in Cork.  www.guidedogs.ie”

Breege’s Bus to be unveiled on Sunday in north Longford village

Breege’s Bus, a bus dedicated to the memory of the late Breege O’Neill (née Reilly) and which will be used by the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, will be unveiled on Sunday evening, August 20 in Ballinalee.