Big-hearted Déaghlan making a difference for animal charities
The dogs and cats being cared for by two animal welfare charities in Co Louth are in for an extra tasty treat thanks to a big-hearted Dundalk teenager.
16-year-old Déaghlan McGovern set himself the task of raising money to buy food for the dogs and cats under the care of Dundalk Dog Rescue and Louth SPCA as part of his work as a Venture Scout.
A transition year student at De La Salle secondary school, Déaghlan is also a Venture Scout, with the Dundalk Venture Scout section of St Patrick’s Louth Scouts, based on the Castletown Road.
He joined the St Patrick’s Louth Scouts when he was seven, starting with Beaver Scouts, working his way up through Cubs, Scouts to Venture and hopes to be a scout leader in the future.
Contributing to the community and supporting local charities is a core element of Scouting and one which Déaghlan feels very strongly about, ever since he was little, explains his proud mother Sheona.
In previous years he donated Easter Eggs and selection boxes to various homeless charities, nursing homes and Women’s Aid in town.
This year, he decided to Dundalk Dog Rescue and Louth SPCA and with the help of his Mum, set up a GoFundMe page.
“Animals charities are very important to our family,” explains Sheona. “I’m a retired veterinary nurse, who also worked with exotic wildlife as Head Nurse in the zoo veterinary hospital of Charity Zoo,
Paignton Zoo in Devon, UK.”
She says that her own father and grandfather always kept Labradors and her grandfather Paddy Martin was a founding member of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind in the 1970’s.
“As a Dog Judge, he would also hold charity events, such as Dog Shows, to raise money for the Irish Guide Dogs. So charity work has long been a part of our family.”
She says that although Déaghlan has previously helped both Dundalk Dog Rescue and LSPCA with their bucket collections around town, he has wanted to do sometime more.
“He felt that post- Christmas period, animal charities are often inundated with surrendered pets and strays and that means they can start the year with a demand for food, so he decided to do this.”
“As his Mam, I’m extremely proud of Déaghlan, not only that he has chosen animal charities this time, but that he continues to contribute to society and think of those less off. Teenagers often get a negative perception within society, so I think it’s important to highlight and praise those teenagers that strive to make a difference.”
Déaghlan is very grateful to all those who supported him in making his charity projects a success.
“The kindness of complete strangers, donating online, and also turning up with food items to the door, was an amazing experience,” says Sheona. “He could not have done it without all that support.”
When he’s not busy supporting local charities, Déaghlan is very much involved in the local theatre and music scene. He is a member of Dundalk Musical Society and SONG, as well as attending Bow Street Academy, Dublin and MAD Youth Theatre.
There is still time to support Déaghlan fundraising for Dundalk Dog Rescue and LSPCA by making a donation to his GoFundMe page, Déaghlan’s Project for Pets.