An opera loving, three-legged dog called Paws has become a celebrity in Portlaoise, County Laois.
Beloved by his doting owner Sis McEvoy, Paws has already appeared in newspapers and performed on local radio in Portlaoise.
Sis first got an inkling of her pet's talent when he struck-up an impromptu duet with a female opera singer performing on the RTÉ 1 afternoon programme ‘Live at 3’.
As with all opera divas, Paws is fussy about whom he works with. He will not duet with a man and is not prepared to sing along with Diana Ross, Dolly Parton or Christy Moore. Neither ballads nor country music make an impression on Paws.
He's no time for that kind of music at all, of singing, he's not an old timer like me.
However his ears prick-up when he hears ‘Madame Butterfly’ by the Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini and he instantly joins in with the music. While Paws does not yet have an agent, Sis is not interested in the big time for her pride and joy.
I wouldn't give him for the whole world.
A 'Nationwide' report broadcast on 12 May 1997. The reporter is Mary Fanning.
