Castlefinn pup makes it to national puppy awards

Freddie, a Cavapoo from Castlefin, has represented the county at the Petmania Puppy of the Year 2026 Grand Final.

Freddie joined 25 fellow county finalists following a competition that attracted 1,414 entries nationwide.

Owned by Kaera Brennan, Freddie attended the Grand Final at Pet Expo at the National Show Centre in Dublin on Saturday, October 17.

Hosted by Eurovision legend and animal welfare advocate Linda Martin, the event brought together the finalists, their families and the Petmania team to celebrate the puppies.

Freddie joined the Brennan family as an early birthday present for Kaera’s little boy, and the pair have become close companions. Named after Freddie Mercury from the family’s favourite band, Queen, the puppy brings plenty of personality to their home.

Speaking about Freddie’s place in the family and what inspired her to enter the competition, owner Kaera Brennan said: “We entered Petmania Puppy of the Year because to me he is Puppy of the Year! We got him for our little boy for his birthday as an early present, and they play happily like best friends.

“We chose his name after Freddie Mercury from Queen, our favourite band! He’s very crafty and has a great memory. If you are out for the day and he misses you, he will definitely let you know when you return with his huffing and hiding from you for a few hours! Refusing even to make eye contact!”

Speaking about this year’s competition, Emily Miller, Marketing Manager at Petmania, said: “We were delighted to see communities across Ireland get behind all of our Provincial Winners, as well as the 26 county finalists who made it to the Grand Final.

“At Petmania, we’re passionate about celebrating the joy puppies bring to our lives and ensuring new owners have access to the expert advice, products and services they need to give their puppy the best possible start.”

Now in its 11th year, Petmania Puppy of the Year attracted 1,414 entries from across 26 counties. Entries opened on September 1. Following two rounds of public voting, one finalist from each county progressed to the Grand Final, where judges selected four Provincial Winners before choosing the Overall Winner.

Previous Overall Winners have come from Westmeath, Laois, Dublin, Sligo, Kerry, Limerick, Carlow and Galway. This year’s Overall Winner, Ivy, is the first dog from County Mayo - and the first Dalmatian - to take the title.

Prizes worth €2,500 were available throughout the competition, including puppy food, grooming and Pet Expo tickets. The Overall Winner receives 12 monthly grooming visits at Petmania, a 12-month supply of food from WELLNESS CORE, a two-night Ireland’s Blue Book stay for the puppy and two of their favourite humans, a professional photoshoot and a 12-month role as a Petmania Brand Ambassador.

Petmania continues to champion responsible pet ownership through initiatives such as Puppy of the Year, alongside its expert advice, in-store services and ongoing support to help pets and their owners enjoy happy, healthy lives together.

For more information about Petmania and its initiatives, visit Petmania’s website.