Community and Us/Sinne agus an Pobal

Kerry College Apprentices Feed Emergency Workers

Kerry College apprentices, alongside their instructors Mick Ryan and John Drummond, put their experience to good use to help feed emergency workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 battle. The culinary team at Kerry College Monavalley Campus in Tralee worked with the HSE to provide healthy, fresh and nutritious lunches to the hard-working members of the Civil Defence, Ambulance Service and staff of the COVID-19 Test Centre in Tralee five days a week during the summer months.

‘It was only fitting that we should keep it local and give back to the community and acknowledge the amazing service that Taobh Linn provides, bringing a boost to spirits after what has been a difficult year for everyone.’

Kenmare FET Centre

John Drummond and Mick Ryan

Christmas Cheer for Taobh Linn Residence

Commis Chef apprentices at the Kenmare Further Education and Training (FET) Centre and their instructor Simon Regan brought some festive cheer to the community at Taobh Linn Social Centre in Kenmare last Christmas by providing a fantastic Christmas feast.

Ingredients for the six-course festive meal came from the 100% organic kitchen garden in the Kenmare FET Centre, with other fresh produce supplied by local Kenmare producers. Sustainable and ethical farming methods guided all ingredients. The group of seven apprentices, who were coming towards the end of their two-year Culinary Apprenticeship, were aware of the challenging times endured by many in their local community. The apprentices are currently working between the Brehon Hotel, Maison Gourmet, Brooklane Hotel, Kenmare Bay Hotel, Kate Browns Restaurant and Waterville Golf Links.

The Taobh Linn COVID-19 community response is about ‘collaboration; organisations and local initiatives working in partnership, providing essentials to those in need.’ With this in mind, the apprentices decided to dedicate their capstone Culinary Event to the Taobh Linn community.

According to Winnie Underdown, Commis Chef apprentice:

Winnie Underdown, Denise O’Shea and Seamus Curran at Taobh Linn

Five-Course Meal Delivered to Frontline Workers at University Hospital Kerry

Kerry College Commis Chef apprentices from Clash Campus delivered meals to ambulance drivers at University Hospital Kerry.

As part of their capstone module and final assessments, the apprentices executed the culinary event.

Given COVID-19 restrictions, the Tralee class changed the dynamic of their final assessment from a sit-down meal to a delivery service for HSE and ambulance service staff.

Kerry College

Kerry College Commis Chef Apprentices and Ambulance Service Staff

Coláiste Gleann Lí Help Prevent Spread of COVID-19

Technology teacher Michael O’Sullivan from Coláiste Gleann Lí started producing face shields for frontline staff and nursing home residents during the early days of the pandemic. Coláiste Gleann Lí has a specialist laser cutter machine with Michael securing the prototype to make the face shields.

Christmas Care Packages

Instead of the traditional shoebox appeal, Coláiste na Ríochta organised Christmas Care Packages for Aras Mhuire Nursing Home in Listowel. We were delighted to donate and package gift boxes for the Aras Mhuire Nursing Home residents.

A sincere thank you to all the staff, students, parents/guardians, and friends who donated items for the care packages. Thank you also to the local shoe shops that donated shoeboxes for the packages and the staff and students who helped with this wonderful initiative.

Staff and students made handmade decorations, cards and Christmas decor. We hope the residents had a very Merry Christmas!

Coláiste na Ríochta

Christmas Cheer at St. Louis

Daltaí ón cúigiú bhliain a thug turas ar teach na seanóirí trasna ón scoil um Nollaig. Thugadar bronntanais, sheinneadar ceol agus chanadar carúil ón gcarrchlós! B’ócáid álainn a bhí ann agus bhí gach aon duine a bhí I láthair chomh buíoch dos na daltaí.

Students visited St Louis Nursing Home, opposite the school in Moyderwell, where they brought gifts, played music and sang Christmas carols through the windows! It was a very touching occasion and one that brought great pleasure to all of the residents.

Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí

Aperee Nursing Home and Gleann Lí

Students sent letters to Aperee Nursing Home to bring joy into their lives at Christmas!

Coláiste Gleann Lí

Christmas Jumper Day Raises Over €1,000 for SVP

Thanks are shared to all our wonderful learners and staff who managed to raise a total of €1,198.73 at the St Vincent De Paul’s Christmas Jumper Day across all Kerry College campuses in December. Well done to everyone involved, particularly the campus coordinators Elaine Sharpe (Monavalley), Elaine O’Connor (Listowel) and Celia O’Shea (Clash Road and Denny Street).

Kerry College

Aperee Nursing Home

Kerry Act of Kindness

Ms Claire Cosgrove, Mr Darren O’Callaghan and their CSPE students brought much festive cheer to Killorglin Community College in the run-up to the Christmas holidays as they prepared hampers to donate to Garda Mary Gardiner and the Kerry Act of Kindness Group.

Each junior cycle class created hampers, with each student contributing. The hampers were packed with food items, goods, toys - anything that would make Christmas more special for the families in need across Kerry.

Staff also organised a non-uniform day and hosted a COVID-19 compliant Coffee Morning to raise funds to purchase vouchers in local shops. Students presented the hampers and vouchers to Garda Mary Gardiner and members of An Garda Síochána.

Killorglin CC

Christmas Jumper Day in Kerry College

Christmas Spirit

Thanks to all our staff in head office, who showed their Christmas spirit when they came together to donate a selection of gift bags to the clients at Bhaile Mhuire Day Care Centre in Balloonagh, Tralee. Well done to all!

Head Office/OSD

A Day Without Laughter is a Day Wasted - Charlie Chaplin

Well done to the Healthcare Support learners who organised a socially distanced Christmas Jumper Day to raise funds for the local Valentia Hospital. All staff and students in the centre attended, with the event even boasting a socially distanced visit from Santa Claus!

The day was filled with fun and laughter and provided a much-needed escape from the neverending cloud of COVID-19.

O’Connell FET Centre

Head O ce

Kerry Education and Training Board, Centrepoint, John Joe Sheehy Road, Tralee, Co. Kerry, V92 P2FE

Telephone

066 719 3900 066 712 1488

Email

info@kerryetb.ie

Education Centres’ Contact Details

Please visit our website www.kerryetb.ie