Name Páidí
County Kilkenny
Age 1 Year
Breed Mini Goldendoodle
Special Skill His absolutely lethal charm offensive. The minute he meets someone, they’re done for. There’s this magical window of about 2.5 seconds where they’re trying to act cool and unbothered, and then boom — eye contact, head tilt, maybe a paw — and suddenly they’re on the ground playing with him like they’ve been mates for years. Strangers become instant slaves to the fluff – and not only that he might bring something back you throw to him once or twice before he moves on to someone else for a while… then the next… but he will always come back. He doesn’t give you a chance to get sick of him. And who could with those eyes!
Favourite food Tayto crisps are his absolute weakness! The little culinary snob will abandon all dignity for a bag of them. But he wouldn’t be without a Dunnes rotissary chicken as well!
Favourite Toy His rubber duck! This duck is not just a toy. It is a lifestyle, an occupation, and a full-time spiritual devotion.
Favourite Place to Sleep Paidi loves to sleep at the top of the stairs looking into the bedroom. But when its time to get up, we can totally get rid of the alarm clock – who needs one when you have a 11kg weighted blanket in the morning
Favourite Activity Paidi loves meeting new people and new dogs. He also loves playing fetch with his chicken bone in the Pumphouse with all his friends!
Favourite Place to go for a Walk/Hangout The Castle Park in Kilkenny is his absolute favourite spot. He runs after the birds, meets his friends in the local dog group in the morning for a run and a chase, and then goes for a pint on sundays in one of his two favourite pubs in Kilkenny. The Pumphouse and McSorleys
Most mischievous thing you have ever done Páidí’s most legendary mischief moment happened on Buncranna beach when he decided, completely unprompted, to mark his territory on another dog. full-on baptized this poor innocent pup. The owner absolutely lost, they didn’t even think twice, just grabbed their soaked dog and sprinted into the sea like they were performing an emergency exorcism. Meanwhile, Páidí? Standing there looking absolutely innocent, probably already eyeing up the next dog like “What? I was just saying hello.” No remorse whatsoever. No understanding of what he’d done. Just a tiny fluffy criminal who’d caused absolute mayhem and walked away like he’d done nothing wrong. That’s peak Páidí energy: create an incident, face zero consequences and charm his way out of it.
How did you come into your owner’s life? We were looking for a calm dog to help my sister feel comfortable around animals, and instead we got Páidí — chaotic and mischievous and full of boundless energy — and somehow that turned out to be exactly what she needed. Not despite the chaos, but because of it. Because underneath all that exuberance is a heart so full of genuine kindness and gentleness that it broke through her fear completely. My sister went from being afraid to being his best friend. He’s completed our family in ways I didn’t even know were possible. Every single day, he brings so much joy and love into our home. He filled our home with a kind of love that’s unconditional and unwavering. Páidí isn’t just our pet. He’s our family. He’s our heart. And we are so greatful
What makes you the most pawtastic pet ever? He’s got a comic persona so well-developed that he’s basically become a Kilkenny institution through the Nose of Tralee campaign. But beyond all that, he’s got heart — he genuinely loves other dogs, loves people, and loves making everyone around him smile. He’s the kind of dog that turns a regular day into chaos, makes you laugh at his antics, and somehow manages to be both a little troublemaker and completely irresistible at the same time. In short, he’s got everything: charm, character, comedy, and the kind of soul that makes you wonder how one mini goldendoodle managed to steal everyone’s heart and all the tea towels. That’s pawtastic.
Why did you decide to enter the Nose of Tralee? It just came up on my Facebook one day – I decided to enter paidi because i wanted everyone to meet him. I wanted them to see how amazing he is and to share that little but of spark and joy that he brings to our lives.
How did you prepare for the contest and get votes? The whole campaign turned into a proper grassroots operation, powered entirely by an army of amazing supporters. Local shops and friendly cafes gave pride of place in their front windows to Páidí’s campaign posters—complete with giant QR codes so people could scan and vote while waiting for their flat whites—while neighbours took charge on the ground, rallying the vote across local estate and residents WhatsApp groups. He had manys of days in the pub where he couldn’t even get out without all the people wanting to talk to him. so he got a vote out of every single ones. People were setting reminders, his grannys were messaging people reminding them every day!
What did you enjoy most about the Nose of Tralee? I really enjoyed how Paidi brought everyone together. It reallly showed me how popular he is around town. Everyone loves him and that really warms my heart. It showed me the goodness in people for voting and sharing, everyone asking me how he is getting on. It showed me that dogs are people too! I loved seeing all the other dogs and owners and how much they loved their own doggos and how they supported others, it really was like a big family! I loved getting involed so much and i wouldn’t change that for the world
What advice would you give to the next Nose of your County? Just have fun and let your pet shine. Becuase it is all about them and their personality. Get out, meet people and just enjoy the whole ride!
How are you handling your newfound fame? Paidi is loving his new found Fame, He thinks he is going to the Dail next. Or maybe Dancing with the Stars. He walks up to people now just to get that little bit of extra attention. He isn’t letting it go. He now believes everyone is going to ask for his pawtograph.
If you could be any superhero who would you be? Probably Spider-dog – The friendly bouncy pup where everybody wants to be his friend and tak a picture with him – He needs everyone’s approval, thrives on attention, but always gets tangled in his own lead
Where can your fans follows you online? Instagram at martydevinejr
Kate McQuillan is the co-founder of Pet Sitters Ireland, an award-winning pet sitting and dog walking company established in 2010 with her husband, Michael. Together, they support thousands of pet owners across Ireland with trusted, in-home pet care. With over 14 years of experience, Kate shares practical advice to help pet owners feel confident and prepared when it comes to their pet’s care.
