04/08/2014: Thomastown woman Jane McDonagh decided to spend her bank holiday weekend walking a hundred miles with her two rescue huskies Maska and Rio to raise money for five animals welfare groups, Inistiogue Puppy Rescue, Carlow SPCA, Kilkenny Cats & Animal Rescue, Dog Rescue Coolronan and Pet Helpers as part of the Miles for Smiles non-profit organisation. Jane and the two dogs started in Thomastown on Friday going through Inistiogue, New Ross, St Mullins, Borris, Bunclody, Tullow, Carlow town, Leighlinbridge, Bagenalstown, Paulstown and Kilkenny on Sunday afternoon. From there the trio will travel to Thomastown to arrive for a party around 8pm where a brass band and crowd will wait to celebrate with them.

Said Jane “ I am physically a wreck after my knee gave away on Saturday evening and covered in clusters, but the dogs are enjoying the stroll and finding it no trouble at all.”

The dogs have been well cared for all along the route with rest stops, food and water breaks well provided for. Jane said again “I feel like `I never want to do this again as Saturday in the torrential rain was especially hard, but at the same time thiese charities do great work and need our support so I will probably go again in 12 months”

In the meantime throe arrival in Kilkenny immediately got lots of attention from locals and tourists alike and the dogs were certainly enjoying their stardoms. Certainly the campaign seems well named as Miles for Smiles as the children were full of smiles as the dogs enjoyed the attention, one Spanish girl Irene Martin (9) from Granada getting lots of licks from Maska. Pictured are Jane McDonagh with Rio and Maska as well as Spanish tourist Irene Martin (9) outside Kilkenny Castle. Photo: Pat Moore.