A message from Carol

Dear Members,

I’m both honoured and delighted to be emailing you as your new Chair of the IPDGA. Stepping into this role fills me with pride, gratitude, and real excitement for what lies ahead.

Firstly, I want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible success of this year’s Madra Mania. It was truly inspiring to see our community come together with such passion and creativity. Having the opportunity to shadow Karina throughout the planning and event itself was invaluable — her dedication and leadership have left big shoes to fill, and I’m deeply grateful for her guidance and support.

As we look ahead, we need to prebook a venue for 2026. I understand that travel and accommodation can be a challenge and there will always be differing opinions on location. Dublin, unfortunately is simply not a viable option due to costs both for the event and for members attending. We were very lucky to find our current location, would you believe it took nearly two years of searching to find SETU Arena which remains one of the very few venues that truly meets our needs. They are incredibly obliging to our industry allowing dogs on site (which most venues will not), welcoming campervans overnight, providing everything we need within our budget and being on hand throughout the weekend with full support available. With this in mind I have secured the venue for next years Madra Mania. We know we can’t please everyone when it comes to geography, but your comfort and experience remain a top priority.
I’d like to extend heartfelt thanks to everyone who respected the venue and helped keep the grounds clean and tidy throughout the weekend. Your professionalism and care reflect so positively on our entire community and have ensured we are welcomed back.

I would  also like to reassure everyone that we are addressing the sound issues experienced again this year. Ensuring that all seminars and speakers can be heard clearly is a top priority for the next event.
After enjoying Madra Mania 2025, we now turn our focus to planning the next series of events, especially as we approach our 30th Anniversary next year, a milestone we are very proud to celebrate together.

Please feel free to share any suggestions or ideas for events you may have and equally if you know of a potential future venues that ticks all the boxes - affordable, dog-friendly, spacious and accommodating to hold them in please let the committee or myself know.

Thank you all once again for your support, encouragement, and enthusiasm. I’m so proud to be part of this amazing community and excited for what we can continue to achieve together.

Warmest regards, 
Carol
Chair, IPDGA