Sarah Ryan scoops Newcomer Groomer of the Year, adding to her family's string of awards for their Castlebridge-based pet care business. From fostering dogs to providing wedding day services, Lord Leroy's Lodge offers a unique blend of services
Sinead Quirke and Sarah Ryan with Millie and Ramsey at the Lord Leroy's Lodge in Castlebridge on Friday. Pic: Jim Campbell
Sarah Ryan and Ramsey pictured with Newcomer Groomer of the Year award at the at the Lord Leroy's Lodge in Castlebridge on Friday. Pic: Jim Campbell
Having only opened her business earlier this year Wexford dog groomer Sarah Ryan has already received national acclaim, scooping the Newcomer Groomer of the Year award at The Local Pet Awards in Dublin recently. Decided by a public vote, Sarah’s win was just the latest in a string of awards won by the Ryan family since they set up their home-from-home dog boarding service, Lord Leroy’s Lodge, in Castlebridge last year.
With the boarding and day-care service proving a huge hit with dogs and their owners, Sarah decided to pursue a passion she has harboured since her schooldays.
“I’ve always been interested in dog grooming, I did it for transition year work experience and always wanted to do something with animals so when Mam opened up Lord Leroy’s Lodge I thought this was the perfect opportunity to do it.”
Although she is currently in her third year of a early childhood education degree, Sarah decided to take on an additional course of training so that she could add a further service to the flourishing family business.
“I did a grooming course in Gorey Community College for 12 weeks, it was every Wednesday evening and then on Saturdays I had to go up to Carlow and do practical days. It was a QQI level 5, I got a distinction.”
Sarah Ryan and Ramsey pictured with Newcomer Groomer of the Year award at the at the Lord Leroy's Lodge in Castlebridge on Friday. Pic: Jim Campbell
Working out a specially-repurposed building which adjoins the family home, Sarah’s business, which opened in March, now provides a whole host of services for the fur baby in your life, some of which sound distinctly unpleasant.
“Nail clipping, de-shedding, full groom, anal gland expression, ear cleaning, hand stripping, wash and blow,” she says, listing out the treatments on offer. Having elaborated on the processes involved in anal gland expressions, she goes on to say that this new thriving new enterprise doesn’t ever really feel like work.
“I love what I do, it doesn’t feel like work. When I’m in college I’ll come home in the evenings and groom, I work on the weekends too,” she says as she looks to the future. “I’d like to combine the two professions (after graduating from college), maybe work with therapy animals for children with autism or special needs.”
Sinead Quirke and Sarah Ryan with Millie and Ramsey at the Lord Leroy's Lodge in Castlebridge on Friday. Pic: Jim Campbell
In addition to catering for the needs of their regular four-legged clients, both Sarah and her mam, Sinead, work with the WSPCA, fostering and grooming animals which require some extra TLC before moving on to their forever homes.
“We foster their dogs so I groom them while they’re here,” says Sarah, “some of them are in quite bad condition when they arrive so it’s a great feeling bringing the dog back to itself, we give those dogs special attention.”
Also requiring special attention are the dogs which play an important role in their owners’ big day. Last summer, Lord Leroy’s Lodge (LLL) began its wedding chaperone service, a service which sees Sinead work alongside pet owners to incorporate dogs into their wedding day. This can range from them being ring bearer on the day to walking the bride down the aisle and saw LLL win the Specialist Pet Service of the Year award at the Dublin event.
This service has also seen Lord Leroy’s nominated in the weddingsuppliers.ie National Wedding Industry Awards 2025 under the Wedding Related Services category. You can vote for them at https://www.weddingsuppliers.ie/awards/vote
