Message from our CEO, Chris Conneely

The Irish Blue Cross is a wonderful place to work. I feel privileged to have been part of the charity’s team for such a long time.  I started as Development  Officer in 1995, in our Ranelagh portacabin days. Since then I have seen the charity go from strength to strength, with expansion of the mobile clinics, the horse ambulance service and, in the last decade, with the establishment of the very successful Inchicore clinic. These achievements are testament to each and every one of our dedicated employees and volunteers, who deliver some of the most highly regarded veterinary and welfare services in Ireland.

We could not manage without our many loyal supporters. Nor could we have done without the support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.  In 1997 they answered our request for funding – and began the ex gratia welfare scheme for animal welfare organisations with a generous grant to our charity to purchase a new mobile veterinary clinic.  This was the beginning of great anchor support for animal welfare in Ireland that has continued ever since.

We are fortunate to have such a great voluntary Board of Trustees with an excellent cross section of skills in finance, legal and veterinary and with strong links to our founding members. The Board oversees finance and development, and demonstrates high standards of governance at all times. Through our team’s collective work and personal involvement we make a meaningful difference to the lives of pets and their owners. Long may this continue.