Celebrating Ireland’s Pet-Friendly Champions: The Return of the Ruby Heart Awards 2026

Ireland’s love for pets and the communities that support them, is once again taking centre stage with the return of the Ruby Heart Awards, led by Petmania.

Following a hugely successful debut year, the 2026 awards are back with even greater ambition, shining a spotlight on the organisations, workplaces and venues across the country that are going above and beyond for pets and their owners. From welcoming cafés and inclusive workplaces to life-changing rescue initiatives, the awards celebrate the people and places helping to create a more pet-friendly Ireland.

This year, nominations have opened earlier than ever for key categories including Dog Friendly Venue, Pet Friendly Workplace and Rescue Activity, giving the public and organisations more time to get involved and share their stories. It’s a reflection of the growing appetite to recognise not just pets themselves, but the wider ecosystem of businesses and communities that support them.

The impact of the awards is already being felt. Previous winners saw increased visibility, stronger community engagement and tangible support for their work, particularly in the rescue sector, where awareness can directly translate into fostering, adoption and fundraising. It’s a reminder that recognition goes far beyond a trophy; it can drive real change.

With a prize fund of over €5,000 and a national platform, the Ruby Heart Awards continue to build momentum as a meaningful initiative within Ireland’s pet community. Winners will once again be selected through a combination of public voting and expert judging, with the 2026 recipients announced later this year.

As conversations around workplace wellbeing, community connection and animal welfare continue to evolve, initiatives like this play an important role in highlighting the positive impact pets have on our daily lives and the organisations helping to strengthen that bond.

We were proud to support the launch of the Ruby Heart Awards 2026 through PR and media relations, helping to drive awareness and encourage nationwide participation.

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Denny Redmond

JUNIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER

Denny brings a rich and varied background across PR, HR, and theatre production, with PR agency experience and an in-house role with The Gate Theatre, as well as several roles in the HR sector. After taking time to travel and pursue further studies, he returned to the world of PR in 2025, joining the Harris PR team where he supports clients in the food, motoring, retail, festivals & events, and NFP sectors.

 

Denny’s creative waters run deep, and his communication skills, signature energy and collaborative approach make him an invaluable addition to the team.

Viktoriia Hurska

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Vika joined Harris PR following her selection as the recipient of the 2025/26 Harris PR Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Bursary, developed in partnership with the Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII) and the Open Doors Initiative. Originally from Ukraine and displaced by war, Vika came to Ireland in 2022 and brings over eight years of experience in communications including a wealth of strategic insight, creativity, and international perspective.

 

As part of the Bursary, Viktoriia is completing the PRII Diploma in Public Relations, combining academic study with hands-on agency experience at Harris PR, where she supports clients in the retail, health & wellness, festivals and NFP sectors.

Eve McSweeney

Account Manager

Eve is a skilled communications specialist who joined Harris PR in 2026 bringing extensive experience in strategic PR across the business, technology, and consumer sectors.

 

Eve previously spent over four years at tech-focused communications agency Beachhut PR, where she delivered strategic positioning, executive profiling, and global media relations for high-growth companies and multinational brands, often translating jargon heavy language into clear messaging. Her experience spans fintech, automotive, e-commerce, Web3, med-tech, supply chain, and enviro-tech industries.

 

She plays a key role in shaping and delivering integrated communications strategies, working closely with clients to build strong narratives, deliver insight-led storytelling, and drive meaningful media engagement.

Emma Geraghty

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Emma started her career in Internal Communications before undertaking a Masters in Public Relations and Strategic Communications. She moved on to become a Public Relations Manager in a fast-paced retail environment for over two years before joining Harris PR in 2025.

 

Experienced in delivering and executing PR campaigns across corporate, consumer and sustainability communications, whilst nurturing brand reputation, Emma manages clients in the health & wellness, retail, festivals and NFP sectors. A true media relations pro, her passion lies in storytelling and identifying news angles that will generate positive coverage while landing key messages.

Niamh McCarrick

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR

With over 20 years’ experience, both agency and in-house, Niamh is a versatile and passionate PR expert who joined the Harris PR team in 2020.

 

During the course of her career she has worked with a broad range of corporate entities and consumer brands from industries spanning retail, telecoms, and FMCG, and has been the recipient of a number of PRCA awards in recognition of her work. She later served on the judging panel for the annual industry awards for several years.

Niamh specialises in strategy, planning, media relations and influencer management at Harris PR, and is the account lead for a number of brands in the retail, food & beverage, health & wellness and travel & tourism sectors.

Sonia Harris Pope

FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR

Sonia established Harris PR in 2009, following a decade in agency PR and three years as a journalist with the Sunday Independent.  Her vision is to provide a truly people centric service, delivering standout creative work that moves the dial, while acting as an extension of client teams

 

While taking an active role in client work, alongside running the business, Sonia is responsible for strategic counsel, creative oversight and KPI delivery.  She has advised multinationals, start-ups, NFPs, and more over the course of her career and is deeply committed to advancing the PR industry by investing in talent and building an agency culture rooted in fairness and inclusivity.

 

Sonia is committed to advancing DEI in the PR Industry, and recently commissioned research and prepared the first benchmark report and toolkit for employers on the state of DEI in PR Ireland.  An active member of the PRII, and co-founder of the DEI PR Bursary now in its third year, Sonia has recently joined the board of the PRCA, and is committed to driving more inclusive hiring and workplace practices throughout the industry.