Meet your Westmeath celebrity – the 2023 Nose of Westmeath, Bina.
Name: Bina
County: Westmeath
Age: 1
Breed: Standard dachshund
Special Skill: Singing and sticking my tongue out!
Favourite Food: Greek yoghurt
Favourite Toy: Turkey drumstick
Favourite Place to Sleep: Our bed! Under the covers
Favourite Activity: Digging up my paWrents garden even though they beg me to stop. Or sitting by the fire in Winter and refusing to move away from it even though I’m so warm that I’m starting to melt.
Favourite Place To Go For A Walk/Hangout: The greenway because I can run as fast as I want and meet new friends along the way. Sometimes I like the beach but the waves scare me.
Most Mischievous Thing You Have Ever Done? Kidnapped a snail from the garden and brought it inside and terrified my mother
How Did You Come Into Your Owners Life? I was born in sunny Croatia in April and in July my now pawrents fell in love with me over there and had to bring me back to Ireland with them. I love it here even though there is definitely not as much sun as there was when I was in Croatia!
What Makes You The Most Pawtastic Pet Ever! I am a big cuddler. I love getting into bed with my pawrents and climbing under the duvet to sleep. I help them do the gardening in the Summer even though I’m pretty sure they’re not big fans of my work. I love to sing along to the ice-cream truck and I’m a big fan of Olivia Rodrigo anytime her songs on in the car! I am as cute as a button and sweet like sugar. I love going for walks because I get to see my friends around the estates and we get to play. The other day, I even met another dachshund! I am so brave, I’m not afraid of thunder and lightning and I protected my mammy in June, she was so scared but I was barking alllll night at it! I am a great guard dog – just ask the poor postman! I love my owners more than life, and I know they are obsessed with me. We are a match made in heaven.
Why Did You Decide To Enter The Nose Of Tralee? My mammy saw it on Facebook and told me I was too cute to be kept hidden away so she had to show everyone Bina from Croatia!
How Did You Prepare For The Contest And Get Votes? My pawrents posted on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook regularly and all my friends in Croatia helped vote for me! We even talked to the local newspaper about the competition and can you believe I was featured in the Westmeath Independent! We made sure to remind everyone each day to vote!
What Did You Enjoy Most About The Nose Of Tralee? I loved seeing all the other dogs. They all deserved to win. I wish I could meet everyone! and Oh My God, did I even mention the MASSIVE box of treats I got??? It was HUGE! My mammy knows I would have eaten them all in one go if I could so she’s hidden them on me and only gives me ONE. Can you believe it? 1 treat! But by God it is a yummy one. Even though I didn’t win, I had a blast watching the winners be announced. The suspense was real!
What Advice Would You Give To The Next Nose Of Your County? Take as many photos and go into your local shops and ask can you stick up posters. Reach out to radio stations, newspapers, local celebs to get the word out!
How Are You Handling Your New-Found Fame? I get a bit nervous sometimes, when I go out for walks, the pawparazzi are always chasing me so I need to hide. My owners parents love to give me kisses and cuddles so sometimes when I’m coming home from their house I’m covered in red lipstick and I get so many treats from them. (and I steal my little brother and sisters toys – sorry Ziggy and Luna!)
If You Could Be Any Super Hero Who Would You Be? I would be Superman so that I could fly back to Croatia to see all my family over there.
Where Can Your Fans Follow You Online? I don’t currently have an account but my mammy posts so many pictures of me over on her Instagram! (draganawby)
