Connect Issue 48-June 2018

- Father’s Day Giveaway ..... SEE INSIDE The lifestyle magazine for Kerry

FREE

CONNECT KERRY WOMEN IN BUSINESS

AWARDS 18

Connect Kerry Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Anne Kenny

PLEASE TAKE ME JUNE 2018

John Ross Jewellers

Christie Hennessy "Our Dad the Star"

FREE MONTHLY MAGAZINE ....Made in Kerry, for Kerry

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2 | Connect Kerry | June 2018

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EDITOR NOTE Hello again and welcome to CONNECT, Its June, summer holidays are beginning and hopefully the sun is starting to shine; the exams are beginning so if you have someone doing the state exams in your house we have some delicious food tips and the importance of protein in the diet.

Of course we have just had an amazing night at The Connect Kerry Women in Business Awards and we have included all the action of the night. We had lots of fun and met some wonderful people and its certainly refreshing to see so many businesses around the county in the running this year. We made lots of new friends and we look forward to introducing them and their business in Connect over the coming months, we hope you enjoy.

Marisa talks to the Hennessy family about their beloved dad Christie a fitting tribute for fathers day, and we also have an amazing prize for one lucky dad courtesy of Ryle Menswear, The ASHE Hotel and cutting edge. We want you to tell us why your dad is special.

We also chat with Susan Carey and she tells us all about living life to the fullest even when your not in full health, and of course with July around the corner the experts tell us why you should consider trading up for a new car.

We have all the usuals and a few new stories too.

Lots for you this month so as always let the sun shine in and enjoy your read.

Until next month

Mags x Editor: Margaret Kissane Design: Laura A. Hartnett Print: Kingdom Printers Photography: John Walsh Photography 066 7123777 Email: info@johnwalsh.ie | www.johnwalsh.ie Contributors: Marcas Mac Domhnaill, John Canty, Ken Tobin, Marisa Reidy, Caroline McEnery Caroline Smith, Zoe O Connor, Catherine Keane, Lorraine Byrne, Eileen Lane.

Beauty Editor: Romy Birdthistle For Advertising Enquiries: Margaret: 086 2408237 sales@connectpublications.ie For Editorial Enquiries: info@connectpublications.ie Website: www.connectpublications.ie

Good Summer Health The holiday is booked, you’ve started shopping for your summer wardrobe and getting in shape ready for the beach. All set, right?

Not if you haven’t given some thought to your holiday health kit, something we should all be thinking about in advance of jetting off.

While most holidays go smoothly without any problems, it is a good idea to be prepared in terms of packing remedies for minor injuries or illnesses which can be very stressful when you are away from home.

We all love some sunshine, and it is good for our overall health in terms of topping up our Vitamin D levels. But, it is important to be sensible when exposing our skin to the sun. The best way to prevent premature ageing and skin damage which may lead to skin cancer is to stay out of the sun at midday, wear protective clothing , hats and more important of all, wear sunscreen. Conventional sun protection may contain potentially harmful synthetic chemicals including oxybenzone, which has been linked to hormone disruption and potential cell damage. The use of these synthetic ingredients mixed with mineral oils often cause skin irritation like prickly heat. Look in your local healthstore for sunscreens which are free of parabens and harmful chemicals, some of the better brands are GREEN PEOPLE OR ALOE PURA. One of the most common health complaints while on holiday is upset tummies, so top up your good gut bacteria about 2 weeks prior to travelling and continue taking them while you are away, a good multi-strain probiotic is BIO-KULT. The multi-strain helps a wider range of digestive disorders and helps to fight off foreign bugs.

You should also consider taking PHYSILLIUM HUSK fibre with you to maintain regular bowel movements, as well as ZINC and VITAMIN C to ensure your immune system is fighting fit.

Homeopathic remedies are especially useful for holiday health and some of the essentials include: ARNICA: bruises, sprains, strains and jet lag.

ARSENCIUM: To ease diarrhoea with or without vomiting from bad food.

BELLADONNA: To help soothe sunburn and sunstroke.

NUX VOMICA: useful for sickness or nausea caused by overindulgence.

You will also find some excellent, paraben free insect repellant’s in store, such as MIDGET, INCOGNITO and BUG SOOTHE

Until next time, stay healthy.

Deirdre x

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CHRISTIE HENNESSY

Our Dad The Star

By Marisa Reidy WHEN Hermione Hennessy-Ross speaks about her late father Christie Hennessy, you can feel the love immediately.

The genuine sense of loss is still palpable 10 years on, and the love and admiration she has for him now is every bit as strong as it was before the untimely death of one Tralee’s most beloved sons in December 2007.

Hermione was speaking to Connect ahead of a tribute concert to honour her father at Killarney’s INEC on June 15, when she and her sister Amber and brother Tim will celebrate the incredible life and career of one of Kerry and Ireland’s most loved performers.

The Killarney performance of Hennessy – A Tribute to Christie takes place just two days before Father’s Day and will be the ultimate way to honour him, Hermione says - through his music and through personal memories.

As well as performing some of his favourite and most famous songs, the show will also feature exclusive and heart-felt stories and anecdotes about a man for whom fame came late in life. Also on show will be previously unseen memorabilia and personal effects that the family have curated for fans for the first time.

“We are all really excited about it and mum is even getting involved to help us talk about some of the songs he loved most and explain why they were important to him,” Hermione explained. “We cannot wait to meet all of Christie’s fans as we sing his favourite songs, ones everyone will know and love, as well as arranging a few surprises from our family to yours.”

Asked if she felt pressure to put on a good show in her dad’s home county, soft-spoken Hermione - who herself is an accomplished artist – said it’s more a sense of excitement and nerves, than pressure.

“My biggest problem will be holding it together 4 | Connect Kerry | June 2018

and not crying,” Hermione openly admitted. “That will be quite tough, but when dad performed he was very open with his emotions too – he could laugh ‘til he fell off the stool or he could sometimes cry. My feeling is, you can’t get it wrong if you approach it from the heart.”

During her career, Hermione Hennessy-Ross has worked with acts as diverse as Willie Nelson, Justin Timberlake, Dionne Warwick and R Kelly, but it’s clear from speaking to her that her greatest achievement was taking on the role as Christie’s manager in the early ‘90s and seeing his career finally flourish.

She didn’t hold back in explaining why she felt the need to take her father under her wing – openly admitting that she believed he was being ‘taken advantage of’ and wasn’t getting the credit he deserved.

“It’s my opinion that he was really badly taken advantage of and that hurt me a lot,” she said.

“I remember once seeing a very well known comedian on TV telling one of dad’s jokes and I was devastated - and dad was devastated too.

Then, another time, he had a song stolen by someone who hasn’t ever written a song since and I thought, enough is enough. I’m not going to stand by and watch this when my dad is working the folk clubs every evening and up and down ladders every day.’

Hermione said she made it her ‘mission’ to see her dad get the success he so truly deserved and said she would have found a way to make that happen at all costs.

‘For me it became my mission and I suppose I got into music exactly for that reason. All my life, I was listening to a person so dedicated to performing and creating great music and I didn’t want him playing in clubs to little or no people or in front of people who joked that they didn’t understand his accent.’

True to her word, Hermione made it happen, with Christie signing to U2’s Mother Records – at the age of 47.

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He later signed to Warner Records Ireland and became one of the eldest performers to ever receive the Best New Artist award at the 1992 IRMAs. Christie Hennessy – born Edward Christopher Ross in Tralee in November 1945went on to record 10 multi-platinum selling albums, playing to sold -out concert halls all over Ireland and regularly appearing on Irish TV throughout the 1990s and 2000s.

While Christie loved performing and meeting his fans, his new found fame was something that never went to his head, Hermione said.

“He was the same man on stage as he was off genuine and honest -which was extraordinary,” she said. “In fact sometimes he felt a little out of his depth - we both did - because I don’t know if he ever really believed he would be successful. It was strange too sometimes, because dad always loved to talk to people and meet with them, but when he started to become more successful, people were a bit more guarded and tended to stand back a little and that was hard for him.”

Christie’s untimely death at the age of just 62 from a rare form of lung cancer attributed to asbestos exposure rocked the entire Ross family to the core, Hermione says - her voice fading a little as she is consumed with sadness. She says she still finds it incredibly difficult to accept his death, which she believes shouldn’t have been cut short so soon.

“For me, I still can’t believe he’s gone. I have suffered other losses but what makes this so hard is that this was such an extraordinary man who went too soon for something that should never have happened,” she said. “He was a fit, healthy man and looked after himself so when we learned about the cancer and the cause we were in total shock.”

After Christie’s death, Hermione recorded her debut number album, Songs My Father Taught Me, which was produced by her brother Tim and remained at Number One for over five weeks. It was something she never intended to do – but a project she is extremely proud of.

“I never expected to make that album but a friend at Warner told me I needed to do it. It was a selection of songs that dad had previously wanted me to sing and said would suit my voice, and of course he was right,” she said.

“He was a real visionary and knew what was happening in music way before it happened.

The album was also a way of giving Tim something to work on that was personal and meant something to him as he was just starting to become successful in his own right.”

While Christie’s success as an artist is now well known, his success as a family man and a father is even more important to Hermione and her siblings – her voice lifting again when she remembers the good times.

Looking at a photograph of her dad with the words ‘I love you – Dad’ complete with a hand 6 | Connect Kerry | June 2018

drawn heart and kisses, Hermione is bursting with love.

“It’s been well documented that dad couldn’t read or write, so these kind of messages are so special to me because I knew they probably took him five or 10 minutes to write,” she said. “He was love. He was compassion and he was always there for me, which is why I find it so tough that I can’t pick up the phone and talk to him and get advice anymore.

“He didn’t have it easy, coming to London at the age of 15 and working on the buildings with no prospects and no shoes and being told he’d go nowhere, but he never complained or moaned,” Hermione continued.

“He had so much wisdom and advice to give, mixed with amazing humility. In fact my brother Tim and himself are very similar – a kind, gentle, considerate man with very sensitive qualities, which is quite rare. He was a good man. A proud man, who was very philosophical about the limited time we have on this earth, so he did things his way. He was absolutely fabulous.”

Tickets for Hennessy – A Tribute to Christie on June 15th are still available from the INEC box office on 064 6671555.

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Connect Kerry

Women in Business Award Winners

CONNECT KERRY WOMEN IN BUSINESS

AWARDS 18

s The Connect Kerry Business Woman in Health & Wellness in association with Nora’s Slimming World Mags O'Halloran - O'Halloran Counselling Services

s Business Woman in Hospitality Award in association with Kelly O'Shea Financial Services Alanna Kelliher - Fertha Bar, Caherciveen

s The Connect Kerry Customer Service Award Bernadette Stepney - Stepping Stones Childcare

s The Connect Kerry Editor’s Choice Award Mary McCarthy - McCarthy's Bar, Finuge

s Business Woman in Business Services and Technology in association with Irish Drain Services Sinead Deutrom - Kerry Bio Fuels

s Business Woman in the Business of Tourism Award in association with Kingdom Printers Michaela Edwards - Wild Water Adventures

s The Connect Kerry Young Entrepreneur Award Clarissa Michaux - The Acadamy of Dance s Business Woman in Education, Childcare and Training in association with Butler Centre Listowel Elaine Sparling - Hummingbird Learning Centre s The Connect Kerry Business Development Award Eleanor Wall - Sandy Feet Farm s Business Woman in Fashion Retail Award in association with Hannons Fashion's Karyn and Catherine - Scarlett Boutique, Killarney s The Connect Kerry Best Small Business Award Betty McGrath - Listowel Florist s Young Business Award in association with Spin Southwest Maureen McCarthy - Brush n Blush s The Connect Kerry Best Large Business Award Ceara Scanlon - INEC, Killarney s Business Woman in Retail or Consumer Business Award in association with Kelliher's Toyota Ita O'Brien - Acme Blinds s The Connect Kerry One to Watch Award Marian Maddan - Ethan and Co. Designs s Business Woman in Creative Design Award in association with Expose Design Delphine Grandjouan - House of Delphine s The Connect Kerry Team Leader Award Suzanne Ennis - Cara Credit Union s Business Woman in Food Production Award in association with Quinlan's Fish Samantha Harrison - Cloudberry Bakery s The Connect Kerry Specialist in her Business Award Michelle King - Rose Hotel, Tralee s The Connect Kerry New Business Award in association with E.F Signs Kim Elliot - Rocket Deliveries, Caherciveen s The Connect Kerry Family Business of the year Award Emma Landers - Landers Outdoors 8 | Connect Kerry | June 2018

s The Connect Kerry Reader’s Choice Award Gina Groves - Nadur Spa at Ballygarry House Hotel s Business Woman in Marketing and Events and PR Award in association with AOM Fitness Caitrin Griffin - McElligotts Honda Centre, Tralee s The Connect Kerry Social Media Award Celene Moloney - Marketing and Events Specialist s The Connect Kerry Outstanding Manager Award in association with Ballyseedy Home and Garden Marie Ni Shea- Dingle Oceanworld s The Connect Kerry years of Service to her chosen Industry Award Maria McGrath - Benin Casa Montessori s The Connect Kerry Community Champion Award in association with Radio Kerry Marian Barnes - Recovery Haven s The Connect Kerry Innovation Award Maja Beaujouan - The Little Cheese Shop s The Connect Kerry Media Support to Women in Business Orla Diffily s The Connect Kerry Rising Star Award Rachel Templeman s The International Business Woman of the year Award Mary Ferriter - Dingle Distillery s The Connect Kerry Home based Business Award Sherly Thornton - Mom's Porter Cakes s The Connect Kerry Most inspirational business woman Gillian Morris - H2 Group, Listowel s The Connect Kerry Lifetime Achievement Award Anne Kenny - John Ross Jewellers

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Connect Kerry

Women in Business Award Winners

Business Woman in Health & Wellness

Mags O'Halloran

Team Leader Award

Suzanne Ennis Cara Credit Union

O'Halloran Counselling Services

Best Large Business Award

Ceara Scanlon INEC, Killarney

Education, Childcare and Training

Elaine Sparling

Business Development Award

Eleanor Wall

Sandy Feet Farm

Hummingbird Learning Centre

Outstanding Manager Award

Rising Star Award

AWARDS 18

Young Business Woman Award

Maureen McCarthy Brush n Blush

Hospitality Award

Innovation Award

Alanna Kelliher

Maja Beaujouan

Fertha Bar, Caherciveen

The Little Cheese Shop

Home based Business Award

Lifetime Achievement Award

Sherly Thornton

Anne Kenny

Mom's Porter Cakes

John Ross Jewellers

Sinead Deutrom

Most inspirational business woman

Gillian Morris

International Business Woman of the year Award

Retail or Consumer Business Award

Kerry Bio Fuels

H2 Group, Listowel

Dingle Distillery

Acme Blinds

Marie Ni Shea

Dingle Oceanworld

Rachel Templeman

CONNECT KERRY WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Roundys Bar

New Business Award

Tourism Award

Kim Elliot

Michaela Edwards

Rocket Deliveries, Caherciveen

Wild Water Adventures

Social Media Award

Business Services and Technology

Celene Moloney Marketing and Events Specialist

Creative Design Award

Delphine Grandjouan

House of Delphine

10 | Connect Kerry | June 2018

Mary Ferriter

Ita O'Brien

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SPORTING GREATS to celebrate Meadowlands Hotel, 20th Anniversary Festival Tralee’s Meadowlands Hotel will be joined by a host of sports stars including soccer legend Paul McGrath and Cork’s Seán Óg Ó hAilpín to celebrate its 20th anniversary as a business with a weekend festival from 15th to 17th June and all in aid of Kerry Hospice Foundation / Palliative Care.

The Meadowlands Hotel has a long tradition of supporting ports organisations in Tralee and currently sponsors local GAA, soccer & basketball clubs, the Kerry GAA Ticket Van, The Chain Gang Cycling Club, Meadowlands Golf Society, Tralee Marathon, and Tralee Warriors Basketball Club, many of whom will play a role in making this a sport themed, fun-filled weekend of activity for young and old, and with every event raising funds for Kerry Hospice Foundation, a great local cause.

The festival, which will take place on the grounds of the hotel, will kick-off with a Coffee Morning on the Friday morning followed by a live Outside Broadcast from Raidio Na Gaeltachta. Friday evening a sports pub quiz with local teams represented will take place followed by live music by the Crowley’s in Johnny Frank’s bar.

The Chain Gang Cycling Club, celebrating 10 years, will be kicking off the festival on the Saturday with a Charity Cycle heading to Dingle and returning for a barbecue and celebrations early afternoon. On the hotel grounds, special guests will take on the Chain Gang in a turbo bike endurance challenge and the Tralee Warriors in a free throw challenge.

Saturday will also see an entertaining day for kids with a Jump n Slide Bouncy Castle, along with fun inflatable and garden games. Guests can enjoy a 20th anniversary barbecue Saturday Afternoon.

The centrepiece of the festival is the 20th Anniversary Sports Gala in the Meadowlands Ballroom on Saturday night hosted

by RTE’s Joe Stack and which features a Q&A with sporting heroes including Kerry’s Tomás O Se, Cork’s 2005 All-Ireland winning hurling captain Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, open water endurance swimmer Dingle’s Nuala Moore and former Ireland, Manchester Utd. and Aston Villa soccer legend Paul McGrath among others. The event tickets which are on sale at the hotel, will include the panel event, prosecco and canape prereception, a major raffle and live music with James Begley, Laurence Courtney and Friends.

The festival weekend winds down on Sunday with a 20th Anniversary Sunday Lunch Special and a traditional music session with the O’Shea’s.

The Meadowlands hotel, established by Paddy and Peigí O’Mathúna, opened on 19th June in 1998 and has grown in size, now employing over 60 staff and boasting 58 bedrooms, Johnny Frank’s Bar & Lounge, An Moínéar Restaurant and a 300 capacity events centre. Paddy O’Mathúna built his career in the fish processing industry with Iasc Ui Mathuna of Dingle and is originally from Ballferriter and remains to this day a proud supporter of his beloved club An Ghaeltacht.

Paddy commented, “We’ve come a long way with the hotel through economic highs and lows in the county and this is about marking the milestone with our friends, staff and the wider sporting family we have adopted in Tralee over two decades. We are delighted with the efforts by everyone to bring the festival to life and we are inviting the Tralee public to help raise as much money as possible for Kerry Hospice Foundation who provide fantastic support to Palliative care patients in Tralee and the wider county.”

Check The Meadowlands Hotel Facebook page for a schedule of events or contact the hotel on (066) 718 0444 for enquiries.

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Connect Kerry

Women in Business Award Winners

Customer Service Award Fashion Retail Award

Bernadette Stepney

Scarlett Boutique, Killarney

Stepping Stones Childcare

Karyn and Catherine

Editor’s Choice Award

Years of Service to her chosen Industry Award

Mary McCarthy

Maria McGrath

McCarthy's Bar, Finuge

Benin Casa Montessori

Marketing and Events and PR Award

Clarissa Michaux

Young Entrepreneur Award

Caitrin Griffin

The Acadamy of Dance

McElligotts Honda Centre, Tralee

Best Small Business Award

Betty McGrath

12 | Connect Kerry | June 2018

Media Support to Women in Business

Orla Diffily

One to Watch Award

Specialist in her Business Award

Marian Maddan Ethan and Co. Designs

Michelle King

Food Production Award

Reader’s Choice Award

Cloudberry Bakery

Nadur Spa at Ballygarry House Hotel

Samantha Harrison

Marian Barnes

Mary Bonner, Vera O‘Leary, Marian Barnes, Eileen Whelan, Lisa Curran, Katherine O’Callaghan and Madeline Doyle. Missing from the photograph is Elma Walsh.

AWARDS 18

Listowel Florist

Community Champion Award

All the finalists in the Connect Kerry Community Champion Category, received an appreciation award for all their community work

CONNECT KERRY WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Recovery Haven

Rose Hotel, Tralee

Gina Groves

Family Business of the year Award

Emma Landers Landers Outdoors

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Connect Kerry

Women in Business Award Winners

14 | Connect Kerry | June 2018

CONNECT KERRY WOMEN IN BUSINESS

AWARDS 18

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Connect Kerry

Women in Business Award Winners

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CONNECT KERRY WOMEN IN BUSINESS

AWARDS 18

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‘182 KY’. . .

It has A Nice Ring to it Doesn’t it?

Well if you’re considering investing in a brand new model this July, it seems the choice and value for money has never been more appealing.

With dealerships now preparing for new orders ahead of the 182 arrivals, those in the trade are keen to stress that there has never been a better time to buy.

Here in Kerry, car dealers across the county are already taking orders and are encouraging those keen to upgrade or invest in a brand new model to get their orders in now.

At Kerry Motor Works in Tralee - where the Ford Focus continues its rein as Kerry’s, and indeed Ireland’s, best selling model – Sales Manager Kieran Griffin says that attractive offers on 182 models are already being advertised, with plenty of choice and affordability available at the moment.

“There genuinely has never been a better time to buy and people will probably have already noticed that dealers are now advertising some great offers,” he said.

“Here at Kerry Motor Works we’re planning an open weekend on June 7th, 8th and 9th, specifically to show customers what exactly is out there.”

Kieran says that the idea of buying a brand new car is one that evaded people in the past as they thought they simply couldn’t afford it, but now, with APR available as low as 4.9%, the idea has become much more realistic.

“There was a time when car finance APR was up as high as 13% and buying a new car just wasn’t affordable for some, but now with rates as low as 4.9% - and 3.9% for commercial vehicles – it’s the cheapest time to ever finance a car,” he said.

18 | Connect Kerry | June 2018

“Through Ford’s own bank financing, we do everything ourselves in-house and finance packages can be tailored to each and every individual, which makes it so much easier for the customer.”

Kieran says that there are a number of attractive offers and packages now available, from dealer allowances to affordable finance packages to lengthy warranties, and he is encouraging those considering a new 182 model to get in touch sooner rather than later.

--------------------------------At Toyota HQ, it seems the build up to the arrival of 182 plate is already kicking off, with the hybrid models – which combine a normal fuel engine and an electric motor - positioning themselves among the most sought after vehicle in the showroom At Kelliher’s Toyota in Tralee, it’s a similar story, with the hybrid certainly being the buzz word at the moment as people begin to realise its appeal.

Tim Kelliher explained that Toyota has certainly shifted a lot of its emphasis to the hybrid models over the past number of years, with the vast majority of 181 Totoya sales being hybrid cars.

Customers, he said, are beginning to understand the concept of a hybrid more and more, leading to an increase in interest and, ultimately, sales.

“What we’re seeing is that the customer is becoming fully aware that a new hybrid car is self-charging, so this perception that you have to plug them in or charge them regularly just isn’t the case,” Tim explained.

“Customers are becoming very much aware of the simplicity and the benefits of such technology and many are choosing the hybrid over your standard petrol or diesel engine.”

Asked about the advantages of such models over others, Tim said there were many appealing factors that should be considered.

“There are huge benefits to the hybrid model now and into the future, including low tax rates, great fuel economy, low maintenance, depreciation value and of course the limited impact on the environment,” he said.

“We have customers who are on their eighth or ninth hybrid and those who are on their first, but I can genuinely say that there has been 100 % satisfaction with the cars.”

He also pointed out that the hybrid will be the way forward in years to come with Toyota announcing that it will cease manufacturing diesel cars at its European and Japanese plants in a short few years – with more manufacturers following suit.

Like all dealerships across Kerry, Toyota is also offering some very attractive

customer offers on 182

models at present, again with very affordable, in-house finance packages available on new models through Toyota Financial Services.

“There are some great subsidised finance rates available, particularly on the hybrid models, to make a new car more affordable so anyone interested should come and talk to us now,” Tim said.

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FATHER'S DAY COMPETITION

Its Father’s Day on June 17th and we want to hear your stories . . . .

We have joined forces with Ryle Menswear, The Ashe Hotel and Cutting Edge Hair to treat your dad to the ultimate grooming.

Ryle Menswear Tralee and Killarney

will give the winner a beautiful Benetti Suit (worth up to €299) that is stocked in store (not from the website) and it will be presented

by David Moran the Kerry footballer. .....

He will also receive a personal grooming from Cutting Edge Hair and to complete the package, a delicious lunch for two in Alfie’s Bar at the Ashe Hotel .....

Whether it’s your dad, step dad, your favourite uncle whoever the father figure in your life is we want you to email us to margaret@connectpublicaitons.ie and tell us why they should receive this amazing prize.

WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON JUNE 17TH 2018 20 | Connect Kerry | June 2018

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SUSAN CAREY'S

New Role as MS Ambassador

BY MARISA REIDY AN unexpected call from MS Ireland a few months back has since propelled a once shy and unassuming Tralee woman into the national limelight - for all the right reasons!

After years of feeling embarrassed about her condition, 28-year-old Susan Carey appears to be taking her new role as an unexpected MS ambassador in her stride, admitting that she now feels a sense of ‘relief’ at telling her story to the nation.

Susan was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) when she was just 14 years old after she developed double vision and simply believed she needed glasses.

Alas, the diagnosis was much more serious, with the then teen having to come to terms with unimaginable news that would transform her life.

MS is a neurological disease that can affect your brain, spinal cord and the optic nerves in your eyes and can cause problems with vision, balance, muscle control and other basic body functions.

While its effects are often different for everyone who has the disease, Susan considers herself lucky to have finally learned to manage the condition - thanks in no small way to who she calls her ‘lifesaver’ neurologist, Helena Moore from Tralee.

Amazingly, she has gone from being unable to walk unassisted to now training in the gym every day, to now preparing to study as a personal trainer this October!

“When I got the news at 14, I didn’t know what MS even was. I knew it was bad, but didn’t know the exact details,” Susan said.

“As I got older, it started to affect me more and even now my foot is turned inwards, so that affects how far I can go. I like to say I walk with a a swag to me though,” she joked.

“Fatigue is another common symptom, but I have learned over the years to cope with it I suppose, and can recognise when I’m fatigued and how to deal with it.”

But learning to cope with such a debilitation condition didn’t come quickly, Susan explained. In fact she was suffering so much at one point that she was unable to walk unaided and needed to either hold onto furniture or with a 22 | Connect Kerry | June 2018

walking aid to get around.

“I was so embarrassed that I just avoided going out and going into town, so a lot of people may not have even realised the condition was that bad,” she said. “I didn’t tell anyone about my condition, even in college, but the stress of not dealing with it or addressing it properly meant my body was pretty debilitated at one point.

“I didn’t want to tell anyone, because I didn’t want to feel different or be labelled, so I went from an outgoing person to someone really quiet, which meant adolescence was quite tough. But I see now, looking back, that if your head isn’t right, your body can’t be either.”

A turning point came for Susan when she was 18 years old and lost her beloved cousin, who was just 19 at the time. His passing, she said, shook her tight-knit family to the core and she felt the need to see a counsellor. Meanwhile, her MS symptoms were worsening as a result of the stress.

“Going to counselling was the best decision I ever made because although I was dealing with the grief of losing my cousin, I also realised that I needed to deal with how I felt about my condition,” she explained.

“The more I talked about it, the more it helped – for me anyway. As I addressed everything and combined that with certain treatments, things started to come around for me.”

At 21 years of age, Susan began to seriously concentrate on health and fitness and was feeling great for a number of years, before the effects of the particular treatment she was on began to fail. Again MS had a debilitating effect on her body to the point where she was unable to walk unassisted.

Neurologist Helena Moore recommended a new trial drug called Lemtrada, which transformed her life.

“It was an intensive five day trial of oral steroids and chemotherapy like infusions, which made me feel really sick by the third day,” she said. “However, I was determined while in hospital that I would walk independently before I left and, bit by bit, I got a little further until I did it.”

Susan repeated the treatment for three days back in 2014 and hasn’t looked back since. She is now a regular gym-goer, loves walking and most importantly no longer feels self conscious about her condition.

Earlier this year, MS Ireland approached Susan to tell her story by fronting the national ‘Kiss Goodbye to MS’ campaign for the month of May in an effort to raise crucial funds for research and essential services.

“It was a surprise at first, but since telling my story I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders,” she said. “It’s all about raising funds for MS Ireland so anything I can do for that I’m happy to do it.”

And not resting on her laurels, Susan is not content to simply be back fighting fit – she now plans to study and become a gym instructor and personal trainer so she can help others in her situation.

She begins a part-time course in Cork in October – while also maintaining her job at Liam Lynch Motors in Farranfore – and says she feels it’s her calling to help others.

“Don’t get me wrong, MS is by no means easy and of course there are bad days when I just want to stay in bed, but I can’t,” she said. “That’s why I feel I need to help other people with MS and other conditions, particularly children.”

Susan is a member of the Tralee & West Kerry branch of MS Ireland, details of which can be found on their Facebook page.

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ACTION LESOTHO If you pass through the Tralee Shopping Centre on the Mall you will see a wonderful fundraising shop called the Action Lesotho Bookshop. I was curious, so I contacted Paul Hanrahan, Chairman of the Charity to find out a little more for our These are from our presch readers. As it happened I ool group for poor families met Paul a day before he was heading out to Lesotho to visit the projects they operate on the ground there.

Paul can you tell our readers a little bit about what you do and who you are? We are a Kerry based charity operating a community to community project. We link with truly impoverished people in an area called Maputsoe in the Kingdom of Lesotho. It is a landlocked country in Southern Africa with a population of under 2 million people. It has been devastated over the last couple of decades

by HIV/AIDS. We operate five small projects covering agriculture, health development, training for employment, crafts and child development. The child development programme works with some of the most vulnerable children in the country, and we have a breakfast and homework club for over 80 children who come from homes with no food in them.

That’s a lot of projects for a small Kerry based charity! How can you run them all effectively and efficiently? We have a team of mentors from the Board of Directors who link up individually with each project, for instance Shane O Sullivan from Cahirciveen links with the farm manager who runs our farming project, Jacqui O Riordan from Killarney mentors the child development programme, Dr Diane Foorde in Sneem liases with the Nurse who manages the health and care programme. Then, Pauline Carroll mentors the coordinator for the training for employment course. David Buttimer from Fenit works with the financial controller and Anthony O’Connor of Tralee works with the craft project manager. I work directly with the General Manager.

It must cost a lot of money to run?

It does but I would like to think we are very cost efficient in that we are a completely voluntary organisation here in Ireland, everyone gives their time and service free of charge in true community spirit, also a euro is worth a lot more out in Lesotho then here so we get a very good return on any funds donated to or generated by us.

Nobody in Ireland gets paid at all.

How far away is Lesotho and how do you manage to stay in touch?

Its just over 14,000 kilometres from Tralee to Maputsoe but what allows us to stay in touch are two things, modern Paul pictured with technology and the generosity of local Jason Burke from business people like Jason Burke. He Phone Depot owns the Phone Depot shops in Tralee and Listowel. He donates smart phones to us and this allows us to stay in almost daily contact with the team on the ground at a minimal cost. The local managers run the projects very efficiently. We made a decision many years back to prioritise passing on management skills to the local people so they could then be able to operate and not be too dependent on us in Ireland How can people help and get in touch with you? We are grateful for the support from the community in Kerry and welcome any donation no matter how small. We have a website at www.actionlesotho.ie, we are on Facebook and can be contacted by phone 086 2843498.

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Hi all Connect Readers, I hope ye are all getting your fill of Vitamin D. Before I start with my piece proper can i take this opportunity to wish all the students who are now sitting exams the very best, special mention to my nieces Tara and Almha sitting Junior cert.

As the weather is as unpredictable as the voting in the Eurovision I have found that customers are having to make fashion adjustments at short notice, by this I mean flimsy dress and in for something warm as regular readers to my column you all know I cant praise the easy to wear pashmina, wrap, or large scarf . *I keep hearing from people "oh Carmel I cant keep those wraps on me" they keep slipping off, if anyone wants to know how to wear a pashmina (even if you didnt buy wrap with us please call in and i would be delighted to show you.

The next Connect Kerry event is on 22nd June in Meadowlands Hotel "Cocktails and Canapés" and I will be up there giving a small presentation on how to put the finishing touches to an outfit.

If there are any queries ye would like help with please feel free to email me at carmelmrussell@gmail.com or message me on our Facebook page Thats Perfect.

Will sign off now and please remember, Keep smiling

Carmel xx

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Catherine’s Fashion Fix

By Catherine Keane

Not one for mini or midi dresses this summer? You’ll be pleased to hear maxi dresses are still the original ready to wear item.

Easy-to-wear, stylish and comfortable, a maxi dress is a musthave for the summer season and this effortless piece can take your wardrobe to new heights. The silhouette's most loveable qualities include it's extreme level of comfort, it's ability to stun for both daytime and evening events, and it's easy-to-wear shape—but, fit is key.

From playful prints to exotic colours the maxi is the seasons go to dress and works on all body types. Contrary to popular belief you don't have to be a runway model to pull off this look.

The best dress style for you depends entirely on your body shape. Some maxi styles look better on some specific body shapes than others. Of course, there are tricks that can make most dresses look better on you but selecting the right dress style for your body shape eliminates the extra work.

It’s easy to sideline the maxi to an "event only" outfit or throw it on with boho sandals, but believe it or not, they are probably the most versatile item that you will add to your wardrobe.

Dressed up or down these dresses give the wearer a look of sophistication that can work for almost any occasion. Part of the fun of the maxi dress is that you can easily change the look and mood of the dress by dressing it up with sparkles and beads, or dress it down with wardrobe staples like a denim or leather jacket.

Here's how to wear yours!

Black Tie Affair Dress codes can be seriously stressful especially when the dress code is black tie. These events require a sophisticated level of dressing. For women the code typically calls for a floor length dress and where better to wear a maxi dress. Go for a slinky style with embellishment or beading and team with killer heels and glitzy accessories.

Black Tie Affair iclothing.com €75

Summer Wedding The maxi dress is a good choice for a summer wedding. Good materials include chiffon and silk. A maxi dress in brilliant colours, standout prints or ruffles will add that touch of glamour and sophistication to ensure you don’t go unnoticed.

Summer Wedding iclothing.com €40 26 | Connect Kerry | June 2018

Off Duty Sling on a denim or leather biker jacket and a pair of trainers of flats and you've got yourself the perfect offduty outfit.

Complete the look with a cool cross body bag and statement sunnies.

Off duty iclothing.com €46

On Your Hols It's the first thing to pack when jetting off to a far flung destination and the ideal choice for day-to-night dressing.

The beach is the perfect setting for delicate, floaty maxi dresses. Bohoinspired styles, tassel strap detail, cool cut-outs, off-the-shoulder shapes - anything goes.

Keep it simple and team with sandals.

I hope you are inspired and ready to add this classic wardrobe staple to your closet!

Catherine x

On Your Hols iclothing.com €40

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Killarney-based artist and jewellery maker Amélie Gagné has a brand new collection of pretty and colourful necklaces which will be the perfect addition to your summer wardrobe...!

The “Floral Tassels” are available in 6 gorgeous colour combinations and are mounted on a 24” link chain. You also have the possibility to personalise any of the necklaces with some pretty charms including initials and Swarovski birthstones.

Chances are you have probably already seen Amélie’s bright and charming pieces, as she wholesales to over 30 shops and boutiques around Ireland with a handful in the UK..

Every piece of Amélie’s jewellery starts with a tiny reproduction of one of her own colourful paintings, which is then adhered to a crystal clear piece of glass, and inserted in a silvery tray.

You can find her whole jewellery collection along with beautiful art prints on her website at www.ameliegagnestudio.com.

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EYES - GETTING RID OF THOSE CROWS FEET! BY: DR SUSAN CREAN BDS (HONS)NUI MFDRCSI

Ladies, are you annoyed when you suddenly notice those tired eyes everyday in photographs?

Revealing a more aged appearance .... those faint lines that appear around the corner of the eyes when you smile are becoming more noticeable and deeper making you look a lot older . . . Well now it is possible to eliminate those lines. Treatment with bocouture (botulinum toxin type A) relaxes the muscle around the eye which normally pulls the eye downwards, thus relieving the tension around the eye muscle, giving a fresher look. Treatment normally takes about 30 minutes after a comprehensive assessment and normally lasts for about 3-6 months, depending on the individual.

Treatment is relatively painless as ultrafine needles are used, for minimum discomfort. You should expect some redness and swelling in the area afterwards, but not pain. All consultations are free and involve assessment of the area(s) that most require treatment. Photographs and a full explanation of the procedure. Botox treatment slows down the ageing process and is probably a lot cheaper than using expensive creams that do not work as well. Most canditates are suitable for Botulinum Toxin treatment, provided they are not pregnant or breast feeding, not taking blood thinning medication or not suffering from a generalised muscle weakness disorder or not suffering from a skin infection. Other areas that respond well to treatment include frown lines and forehead lines.

Treatment is now available at: Mac Domhnaill Dental, 11 Denny Street, Tralee, Co.Kerry.

T: (066)7121457 or email: fiaclor@gmail.com

Boundaries

Everybody needs boundaries.

Boundaries are the rules that we set for ourselves to ensure our personal safety and integrity, and they cover our own behaviour and that of others.

Boundaries can be physical (how close do we allow people to come to us), emotional (how susceptible are we to emotional manipulation), psychological (how much do we allow others to do our thinking for us) and social (how willing are we to go along with what other people want or do).

We need boundaries to determine the type of behaviour that is acceptable to us, and how to respond when somebody exceeds the limits we set. For instance, if you feel as if you are a doormat for others who just take you for granted, or if you find yourself doing things that you really don’t want to do and regret later, then you may need to look at your personal boundaries.

If you are unable to disagree with people, or stand up for what you think or believe yourself, this can also be a boundary issue.

We sometimes put up with things that make us really uncomfortable because we don’t want to make a fuss, or cause a scene, or upset somebody else. Unfortunately, this can mean that we can end up in quite dangerous situations, Learning how to set boundaries is part of achieving emotional wellbeing, and I will look at this a little more next month.

Caroline Smith, Psychotherapy Counselling www.carolinesmith.ie | 087 6444837 28 | Connect Kerry | June 2018

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The Park Festival at Feile na mBlath

Tralee Town Park - 15th to 17th June FORGET Chelsea Flower Show because the heir to the British Throne is coming to Tralee for The Park Festival at Féile na mBláth which will be in bloom from Friday 15th to Sunday 17th June in Tralee Town Park.

Well who knows, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, might pop in to sample some of the fantastic events during their Royal visit to Tralee on Friday 15th June. Even if they don’t visit the Park Festival, the crowds will be treated like Kings, Queens, Princes and Princesses by the team who have put together a great programme of entertainment.

This year’s renewal of the popular mid-summer festival in Kerry’s capital town promises to be better than last year’s event and all that’s needed is some fine weather to keep the spirits up.

Festival-goers will be spoiled for choice with over 30 gourmet food and craft stalls, Art in the Park, Kidz Zone, fun with Guido Fanzini and a Circus Workshop.

It is the season for flowers and all things bright and colourful, so it’s only fitting that Féile na mBláth should be a showcase for garden enthusiasts. Over the three days of the festival, there will be a Floral Display Competition Exhibition, Garden Display, Flower Demonstrations, a Gardening Talk and Nature Walk.

Culture, history and the environment always feature prominently at The Park Festival with fun presentations, demonstrations and activities for all the family including the Medieval Living History Experience, The Big Dig and story-telling.

It doesn’t end there because the Dog Shows, Junior parkRun, Archery, Falconry displays, demonstrations from the Emergency Services and Drum Workshops are guaranteed to keep the crowds entertained all weekend.

Don’t forget, the Céilí Dancing in the Kerry Group Marquee from 5pm to 8pm on Sunday 17th June will be a lively end to the festival. Music always plays a major role in festivals and this year the new SPOT – Street Performers of Tralee are looking forward to performing in Tralee Town Park.

Kerry County Council are proud to organise Féile na mBláth with the support of Tralee Chamber Alliance and it will be funded by the Kerry County Council Community Support Fund and Kerry Group.

Once again, the organisers wish to thank Bryan Carr and his team of volunteers for their time and energy in bringing The Park Festival at Féile na mBláth to fruition.

Music in the Kingdom

By: Lisa Curran

HELLO SUMMERTIME!!

Best of luck to all students sitting their Junior or Leaving cert exams this month. Don't forget to load up a good playlist of positive songs to get you going in the mornings and to wind down in the evenings.

There is so much happening in Kerry in June as the tourism season comes upon us rapidly, I have selected a few that seem like they will suits all walks of life and all types of Music fans, have a look at the ones you would not normally be drawn to….you might find a whole new side to Music that you have never explored before!

"SONGS FROM IRELAND" is the sensational new show in Killarney presented by Celtic Steps Entertainment featuring the fabulous vocals of the O'Neill Sisters,who are Kerry vocalists accompanied by world champion Irish dancers and some of Ireland best musicians! Every Saturday night at the Killarney racecourse until Sept 29th! Check out Killarney racecourse website for more info and to book your tickets now.

FLEADH CHEOIL CHIARRAÍ 20 – 24 June 2018 : Milltown, Co. Kerry.

‘Reconnecting With Our Past’. A huge weeked for anyone that is a traditonal Music fan. Apart from the competitions and street performers there are some big names coming to perform too such as ‘Stocktons wing’ live from the gig rig in Miltown 9pm saturday June 23rd. A fabulous weekend of family entertainment with stalls and funfairs and hopefully lots of sunshine to go along with the Music.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT JUNE SUMMER CAMP - **All 3 camps FREE OF CHARGE and presented by Kerry County Council & Creative Ireland** Let's get singing in Kerry! SING TOGETHER CAMP A vocal camp happening IN kerry FOR FREE in THREE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS(Tralee, Listowel and Killarney),ages 13+ at 12.30-3pm mon to fri and ages 8-12 4-6.30 pm monfri and a showcase concert on the saturday in a venue in your chosen town location. I will be teaching with the Tralee team and I am so excited that Kerry County Council and Creative Ireland have teamed up to bring this across Kerry. Head onto Eventbrite.com for information on class venues and book your place before they're all gone!

I hope ye all have a wonderful month of June and I will be posting up some info on Music based summer camps for July and August in the next issue. Keep an eye out on Connect Kerry's social media pages for some giveaways for June too.

Lisa x 32 | Connect Kerry | June 2018

SNAPCHAT: lizzieraisin

TWITTER: lizzieraisin

INSTGRAM: lizzieraisin

FACEBOOK: Lisa Curran Soprano

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HEALTHY PARTY FOOD AND NIBBLES By: Brid Ní Mhathuna (BSc, DipNT, mNTOI) - Gut HQ Preparing party food can be stressful so these summery, fuss free recipes can be prepared well before your occasion.

Party food and nibbles can have a bad reputation but there is no reason you cannot enjoy tasty light bites using fresh and vibrant ingredients to impress your guests.

We always encourage clients to use fresh herbs, seasoning and local ingredients so they do not have to skimp on flavour for health. Be inspired by the best foods of the season.

POTATO & HERB FRITTATA

Healthy canapé recipes do not need to be boring compromises and these recipes make tasty light suppers, lunch or starter ideas.

Ingredients • 4 (about 500g) cooked leftover potatoes, thickly sliced • 1 onion, thinly sliced • 8 free-range eggs, lightly beaten • Tablespoon olive oil • 2 Tbsp of finely chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves

GAZPACHO WITH CAPRESE SALAD SKEWERS Gazpacho is a chilled soup, traditionally from Spain. The combination of tomatoes, vinegar, olive oil, cucumber and garlic is zingy and refreshing. Irish tomatoes are now in season and bursting with flavour and contain vitamins, minerals and something called lycopene, which is especially important for heart health.

Ingredients • 1/3 medium cucumber • 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 1 pinch sea salt & black pepper

• 6 medium tomatoes • 1 garlic clove • 100 mls water • 5 basil leaves

Chop the tomato, cucumber and garlic. A blender, high speed smoothie maker or a hand blender can be used to puree the ingredients with the water, vinegar, olive oil and seasoning. Puree the ingredients until you have a smooth soup-like consistency.

You may need a little more water. Adjust the seasoning. Pour into a container, cover and chill overnight or for at least one hour. To serve, pour into the shot glasses.

Heat olive oil in a 20cm frying pan over low heat and add onion.

Leave for 10 minutes or until translucent, then add potato. Never let the oil smoke. Preheat grill to high.

Whisk together eggs, herbs and season to taste with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, then pour over potato mixture and cook for 5 minutes, shaking pan occasionally to prevent sticking.

When almost set, place under grill and cook for 3 minutes or until golden and set.

Slide onto a chopping board to cool. The frittata can be served at room temperature or chilled until the following day. Cut into wedges and secure your garnish with a skewer. I used roasted peppers and cured ham but olives, sundried tomato, local cheese or fresh herbs would also be delicious.

COURGETTE, MINT & FETA FRITTERS These fritters have a lovely fresh, summer flavour and courgettes contain fibre and magnesium, which plays a role in keeping your bones strong. Mint is a digestive aid but is also good as a skin soother and memory support.

CAPRESE SALAD SKEWERS Buffalo mozzarella, although traditionally an Italian ingredient is now being produced in Cork. It is packed full of protein which is vital for energy and muscle repair and mozzarella contains good fats that help to absorb the lycopene from the tomatoes.

Ingredients • Cherry tomatoes • Fresh Basil

Frittata is a great way to incorporate healthy fats into your diet. Cooked and cooled potatoes contain resistant starch, which is a prebiotic, which means, it is a substance that feeds the good bacteria in your gut and can help you lose weight.

• Mozzarella balls • Olive Oil

Assemble, tomatoes, basil (roll from one end to the other), and mozzarella balls on medium-sized toothpicks. Chill until needed.

Ingredients • 6 smallish courgettes • 1 medium onion, thinly sliced • 200g feta, crumbled • zest of 1 lemon • 1 large handful mint, roughly chopped • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne, or to taste • Sea salt and pepper to taste • 1 egg, lightly beaten • 2 heaped tablespoons flour (I used chickpea) Grate the courgettes into a colander, sprinkle evenly with salt (I used about 1 teaspoon) and toss to combine. Leave to drain (put a bowl under the colander or leave it in the sink) for about an hour. The courgettes are probably useable in less time than this if you are in a rush. When ready, pile half the courgette into the middle of a clean tea towel and twist the towel around the courgette to squeeze out as much water as possible.

Preheat the oven to 200c. Transfer the courgettes to a bowl and add the rest of the ingredients. Mix thoroughly.

The Gut HQ can be contacted at info@theguthq.ie or call Bríd on 087 7944036 or visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/guthq 34 | Connect Kerry | June 2018

Use a dessertspoon to measure and shape the mixture into balls or patties and place on a non-stick baking tray lined with parchment paper. Bake until they are brown all over, turning once about halfway. Exact timing will depend on the size of your fritters and your oven. Allow to cool so they firm up and hold together. Serve hot, warm or cold scattered with feta & mint.

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THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTEIN

By Eileen Lane

Protein is required in the diet to help your body repair cells and make new ones. Protein is also important for growth and development in children, teens, and pregnant women.

Protein is an essential part of nutrition, second only to water in the body’s physical composition. It makes up about 20% of body weight and is a primary component of muscle, hair, nails, skin, eyes and internal organs – especially the heart (muscle) and the brain.

While consuming protein in the diet is important, the quality of the protein we eat is equally as important.

High quality protein is easier for the body to utilise and is thought to be healthier for the body. While meat is a source of protein, it is also carries a high fat content. This fat is in the form of saturated fat.

FORMS OF QUALITY PROTEIN INCLUDE: - Lean Meats - Fish - Chicken - Egg Whites - Legumes - Guinoa - Beans - Nuts

PROTEIN

The immune system requires protein for the formation of antibodies that assist in fighting infections. Protein is required by the body for growth and maintenance of body tissues. It is also important for making essential hormones and enzymes.

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The RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) for protein is currently 0.8g per 2.2lbs of body weight. More may be required during pregnancy, lactation and growth in children.

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Connect ONLINE BY: KEN TOBIN, Marketing Strategy Consultant

RETAIL – INVEST IN YOUR STAFF & YOUR DIGITAL

GRIEVANCE INVESTIGATIONS Employee grievances can arise for many reasons including but not limited to the following: Changing work practices, alleged discrimination, bullying or harassment, health and safety issues, promotion and grading, issues with fellow employees etc.

Detailed below are helpful tips on how to manage the early start of a grievance.

Much has been said and done to try and combat online retail killing off small stores…but at the end of it all some ‘blocks n mortar’ are thriving – Why? Because they’ve invested in their Staff, Experience and Digital!

Customers aren’t just going to walk in your door – If you offer a unique shopping experience, great customer service and a great product… then tell the world about it online, and lure them in.

Great Shop + Great Digital = Success Everything is digital, for small retailers that simply means having a unique presence online that shows your target customer how good you are in reality. If you haven’t got the time or confidence to do it yourself, then invest in staff training and some basic equipment. Customers still prefer to experience your goods in reality, rather than hoping what they buy online is any good.

• The first and most important step is to have a policy.

The aim of your grievance procedure is to encourage consistency, transparency and fairness in the handling of workplace problems or complaints. These policies should be communicated to employees in simple language and signed to ensure that employees understand the content.

• Know your policy inside out, and upside down so that you can be as informative as possible and be of assistance to any employee in resolving their concerns straight away. The first step for anyone dealing with a grievance issue is to refer to the Company policy. Issue the employee with the procedure again and talk through their options with them in confidence.

Ken Tobin is a Marketing Strategy Consultant, offering Marketing Management and Social Media Advice for Businesses, Groups and Organisations weebizmedia@gmail.com 086 8162105 (Ken) www.weebizmedia.com

FEMALE ENTREPRENEURSHIP Celebrated by Kerry Woman at the Aras

• The procedure should be applied fairly and consistently to all staff. This means all your management members should know how to deal with a grievance correctly. You should provide appropriate training to management.

• Keep in mind that you need to be neutral. Do not let your past experiences with any team member involved to influence your opinion in advance of the procedure ever being invoked.

• The operation of a good grievance procedure requires the maintenance of records. It is important to have a paper trail documenting each step of any investigation, no matter how insignificant it may seem to the Company at the time.

• Finally, if in doubt about how to complete correctly, we urge you to seek professional advice on how best to proceed.

If you require further information or advice, please do not hesitate to contact one of our HR Consultants on 066-7102887.

40 | Connect Kerry | June 2018

Caroline McEnery, of The HR Suite was delighted to be invited to Áras an Uachtaráin and met with Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina recently. The President hosted an intimate event of 100 female entrepreneurs at Áras an Uachtaráin to celebrate their contribution to the Irish Economy. In his speech, the President highlighted the fact that the celebration took place in the year during which Ireland marked the centenary of voting rights being gained for women. He said “A society that does not support and encourage female entrepreneurs is a society that denies itself a vast pool of talent, creativity and innovation, a society that impoverishes itself by that denial. The world needs more female entrepreneurs, women like you who have not only had a good idea, but brought it to fruition – women who have ‘made it happen’.”

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