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Parliament pooch is favourite by
Miles
13.09.11
by Linda McGrory
THERE may be more shaggy blonde hair-do's and
whiskers than previous years but one Inishowen
character is a stand-out favourite at Leinster
House.
Miles, a five-year old golden labrador-retriever, is
charming all before him as he goes about his daily
duties at Seanad Éireann.
The cheeky canine is guide dog to Kevin Kelly,
24-year old parliamentary assistant to Independent
senator, Mary Ann O'Brien. The Clonmany man is the
country’s first blind parliamentary assistant and
Miles the first guide dog to work among the
political staff at Leinster House. |
"Miles is a big fan of
the carpets but I don't know what the cleaners in
Leinster House think of him yet. He likes to roll
about and he leaves balls of golden fluff behind him
everywhere," said Kevin. "When I’m at my desk
working, he sleeps in the corner. The staff in the
other offices come in now and again to see him. He
loves the attention.”
The Co Donegal man lost his sight to a rare genetic
retinal disorder ten years ago. It was the week
after 9/11 and as the world grappled with the shock
attack on New York, he was forced to face his own
life-changing tragedy, at the age of 14.
But he has refused to let disability get in the way
of his passion for politics and communications. |
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Kevin with his parliament pooch,
Miles. |
A former Ógra Fianna
Fáil local branch co-founder, he has a degree in
journalism from DCU and is awaiting a masters in
public affairs and political communications from DIT.
He broadcasts regularly on local radio in Co Donegal
and has worked as a researcher at Newstalk. The
eldest of five from Clonmany, Kevin says his social
and university life improved immeasurably in 2008
when he got Miles from the Irish Guide Dogs for the
Blind Centre in Cork.
His faithful companion helps him get about Dublin
without a stick and gives him increased confidence
as he goes about his daily routine.
Back at Leinster House, Kevin's office aids include
a laptop computer with screen reading software and a
programme that lets him scan and edit documents.
"Mary Ann and I have a paperless office for obvious
reasons. I scan everything and that's a new concept
in here because everything in Leinster House is on
paper despite it all being emailed to us as well,"
he adds.
While his strong communication skills and political
savvy ultimately secured him his new job, Kevin is
happy to blaze a trail within the political sphere
for people with disabilities.
"I'm fortunate to have had a lot of education and
I'm able to fight my corner. I think there's an onus
on people like me to speak out on behalf of people
with disabilities who aren't as blessed and
fortunate."
Meanwhile, the Kevin and Miles partnership has
proved twice as nice for Senator O'Brien -
choclatier and co-founder of the Jack and Jill
Foundation. When she advertised for a parliamentary
assistant back in May, little did she suspect she
would get two for the price of one.
"A lot of Kevin's brilliance can be put down to his
own assistant. Miles keeps us great company every
day and makes certain that our office is without
doubt the most popular in Leinster House except for
the Taoiseach's," she said. |
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