We are thrilled to announce Michael Shiels as very deserving winner of our prestigious Spirit of Mary Toland Award 2022
2021 Winner AJ JoyceAJ is always v encouraging and active on social media when groomers have asked for advice or opinions. His true love of dog grooming and all things canine are plain to be seen in all that his does. I dont think any of us have ever experienced an awkward silence while in conversation with Aj or even just a silence 🤣 and he has an unique way of inspiring, encouraging and aiding fellow groomers. I believe he truly embodies the spirit of Mary Toland. ❤
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2020 Winner“Felicity is such a lovely genuine person.
She always has her finger on the pulse of the Association and frequently checks in with those that she senses are in need of some support. She does this quietly and discreetly, often it is only when the person emerges from their struggle that they will mention how Felicity supported them. She is such a humble person she doesn't rate her contribution to the grooming world as anything much. Yet the care and attention she gives her little 4 legged customers is amazing both cosmetically and mentally. Her 2 legged clients are mad about her and rightly so. When anyone does anything nice for her she is overwhelmed and feels completely undeserving. Felicity is constantly giving of herself and very rarely asks for help even though there are times she could very well do with just a shoulder to lean on for a bit. She is a super person very deserving of this award just to remind her that we think she is great and we have her back if she needs us” |
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We are very proud to share some of the sentiments expressed on the 2018 Spirt of Mary Nominations
For added ease of viewing you can pause or manually go through the slide show using the controls along the top
About our Founding Chairperson
Mary Toland (nee Bolger) Shampooch Grooming
Chairperson and Founding Member of the Irish Professional Dog Groomers Association
The dog grooming world was shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden death of Mary Toland at home on 4th March 2016.
Known many years ago in the showing world with her afghan hounds, Mary's love affair with canines began. Mary opened her first grooming salon in 1986 in Rathmines and after 30 years of pampering and trimming, was planning her retirement in style. A key founding member of the Irish Professional Dog Groomers Association in 1996, Mary was elected Chairman in the beginning and held that position ever since. She was great at networking and made it her mission to bring the best of grooming talent to Ireland for seminars and workshops. Her contagious smile, great sense of humour and welcoming way was appreciated by all who met her. These qualities have been the thread echoed through all the condolences.
"Be Delighted" was her motto and that she was. Delighted to see you, delighted to talk to you and delighted to welcome you to whatever you were attending with her. She was delighted to be at work, delighted to have time off and delighted to share with you the latest family news. She delighted in how her lovely daughters, Rebecca, Sarah and Nicola, were progressing through life and also delighted to welcome her first granddaughter Kate. Not forgetting her wonderful husband Pat, who spoiled her rotten, Mary was delighted to be planning their retirement together. She also used to delight in telling us the latest antics of her two standard poodles Arwen and Amelie, as well as her parrot Picasso. Our deepest sympathies to her family.
We were delighted to have known such a beautiful lady, our shining star. Rest in Peace Mary T
Chairperson and Founding Member of the Irish Professional Dog Groomers Association
The dog grooming world was shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden death of Mary Toland at home on 4th March 2016.
Known many years ago in the showing world with her afghan hounds, Mary's love affair with canines began. Mary opened her first grooming salon in 1986 in Rathmines and after 30 years of pampering and trimming, was planning her retirement in style. A key founding member of the Irish Professional Dog Groomers Association in 1996, Mary was elected Chairman in the beginning and held that position ever since. She was great at networking and made it her mission to bring the best of grooming talent to Ireland for seminars and workshops. Her contagious smile, great sense of humour and welcoming way was appreciated by all who met her. These qualities have been the thread echoed through all the condolences.
"Be Delighted" was her motto and that she was. Delighted to see you, delighted to talk to you and delighted to welcome you to whatever you were attending with her. She was delighted to be at work, delighted to have time off and delighted to share with you the latest family news. She delighted in how her lovely daughters, Rebecca, Sarah and Nicola, were progressing through life and also delighted to welcome her first granddaughter Kate. Not forgetting her wonderful husband Pat, who spoiled her rotten, Mary was delighted to be planning their retirement together. She also used to delight in telling us the latest antics of her two standard poodles Arwen and Amelie, as well as her parrot Picasso. Our deepest sympathies to her family.
We were delighted to have known such a beautiful lady, our shining star. Rest in Peace Mary T
Mary never wanted to 'be' the IPDGA but the reality & truth is, the IPDGA wouldn't 'be' in existence with out Mary 
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Some words from Karina introducing our Spirit of Mary Toland AwardIn June 1996 our one and only grooming supplies shop in Ireland – Allied Veterinary Products – decided that they would hold a grooming workshop. This was the first of its kind in Ireland outside of a breed club.
Pat Kavanagh at AVP saw the rise in demand for the few bits of equipment that they carried and decided to put together something to pull all these groomers to a seminar. Us oldies appreciate the suppliers we have now – you had a choice then of an oster a5 or aesculap (mad money) and blades were restricted to 10,7,5,4 skip for oster. Aescaulap had a wider range of blades but they were pricey. Basic 6” roseline and double sided thinners and the 160 all breed book – their catalogue fitted on a postcard!! Diane North and Joanne Angus were invited over to run the workshop and Pat and his staff rang around all their grooming products clientel to convince us to bring a dog washed, dried and prepped to work on under tuition. Never before were so many groomers in the same room, let alone working in front of each other, there was a very suspicious vibe around then. I hadn't even met another groomer before that day. So about 30 of us did the workshop, Mary was one table across and in front of me with her clients dog , Nicoli, the most beautifully behaved Kerry Blue. Towards the end of the day Diane North mentioned that we had made the first step and should get together and form a grooming association. Mary Toland made it her business to get each persons phone number and within 2 weeks had rang everyone and set up another meeting in AVP's shop on Wellington Quay. Along with a meeting to discuss formation of an association Mary was demonstrating grooming along with her newest gadget the Designer Dog Gizmo. The Gizmo was one of the most powerful blasters of its time. Hers still works today – god are they noisey. She had a retriever and proceeded to blast out the dead coat all over AVP's lovely carpeted shop and shelves of products. There was another meeting or two before it emerged that a core group of people kept turning up and the discussions got more intense about the association formation. And the formalities were put in place and the founder members were signed in. Some of our remaing founders are still actively involved, Freda, Jenny, Suzanne, Margaret, Natasja, Hilda and myself Marys core belief was that the IPDGA was primarily an association for groomers. Where we could meet, chat, network and help each other out. One great big support group.This makes us a cut above any other grooming association, any visiting judges or demonstrators always comment on what a great atmosphere there is at our events. How friendly we are, they all admire how we just gel as a group. And that is down to Marys vision when she was pulling together this grooming association, it wasn't just going to be another group. It had a purpose, to promote communication/ networking/ friendship between all our members. So we wanted to create a fitting memorial/ rememberance award to keep Mary in our hearts. I hate to use the term memorial because it is still so hard to believe that she has left us. We want to ensure that the important core value of our association isn't lost in the future generations. So we have created The Spirit of Mary Toland Award, and basically it is for you the IPDGA members to go to and nominate another IPDGA member for something they have done that has made a pleasant difference for you. It could be a little a gesture like chatting at a seminar when you were feeling a little lost, offering a lift to an event, being a listening ear on the phone/facebook, or even helping you out by lending something – infinate scenarios – but something that made a difference for you. Someone who was just generous in spirit to you who made your day go a little better. Someone who has the spirit of Mary- funny, generous, friendly, chatty all of those adjectives we read on the timeline after she passed away. The nominations and the stories with them will be sent to Marys family, Pat, Rebecca, Sarah and Nicola for them to choose whom they feel deserves it for this year and it will be presented each October. So the aim of The Spirit of Mary Toland Award will be to ensure that the friendships, networking and communication the core values of the association are kept alive . Hopefully by having people think like that that the reverse will happen, the members will keep an open mind as to how they can make a fellow members experience better, make them feel better, do something nice , open your hearts and keep the spirit of Mary alive. A cyber hug /text or phone call now and then can just be that bit of support someone needs. |
Previous Award Winners
2019
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2018
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