Dr Patricia McCarthy’s wonderful Guide Dog Gaston is retiring from the School of Education and College life. Gaston is a very popular colleague in the Arts Building and on campus and we wish him a very happy retirement.
Image: School of Education staff at the retirement celebration for Gaston.
Patricia says of her life as an academic with Guide Dog Gaston:
"I began 2020 feeling excited and a little apprehensive as I had got the wonderful news that I would be joining a guide dog class towards the end of February to commence training with my first guide dog Gaston. Now as Gaston is retiring, I am thinking about the significant impact he has had on my life. As an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the School of Education, Trinity College Dublin he is a constant support to me ensuring that I get safely to and from whatever work I am undertaking on any given day. As well as lecturing and supervising master’s students we have travelled all over the country presenting at conferences, undertaking research and most recently representing the School of Education at the Athena Swan awards which were held in SETU (Carlow Campus). All these activities have been possible because Gaston is constantly by my side helping me navigate safely whatever environment we find ourselves in. Knowing that it is illegal to refuse entry to a person with a guide dog has given me the confidence I require to undertake my work to the best of my ability. Many people on campus recognise Gaston with his identifiable guide dog harness (and waggy tail!) and often come to say hello to us (even if they only remember Gaston’s name). I will begin training with a new dog shortly, but I know that Gaston will be fondly remembered by many people throughout Trinity and he will remain a part of my life when he retires to a more leisurely life of long walks and chasing tennis balls".
Patricia highlights the important role service dogs play in College life for staff and students. Her attendance at the Athena Swan Awards 2025 with Gaston, on behalf of the School of Education, to receive the School’s recently awarded Athena Swan Bronze award, demonstrates the significance of this.
(Above image from left to right: Dr Marita Kerin, Dr Patricia McCarthy, Gaston, School of Education, representing the School of Education at the recent Athena Swan Ireland Awards Ceremony 2025 in SETU Carlow).
We wish Patricia the very best in working with her new guide dog who we look forward to meeting in the future.
Images from Gaston’s recent retirement celebration in the School of Education:
Image from left to right: Dr Ann Devitt, Head of School of Education, Dr Patricia McCarthy, Professor Carmel O’Sullivan, School of Education and Dean of AHSS, and Gaston.
Image: Dr Patricia McCarthy with Gaston.