Her husband was from County Dublin and was a lieutenant in the Royal Army Service Corps in Edinburgh, having served previously at Camden Fort Meagher.
After her husband's retirement from the army at the rank of lieutenant‐colonel, he worked as the transport manager with a Cork brewery with the family living in Currabinny.
Jan was popular with audiences, and her shows were effective fund-raising events, demonstrating how highly trained dogs could be.
Dunlop firmly believed that many more Irish people would benefit from guide dog services, she partnered with Jim Dennehy, Cork businessman who was accidentally blinded as an adult.
[1][3] The inaugural meeting at which Dunlop was elected president, took place in the Mansion House, Dublin and was chaired by broadcaster Jim Sherwin.
The IGDA advocated for giving training and support to blind people they could develop their talent and potential.
The new association faced problems internally with the Drumcondra site proving unsuitable, issues sourcing dogs suitable to be trained, and disagreements about policy and spending.
By 1980, the IGDA had moved to a converted farmhouse on Model Farm Road, Cork, where they trained their first two dogs.