Connect Lifestyle Magazine February 2022

The lifestyle magazine for Kerry

Made in Kerry, for Kerry FREE

PLEA SE TAKE M E FEBR UAR 2022 Y

Trisha Lewis of Trisha’s Transformation talks health and wellness

Leona Maguire

The story behind the Cavan girl taking the world of ladies golf by storm 1

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EDITOR'S NOTE Hi everyone Well we made it through January and yes we got some positive news finally from the Government, and while everyone is anxious to get back to some form of normality some may have their own concerns so please be kind as you go about your daily routine.

This month we look at all things health and wellness and looking after ourselves for the year to come. We have lots of good advice, We also chat to Leona Maguire on her love for golf and where she is at with her game at the moment.

Trisha Lewis of Trisha’s Transformations chats to us on the importance of a healthy mind set to get you going for your health path.

Valentines day is coming up and it’s the ideal excuse to spoil your loved one, so we have some great ideas for you.

We are so looking forward to getting back into things again and hosting our events, our Hair and Beauty Awards is happening on March 20th so we are looking forward to that, and of course all going well with the health system our Connect Women in Business will be hosted in June, our hospitality awards will happen in November and we will have our usual smaller days out through the year, so its all go here in head office to get things going again, we look forward to meeting you at one of our events.

We would also like to thank you all for your support during the past two years, its been difficult printing, not printing, as you all know we are not a paid for publication so therefore we rely on the advertisers who support us to ensure we can operate, those advertisers are our backbone and we appreciate each and every one, we always welcome new advertisers so if you would like to know more about us don’t hesitate to get in touch.

In the meantime onwards from here lets live again.

Stay safe, mind yourselves and mind each other Till next month

Mags xx Editor: Margaret Kissane Print: Kingdom Printers Graphic Design: Yevgen Kalynin Editorial Contributors: Cathriona Murphy, Lisa Curran, Romy Birdthistle, John Canty, Mairead McMahon, Pat Harmon, Marcas Mac Domhnaill For Advertising Enquiries: Margaret: 086 2408237 sales@connectpublications.ie For Editorial Enquiries: margaret@connectpublications.ie Website: www.connectpublications.ie 3

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Leona Maguire

The story behind the Cavan girl taking the world of ladies golf by storm

By Cathriona Murphy Leona Maguire – The Cavan girl who changed the face of Irish Ladies Golf chats all thing Solheim Cup, moving to North Carolina for College, family relationships and how a bet over a Mars bar possibly encouraged one of Irelands greatest sporting exports!

Leona, from swimming to golf, sports has always been a huge part of your life. Who was the biggest influence in your life that inspired you to pursue golf?

I grew up in a competitive household and we all loved playing every sort of sport or game with and against one another.

Anything from monopoly to cluedo to a game of crazy golf was competitive but we always could have a laugh about it when the game was over. I have always had a passion for sport and I enjoyed playing lots of different sports with my siblings and friends from a young age.

Dad introduced my twin Lisa and I to golf when we were about nine or ten. At that point it was just during the summers and at weekends. We started off with three golf clubs between us. We had a driver, some sort of iron and a putter and Dad used to bring us to the driving range at Slieve Russell – that was our playground growing up. We used to bet a Mars bar who could get it across the road that runs across the driving range, it’s not far it’s about sixty or seventy yards out.

You broke records from a very young age, alongside your twin sister Lisa.

What was it like to share your journey with her?

Our situation was definitely unique but also hugely beneficial. It was great to have someone to share the journey with day in day out. Golf as an individual sport can get quite lonely at times so in that respect it was great that we had each other to play and practice with. We were both equally competitive so in that sense it really helped to keep each other motivated and to spur each other on.

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How did your parents find balancing their jobs as school teachers, home life in Cavan with yourself and Lisa’s constant travelling and competitions?

My parents have been huge role models for me growing up and still remain very much so to this day. They have made so many sacrifices in order to ensure that I have the opportunities to pursue my dreams both on and off the golf course and for that I couldn’t be more grateful. I am so lucky to have such a great support system at home, they really are my biggest fans and I really wouldn’t be where I am today without them.

College life can be a tough transition for any young person, how did you find life settling into Duke University after growing up in Cavan and was it a conscious decision for your golfing career?

Going to Duke University in North Carolina for four years was one of the best decisions I ever made. I was in class during the day surrounded by future NBA players, Olympians, people that were trying to cure cancer, people that were going to be Supreme Court Justices and lawyers and doctors. You were just around that culture of excellence, so everybody seemed to be achieving something great. It didn’t matter what field they were in. I thoroughly enjoyed my four years there and relished every second. For me, Duke was the perfect balance of top-class academics and competitive athletics and I was challenged

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on a daily basis in both areas. It was great to be surrounded by so many likeminded students and athletes that were driven to achieve the top realms of their chosen career path. We all motivated and supported one another on our journeys and I am truly made the some great friends for life throughout my time there.

The list of your accolades and achievements are astonishing. What moment of achievement in your career thus far is the one that really stands out to you?

The Solheim Cup in Toledo was definitely the highlight of my career so far. From the outset of this year I was really looking forward to the possibility of making the European Team and I couldn’t have been happier that my play throughout the year impressed Captain Matthew enough to give me a wildcard pick. The week itself was more amazing than I would’ve ever dreamed of it being, from start to finish the team was incredible and we really made memories that will last a life time. Earning 4.5/5 points for Team Europe really was the icing on the cake and just added to what really was a truly special week.

You were recently included in “Girls Play Too” by Jacqui Hurley, an incredible book based on the achievements of Irish women in sports. With Irish golf dominated with names such as Padraig Harrington, Shane Lowry, Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy, do you feel there is enough opportunity for women to pursue golf as a career in Ireland?

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I think that it is great for young girls in Ireland to have two female roles models to look up to in the game of golf at present. Both Stephanie and I would love to inspire more young girls to take up golf and show what can be possible if you follow your dreams. When we were younger, there were no Irish players on the LPGA so we looked up to the great players in the men’s game like Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley.

I think that it is very special that young girls can now have role models on the female side as well and hopefully there’ll be even more Irish players on the LPGA in the future. It was an honour to represent Ireland at the Olympics in Rio with Stephanie in 2016 and again this summer in Tokyo. We practice hard every day to be as best prepared for the high-pressure situations that are thrown our way on LPGA tour, there is no better feeling than being able to pull off impressive golf shots when we need to most and those are the moments on tour that are truly rewarding and special after years of dedicated hard work and sacrifice.

When you made the decision to turn professional, was there any sense of trepidation or hesitancy on your side?

Did you have any fears of the success of your amateur career not being matched along with the pressure of people watching this move in your career to see how you did?

Elite level amateur golf is as competitive now as it has ever been. I really believe that my time spent as part of the Irish Team traveling internationally to elite competitions really eased the transition to the pro ranks. Playing collegiate golf in the US was also hugely beneficial in preparing me to make the leap from the amateur ranks to the professional stage.

Playing at Duke for four years provided me with the opportunity to play some of the best courses in the US, allowed me to become acclimated to playing conditions in the US while also competing against some of the world’s top amateurs on a regular basis. My play in collegiate and international amateur tournaments was rewarded with many invites to play in some LPGA, LET and major pro events.

Playing these events as an amateur provided me with exposure to the highest levels of tour golf and also provided me with the confidence in my abilities knowing that I could compete with the world’s best.

The biggest

challenge I have found between playing amateur golf and pro golf has been with respect to the travel demands of the playing schedule. We play a demanding schedule of events around the world, often playing 6-8 weeks continuously. However, the gym training and planning that I do in the offseason really prepares me well to be as I can be to perform at my best in every tournament that I do play.

To represent your country in an Olympics is a huge achievement in itself but to do it twice is amazing.

How did your home town of Cavan respond to being home to an Olympic athlete and did you receive much support from them?

The people of Cavan love their sport, GAA is definitely the favourite but all our sport stars receive tremendous support locally and across the county. The homecoming in Ballyconnell was incredible and something that I will treasure for the rest of my life.

These last two years or so have been very difficult for everyone and it was really nice to be able see friends and family lining the streets and it was really lovely to see so many people with great big smiles on their faces. I think its great that the young people all over the county have role models to look up to also. Seeing local people succeed and compete in the Olympics hopefully gives aspiring athletes something to aim towards and who knows we might have many more Olympians in the coming years!

You have paid credit in the past to people like Shane O’ Grady your coach, Dermot Byrne your caddy and of course your sister Lisa who switched to management. In a

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sport that seems from the outside to be so individual and self-supportive, how important is it to have a good solid support system in place behind the scenes.

I am really lucky to have the best community of people around me, who encourage and support me no matter what. First and foremost my family have been the backbone of my support structure since day one, and they really have made so many sacrifices along the way to ensure that it was possible for me to achieve my goals of playing golf at the highest level.

My mam and dad have been amazing, they really have made it possible for me to play golf professionally and without their continued support, I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today. I am very lucky that I have a great support team around me that that have guided me throughout my amateur career and through the transition to pro golf, coaches, physio, S&C coach, nutritionist and now agent and sponsors.

My team do trojan work behind the scenes and they’ve been invaluable to my career so far.

Can you tell our reader’s what a typical day in your life looks like?

My training routines vary considerably depending on the time of year and if we are in season or not. During the off-season I spend more time in the gym, getting stronger and building up more swing speed in order to gain more yardage off the tee. I think that as golfers, it is important that we are physically strong and stable, but we also have to be flexible 10

and agile enough to bee dynamic. I also spend some time with my golf coach, working on certain aspects of my technique, to make my swing more consistent and my ball flight more accurate for the upcoming season.

During the season, my training in the gym focuses more on maintaining the strength that I have built up over the course of the off-season. I will continue to work on generating more and more swing speed throughout the year, every extra yard of the tee helps! I definitely place more emphasis on activity recover between events and after rounds too. I work with my physio to prevent any injuries and I also try and keep flexible and mobile by alternation some Pilates and some swimming sessions. When the season is in full flow, we typically play 3-5 tournaments in a row and then have one week off.

During the off-week, I would typically work on aspects of my game that I felt needed a little fine tuning, and I usually spend the majority of my time practicing my short game and putting, playing games against the other pros to keep us sharp.

What goals have you set for 2022 and what do you hope to achieve?

2021 was an incredible year for me filled with many highlights and special moments, from competing in my second Olympic Games in Tokyo to the unforgettable week at the Solheim Cup in Toledo. As I move forward into 2022 I hope to build on those performances and channel the confidence garnered throughout the year to ensure that 2022 is even better. I have been working hard with my coaches during the off-season both on and off the course with the aim of improving accuracy off the tee while also maximizing clubhead speed and distance.

Competing and contending at the 5 major championships will be a main goal of mine this year. Those events showcase the very best of what the LPGA has to offer and my final round 61 at Evian last year really proved to me that I can compete with the best in the world. Finally, I hope to continue improving my Rolex World Ranking in 2022, starting the year just inside the Top-50, I would aim to drop that as low as possible in the coming weeks and months

with the ultimate goal of closing in on the top spot at some point in the future.

With any interview as of late it is hard to ignore the previous 2 years and current situation with the pandemic.

How has it impacted your career and personal life and have you taken any positive from it?

I think I had just returned from a series of tournaments in Australia when everything ground to a halt. We had played 3-4 tournament of the 2020 season at that point and I had just come off my best finish, T4 at the Vic Open in Melbourne.

It was my rookie season on the LPGA, so I really felt as though I was only finding my feet and gaining some nice momentum when events were cancelled one after each other. That said, it really was nice to be able to spend some quality time at home with my family. I spend so much time travelling during the year, and don’t get that chance to be at home for prolonged periods, so it was really nice for us all to be under one roof for a while. We have some gym equipment and a nice big field out the back of the house too, so I was able to keep up my training throughout, one of the perks of living in the countryside.

What advice would you give to any young reader on chasing their dreams and achieving their goals?

I have learned that nothing is impossible as long as you set your mind to it and just go after it with everything that you have.

Never be afraid to make the most of the opportunities that arise in your life and with some hard work and resilience there is nothing in life that you can’t achieve. I would advise all young boys and girls to play as many sports as they can and to stay as active as they can growing up. Sport is a great way to meet new people, travel the world and experience new cultures all while learning new skills that will stand to you in all other areas of your life. But most importantly, have fun while playing sport, try playing with as many friends as you can and enjoy being outside in the fresh air after school or at the weekend.

One last thing that I would say is to not get discouraged if you don’t enjoy the sport right away, there are so many different types of sports and activities that you can take part in, there really is something for everybody and you can achieve anything if you work hard enough!

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Love is in the Air

By Cathriona Murphy

ideas for your loved one this Valentines

Whether its dining out or purchasing gifts, we here at connect have you covered! Pulling together our top recommendations for dining out this February 14th we’ve done all the hard work so you don’t have to!

Top restaurants Kitty O’ Se’s Killarney is one of Kerry’s most well-known and well-loved seafood restaurants. From the moment you step foot in the door you are immediately treated to the warm welcome from proprietor Eileen to the delicious aroma of the freshest ingredients straight from the sea. Diners can enjoy fresh oysters, prawns, mussels, the famous ‘Seafood Tower’, their mouth-watering 30 day aged steaks along with vegetarian and vegan options serving customers with a real taste of Kerry. It has a cosy, inviting and of course romantic atmosphere which is sure to impress your Valentine date!

Sforno Restaurant is nestled in the heart of Tralee on Edward Street. It is hard to walk past without being hit by the rich aromas of hearty Italian food. With a warm and cosy atmosphere the setting itself is very intimate which suits from first dates and beyond. The menu encompasses all the traditional tastes of Italy from mouth-watering pizzas to creamy pasta dishes. So why not enjoy a “Bella Notte” here on Valentine’s day!

The Ashe Hotel is home to the stunningly beautiful Alfie’s Lounge.

If you are set to impress or perhaps planning on popping a particular question well then this is the place to go. The attention to detail in the décor from plush velvet seating, stunning chandeliers it just oozes style and elegance. The food menu is very inclusive of everyone’s taste. From chicken, sweet chilli and coconut stir fry to locally sourced steak, curry dishes and gourmet burgers just to mention a few! Alfie’s lounge does not disappoint and will set the tone of any Valentines date!

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Gifting Now we can hardly do a Valentine guide without mentioning engagement rings so here are 2 stunningly beautiful ones from John Ross Jewellers Tralee. The 18ct White Gold Leah Rectangular Engagement Ring is absolutely exquisite and would look perfect on any lucky ladies ring finger. This is priced at €2,870.00 EUR. How beautiful is this 9ct Rose Gold Morganite & Diamond Ring! Future husbands of Kerry women please take note because this is an absolute show stopper!

Coming in at a more budget friendly price of €989.00 EUR Most pharmacies or similar stores are very accommodating in putting together budget specific hampers which are a really great idea to spoil the lady or man in your life. From perfumes to makeup, aftershave to styling products here are a few of my recommendations.

You cannot go wrong with Kiss Lashes. The application of false lashes is the cornerstone to a finished makeup look and these are the best out there! You could compliment these lashes by adding in pieces from the Note Cosmetics range. With excellent price points the products themselves have garnered a reputation for being long lasting and highly pigmented which will see you right through any date night!

For skincare I would recommend the Nuxe range.

It oozes glamour and has an expensive look and feel but without the price tag! Most pharmacies stock Nuxe and often have gift sets available. For perfumes a good his and hers range would have to be D&G The One. Both the aftershave and perfume complement each other so beautifully. If your budget does not stretch to that then check out one of the best kept secrets in fragrance, Jenny Glow. Available in most pharmacies it has all the stunning scents of the brand names but at a mere fraction of the price! I have a personal favourite in the “Velvet and Oud” edition which anyone will be thrilled to receive as a gift.

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Spa Treats

By Cathriona Murphy When it comes to spa retreats in Ireland, Kerry has long held its position of one of the top destinations. With so many high quality luxury spas to choose from it can be difficult to decide! We here in Connect have made it easier by recommending some of the best for you!

Spa at Killarney Plaza Hotel Situated in the heart of Killarney, The Plaza Hotel Spa is a peaceful and tranquil escape from the busy world outside. With therapy rooms it caters for all treatment from a relaxing Aromatherapy Hot Stone Massage to an Ultimate Vitamin Glow Facial.

What makes this spa so unique is their amazing Gulfstream Hydrotherapy Pool. Interwoven into every treatment, the decadent water therapy relaxes you, melting away all that built up tension. Following on from that, their Serail Chamber Experience is an exquisite treatment unique to The Plaza.

With a private pod for yourself, couple or a group of friends it is designed to steam treat your pores whilst you use the conditioning fossil muds provided. If indulging in a relaxing break away in a luxurious setting is what you are looking for, then The Plaza is the spa for you! For more information, please contact 0646621151 or email spa@killarneyplaza.com

Nádúr Spa at Ballygarry Estate

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Nádúr Spa is located in the opulent Ballygarry Estate. A multi award winning spa, its reputation of being one of Irelands finest luxury spas is deservedly earned. Nádúr itself is the Irish word for Nature and this is complimented well by the

sweeping landscape of carefully manicured gardens to the backdrop of mountains, an oasis of peace on the outskirts of Tralee. From massages such as their Mindful Moments Holistic Treatment to a Five Element Aroma Facial there is a treatment to suit everybody! A day spent at Nádúr will leave you feeling utterly spoiled and pampered, relaxed and recharged to take on the world again tomorrow. If this wasn’t enough, an exciting redevelopment is due to be unveiled in 2023 with works beginning in Autumn of this year.

Their developments will see a new thermal garden featuring a glass sauna, herbal steam room, an additional treatment room, outdoor seaweed baths, salt room with heated thermal loungers and an additional outdoor hot tub encased in a unique cryotherapy cold water walk with infinity edge. For more information, contact 0667123322

Serenity at The Rose Hotel The Rose Hotel is best known for being the heart of The Rose of Tralee festival, but inside is one of Kerry’s hidden gems, Serenity Spa. Situated on the beautifully scenic canal walk, Serenity is exactly as its name suggests. A tranquil escape from daily life to indulge in a treatment or two in one of their bespoke treatment rooms. Their expertly trained therapists guide you through your experience from beginning to end, ensuring to maximise the experience to its fullest. Whether it’s their infamous signature treatment “Decadent Rose Escape” or one of their “Biotech Technology Facials” you are sure to leave feeling revitalised, relaxed and pampered. For more information, contact Serenity Spa on 066 7199111, or email spa@therosehotel.com

Is it time to catch up with friends or celebrate a special occasion?

We have the perfect excuse!

Our NEW

at The Rose Hotel

Pamper & Prosecco Package • On arrival relax and unwind in our heat experiences; Sauna & Steam Room • 55 minute treatment of choice from our brochure or Mini Manicure & Pedicure • Glass of Prosecco in Relaxation Suite • 2 Course Lunch in Dott’s Bar

€115 per person (Package is for a minimum of 3 guests, Biotec Facials are not included)

Call us today to book, 066 7199111 or email spa@therosehotel.com The Rose Hotel, Dan Spring Road, Tralee, Co. Kerry, V92 HKA4.

www.therosehotel.com

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HAVING A HEALTHY PREGNANCY: What’s New? So maybe your little person (or people) are on the way! We are great at planning our weddings, parties or housebuilding but it is also important to look at what will help you to have as healthy a pregnancy as possible.

Pre Pregnancy Planning

We know that prior to pregnancy taking folic acid is very important. Sometimes women need a higher dose than the over the counter tablet so always check with your GP. Women who have a pre-existing medical condition such as high blood pressure or diabetes can benefit from a preconceptual check up with their GP or obstetrician. At The Scotia Clinic we are very lucky to now have Triona Casey on our team. Triona is a nurse with huge experience in women’s health and paediatrics. She now provides women’s health checks for our clients. We also recommend nutrition consultations in some circumstances.

It is also strongly recommended that people complete their Covid vaccines prior to pregnancy. Research now shows that Covid infections in pregnancy in non-vaccinated women are associated with pregnancy loss.

New Tests and Treatments in Early Pregnancy

Research shows that certain groups of women who previously had a miscarriage can benefit from progesterone treatment as soon as their scan shows an ongoing pregnancy. Check this out in the NICE guidelines.

Some women with a history of preterm delivery can also benefit from progesterone so this can be discussed with your doctor.

Other women may benefit from aspirin from early pregnancy, particularly if they have a risk of pre-eclampsia.

Nowadays more parents are considering prenatal testing called NIPT tests for early screening for Down Syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities. This consists of a blood test from mom and can be done from 10 weeks of pregnancy. We now use a German laboratory which provides quick turnaround of results. The results complement the anatomy (20 week) scan and, in fact, the anatomy scan is being brought forward earlier now that ultrasound scanning has improved so much.

As part of your early scan some clinics will also screen for preeclampsia

Being Healthy in Pregnancy

Irish women are very lucky that our laws protect pregnancy so well. Every woman is entitled to a healthy workplace.

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Finding time to keep your body healthy is important. We now promote a pregnancy specific exercise programme called Hopscotch which was designed in National Maternity Hospital (NMH)and has been shown to benefit a healthy labour. Check out The Scotia Clinic YouTube channel for our videos on how to safely and effectively perform Hopscotch.

Healthy eating in pregnancy is also important for you and your baby. There is now a smartphone app called Hollestic, also designed by NMH, that we recommend to all our Scotia patients.

All women attending us for pregnancy care get access to all of these educational resources.

Feeding Your Baby

We strongly recommend our moms to breastfeed. Education on breastfeeding in advance is the key to success. Our online and face to face classes with Lactation Consultant, Anna O’Donoghue, cover all topics including colostrum harvesting.

She can also provide colostrum harvesting kits.

Preparing for The Birth of Your Baby

In addition to your doctor / midwife visits, exploring antenatal education options is very important. This allows women to look at what will give them the most positive experience. Each hospital now provides online classes without charge. Our YouTube channel also has videos on all aspects of education with a strong physiotherapy input. Many couples like to explore GentleBirth options which can be accessed by using the app or doing a Gentle Birth class. Currently, most classes are by Zoom which means you can access classes anywhere in the country.

Check out fearlessbirth.ie or saolu.gentlebirthwithaisling.

Emotional health is also important and we often recommend art or music therapy to help with those who find their anxiety is a bit worse.

Lots of new and exciting options for women now include water immersion- being in a warm bath once labour is established. This will soon be a reality at UHK. So whether your pregnancy is straightforward or a little complex, we want to think that we can as much as possible.

Having your little ones is an exciting time. Yes, Covid has made it a little more complicated to navigate but your healthcare team are here to help.

Resources

Check out our Facebook, Instagram and YouTube resources Breastfeeding Kerry also have excellent social media resources.

For More Information contact us on: PH: (066) 7181100 EMAIL: Reception@scotiaclinic.ie

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Bestselling author Trisha Lewis of Trisha’s Transformation

on the importance of wellbeing and healthy mind-set

old baby and a 40th to be celebrating?” I was amazed at how she flipped someone’s utter sadness into joy with the use of perspective. I reached out to Trisha and we sat for a chat!

When we talk about weight loss there are countless feelings, emotions and struggles that come in to play. You talk a lot about perspective and mind-set, how important do you feel it is to achieving goals for a healthier life?

By Cathriona Murphy In the month of January, it is near on impossible to walk past a book shop without seeing a self-help or diet book in the window. People, often laden with Christmas indulgence guilt, snap up the latest offering, purchase gym membership and walk into the nearest weight loss group. So why is this almost a regular cycle and why do we constantly beat ourselves up about it? During a recent Q&A on her Instagram page, Trisha Lewis was sent the following “I have an eight-month old baby and my 40th coming up. I haven’t lost the weight I wanted and feel so lost because of it” Trisha’s response really struck me deep personally, she replied “But aren’t you lucky to have that 8-month 18

I think its hugely important, it’s very confusing out there at the moment with a very anti-diet culture. People saying no you shouldn’t be on a diet you should learn to love yourself instead but then you’re on the side that I’m at where I need to lose weight for my health. So I’m thinking oh god what way do I go? So the way I look at it is the perspective from my eyes. I suppose I can’t look at my life and say I would be happier if I lose weight because my weight is only a small fraction of who I am. If you take a step back and start looking at what you have instead of maybe what you desire things do change. Often I would think I wish I could be this size or that size, but aren’t I lucky that I have Parents and a happy, healthy family? It’s all about pulling it back a small bit as a woman and going what do I do for myself every day? Sometimes you have to give yourself that pat on the back and say that I have all of this, but I’d love to change that, but I can’t do it all right now, but I will get there! You know I think the pressure we put on ourselves as a society to be thinner to be more accepted is really, really hard because when I do my weight loss journey, I do it for health. You know, the size on the label does not matter. It’s the size of my sadness, that’s what matters to me, once I’m reducing that, then I know I’m on the right track.

When we consider a holistic approach, treating the person from the inside out from brain to body as opposed to quick fixes popular on social media what are your feelings on that?

I’m by no means an expert at all but I know if I look at it that all the experts are telling me it’s a calorie deficit, measure what goes in etc. and I get all of that, it is proven by science and I’m not arguing that. But I think that maybe it runs a little bit deeper in the sense that I often think of my weight gain as a symptom, it isn’t a cause but a symptom and I look inside thinking what is that symptom?

What is causing it, am I not looking after myself or am I not dealing with trauma and more or less kicking the bucket down the road and eating the food to bury some sort of pain? I think you could do the holistic

approach but I also think you need to put all of it together.

If you had told me years ago I was going to write a weight loss book Id have sat there and waited for the weight to go, but I have to get up and get it done. But seriously I think there has to be a huge amount of compassion, empathy, forgiveness and understanding of yourself.

If I gave you a diet plan and said there you go, that’s what I do every day, I get up in the morning Cathriona and I drink my water and I do this, I do that. If you went to copy that it would never work for you because the two of us are totally different and I think the way I look at it is you need to look at yourself and ask questions like “What happened you when you were seven years of age, did someone mock you in the playground and did you internalize that and therefor eating away your feelings?” I don’t think anybody wants to eat away their feelings and physically eat themselves into a state where they are finding it difficult to move, that’s caused by something else. I think the holistic approach and to look inside yourself to see what can you fix yourself? Whether that is with therapy, engaging in CBT, walking or ringing a friend and having a big old cry. You need to know what works for you and it is most definitely an all-rounder, but you still have to put in the work.

What I always say is “You won’t get the ass you want by sitting on the ass you have!”

You recently became a brand ambassador for Lifestyle Sports, how important was it to you to become one of their first plus size representatives?

It was insane, it was really insane. I have always been on the plus size as far as I can remember so I would have always seen models and athletes on billboards who would be the typical size of what is deemed “normal” so for me to even get that email I thought it was class! But I do think brands are moving towards being more inclusive so that everybody matters. When I first started on this journey nearly four years ago I wore pyjamas to the gym, a black pyjama pants because I couldn’t find a pair of trousers that would go up over my stomach whereas now I know that brands are slowly getting it and I know it takes time because you could very easily produce a size 26 pants but if that’s modelled off a size 8 body it’s not going to work. It won’t work because the weight of my stomach will push it down so I think there is a lot of work going in to it, it isn’t there yet but I do think it will get there. What people need to realise is that everybody deserves to be happy, no matter what shape you are or what size you are. You deserve to be able to put something on to be comfortable and to be happy. A lot of people say sure it doesn’t matter what you’re wearing but it really does. It’s very hard to be happy or comfortable when the clothes don’t fit right or the pants keep falling down. It’s bad enough going into a gym when you are riddled with anxiety anyway but at least if the clothes are right you feel that little bit better. But I do think people are slowly changing, it takes all different shapes and sizes to make up the world and that’s what makes it beautiful.

Is that something you might consider doing in the future, designing a range of clothing with those ideas in mind?

No absolutely not and I’ll tell you why! I can barely dress myself in the morning and people always say it to me would you not do it?

Definitely not I can barely throw a dress on myself and honestly I don’t think I have the passion enough for it? Obviously in the dream I would love to do it but I just don’t think I have the passion for it. I like something if its black, I can throw it on and it stays then I’m happy out. But I do think there are a lot of Irish brands at the moment who are going towards that and I think they will smash it.

Finally, Trisha, us Irish have an awful habit of putting ourselves down, little or no self-belief. What would you say to our readers here in Connect about being kinder to themselves and more self-compassion?

I think we honestly need to go easier on ourselves, I have eight sisters so I’ve always been surrounded by very powerful women.

I think the common denominator is that you have to be your own cheerleader. You have to change how you talk to yourself, change your mind-set, what you focus on will expand. If you say to yourself “Ah sure it’s only this?” Well then that’s all its going to be, but if you tell yourself “I am so proud, a year ago I would have done anything to be in the position I’m in today, I am so grateful”.

I think sometimes, as women, we need to put down the stick that we flog ourselves with and say we are wonderful, we are perfect, we are coming from a place where we have to deal with things left right and centre like hormones and what not. Instead, sometimes we need to take a step back and think that my god aren’t we so bloody powerful? The work we do on ourselves we do on our own, but what we say to ourselves we say to our kids. So make sure it comes from a place of positivity, empowerment and be in absolute awe of your own strength. Keep lifting yourself up because we are here for a very short time and I for one don’t want to look back in 60 years’ time and think do you know what? I did that for other people’s opinions, I am going to look back and say I did it for Trish, I did it for 33-year-old Trish when she was unhappy and you picked her up. I didn’t do it because somebody down the road didn’t think I was small enough? So drown out the haters, whether they are internal or external tell them shut up for a minute and listen to yourself.

“Trisha’s 21 Day Reset” and “Trisha’s Transformation”

by Trisha Lewis are available to purchase online and in store in all good book stores.

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Self-Care: What’s it all about...

Self-care has become a real buzz word these days, we hear it a lot and it is thrown around a lot in social media and in conversation.

Sometimes when we think of self -care the image of the bubble bath, the candles, getting a spa treatment comes to mind and while all these are lovely, lovely things to do, that is just a tiny sprinkle and superficial layer almost of what self-care really is.

If we think that by having a bubble bath every now and again, we are taking care of ourselves we really are kidding ourselves.

The true meaning of self-care is that on any given day you tune into yourself and check in to see how you’re really feelling on that day.

Not how you think you should be doing, feeling, or performing but how you are really feeling.

Based on how you are, giving yourself exactly what you need in that moment to fully support yourself; that is what self -care really is.

Tuning in and giving yourself that care, that attention, that loving support that you would readily give a friend in need.

Not turning your back on yourself on the days where you feel you have not performed at your best; these are the days to care more for yourself. We also have a relationship with ourselves and it’s governed under the exact same principles that any good relationship is based on. NOURISH to FLOURSIH! Self-care is not selfish by the way; self-care is a must.

So now that we know what Self Care really is how do we practice it? Can you see how the bubble bath now is nowhere near the true meaning of Self Care?

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by Christina O'Sullivan

In practice I explain Self Care as underpinning the 4 Pillars of your Health: 1. Nutrition - what we eat and drink 2. Exercise - how we move and mind our bodies. Our bodies were made for movement.

3. Sleep – Sleep is now recognised as the no 1 element to get right for our mental health.

4. Mindset – how we think and feel about ourselves.

If we can do our best in these 4 Pillars daily, we are truly minding and caring for our bodies and living the true meaning of Self-Care.

Top Tips for each Pillar of Health: Nutrition – food and drink – listen food is there for Nutrition but also joy, we must also see that. Self-respect starts with how we nourish our bodies daily both physically and mentally.

The first place to start is to change from seeing food as good or bad to seeing it as the no 1 driver of our health. When you switch your thinking to nourishing your body you tend to choose more wisely.

My biggest piece of advice is to ditch the dieting mentality.

90% of diets fail and it is the only industry in the world where the product fails but people blame themselves! Think about it, how do you feel when your diet fails, and you put on weight?

It is a vicious cycle of feeling like a failure, leading to emotional eating and low self-esteem to pick up the courage to start again!

You have not failed; it is the approach you have been given that has failed you!

Aim instead to get back to eating whole natural foods without the deprivation of dieting.

Learn how to nourish your body as the main driver of your health, ensure you include at a very base level, carbohydrates,

protein, fats, and the essential vitamins and minerals daily.

Dieting or leaving our food groups can damage your health in long term.

Exercise: 20 minutes brisk walk each day is the heart health recommendation from WHO. Find an exercise you really enjoy, walk, or run with a buddy, be accountable, try 10,000 steps a day challenge.

Sleep: aim for up to 7 hours, it is not always possible, some barriers can be the blue light from phones which interrupts our melatonin production, lack of magnesium and other nutrients in our diet. Build in a routine like you would for a young child, shower, read, sleep!

Mindset: how we show up for ourselves daily. Our mindset determines our habits, and our habits play a pivotal role in our health. See yourself as the driver of your own health. When you accept this truth, you show up with a different kind of identity.

Take each Pillar in turn and ask yourself: What 3 areas can I improve on every day?

This way you truly are taking responsibility for your health.

I hope you can see the true meaning of Self- Care (not just a bubble bath!) and commit to this practice every day.

Sláinte (to your good health) Christine O Sullivan Nutrition is one of the services available at Scotia Clinic and can be contacted: Christina /Nutritional Therapist Dip. Nutrition / Mental Health First Aider Telephone: 087 2246431 Facebook: Christina’s Nutrition & Health Hub Instagram: christina_nutrition_health_hub

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YOU DONT NEED A NEW YOU January - it may be a new year but you certainly don't need a "New You' Making drastic changes and expecting to change overnight is where most people go wrong when partaking in a fat loss journey. Instead - Think small attainable steps and goals that will get you to your final goal.

Change one or two little things at a time to establish a new routine or norm. Yes you won't see the results over night but you will and they will last. Be proud of You - you are the one who is committing to change- to a healthy, fit , new lifestyle.

Here are some tips to get you on your way.

• DO IT NOW - don't put it off any longer • Small Steps - start by cutting down considerably on junk food.

Save your self a treat at the weekends. A take away , glass of wine or whatever you like. Remember- 80/ 20 rule. Eat good nutritious food 80% of the time and relax and enjoy a treat 20% of the time • Move More - get in a minimum of 10000 steps per day. Remember EAT LESS - MOVE MORE to loose weight you need to be in a calorie deficit. Get a personal trainer or nutritionist to work this out for you if you aren't sure.

• Take up some form of strength/resistance training.

• Join a group or class or do it with a friend. Motivation is infectious.

• Have realistic short term goals • Be prepared. Dont leave it until the last minute when grocery shopping. Prepare your meals or plan them in advance • Make a shopping list and stict to it • Where possible avoid processed food. But if you need to use them be vigilant of the sugar content- aim for no more than 8g per 100g.

There is a huge difference in sugar content between jars of the same sauce. You will find the sugar content under Carbohydrate-(of which are sugars) • Avoid buying - sweets, cakes , biscuits etc- instead plan your treats and organise these.

• Plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables- bulk up your meals with low calorie veg.

• Drink water - 2 L per day • Sleep - aim for a min of 7 - 8 hours per night .

Here's to 2022 and a Fitter , Healthier You We offer affordable options for all your fitness needs.

Services - Building Strength - Losing weight - Personal Training - Fitness Classes 22

Monavalley Tralee 085 2689880

@Achievefitnessirl

WELLNESS FOR WOMEN Women have unique health issues and can experience certain complaints more or sometimes less frequently than men and their nutritional requirements are also different.

Tailored support for female health issues are important from a young age right through to later life. Empowering yourself with some simple but powerful knowledge can help improve your sense of wellness by supporting your body’s natural metabolic and hormonal balance.

Some of the more common female health issues are: PMS (Pre-Menstrual Syndrome) Around 1 in 4 women suffer moderate to severe PMS symptoms, which occur 1-2 weeks before menstruation. The most common symptoms are irritability, anxiety, tension, mood swings, bloating, breast tenderness and headaches. These symptoms can be severe and some of the natural remedies shown to be helpful are: MAGNESIUM and VITAMIN B6 – helps reduce cravings, fluid retention and anxiety. Both MAGNESIUM and B6 play an important role in regulating hormones and mood.

UTI (Urinary Tract Infections) It is estimated 1 in 5 women will have a urinary tract infections during their life. UTI’s have a very high (up to 20%) risk of reoccurrence. Some safe and effective ways to prevent reoccurring UTI’s are therefore very important and this is the main use of CRANBERRY. The berries are rich in nutrients which may prevent infections taking hold. It is recommended to take CRANBERRY CAPSULES along with a PROBIOTIC for long term prevention. When faster relief is needed D-MANOSE (in capsules or powder) is a good recommendation.

A PERUVIAN SUPER-FOOD FOR WOMEN WELLBEING IS MACA MACA is a remarkable super-food prized for improving energy and vitality and is known as an important remedy for female health. MACA has been used for centuries for female and hormonal balance. Indeed, modern research has found that MACA may help to improve energy and mood and decrease anxiety. A number of studies have also shown MACA to be a safe way to relieve menopausal symptoms and may help reduce hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, improve libido and emotional wellbeing. MACA is available in powder or capsule form.

There are some excellent products now available in the healthstore formulated specifically to balance and support female health.

Some of these include: AGNUS CASTUS: Female hormonal balancing, painful heavy periods and PMT. ASHWAGANDA: Adaptogenic herb ideal to help with stress/anxiety.

MENOMIN: Tiredness and fatigue associated with hormonal activity.

WILD NUTRITION MENOPAUSE COMPLEX: A unique complex of herbs and botanicals suitable for use during all stages of menopause.

EVENING PRIMROSE OIL: contains GLA which may help hormonal symptoms such as breast tenderness , bloating and low mood.

For more information on any of these products or to discuss your specific symptoms just call in store and as always we are happy to help.

Until Next Time, Stay Healthy, Deirdre 23

Ask the Pharmacist In the first of 2022’s much anticipated Ask The Pharmacist features, Mounthawk Pharmacy’s Pat and Maria discuss the various supplements available over the counter to help you kickstart the new year in the best way possible.

“First and foremost, we would like to wish all the people of Kerry a belated happy new year. We know 2021 brought it’s fair share of hardships-COVID is still dominating the headlines, but we all have hope that life will return to normal this year.

Here in Mounthawk we are big fans of new year resolutions. This year we resolve to be healthier and to win the lottery once and for all. So read on for a snapshot of some of the products that we ourselves use to help us stay fit and healthy.

An extremely popular range of products available in our store is the Revive Active range. This is a super supplement enriched with a unique blend of vitamins and minerals and is proven to boost health and vitality. We have all tried it ourselves and it really does give you a boost in the mornings. Another thing about it is that is vegan so it is suitable for nearly everyone. The best thing about this company is it is Irish, all products are made in Tullamore (where labour costs are cheaper than elsewhere in the country we hear….) and we love the delicious flavour as well. Following the success of this product, the company formulated several other quality products to help treat a variety of conditions. For people who are active and like to run, the Revive Joint Complex is a godsend, containing a unique blend of glucosamine, marine collagen and hyaluronic acid to keep your joints in working order. People always ask us how we maintain our youthful complexions here in the pharmacy (honestly, we sometimes tire of all the compliments we receive) and the secret is (a) lots of cosmetic surgery and (b) Revive Beauty Complex.

This lifesaver contains a unique blend of biotin, phytoceramides and marine collagen to keep your skin, hair and nails looking their best. For women suffering with menopausal symptoms, we have heard wonderful feedback about the Revive MenoActive product. This super supplement contains 30 active ingredients that are proven to regulate hormonal levels, brain function and energy production. There are several other products available in this range and we really couldn’t recommend them highly enough. Pop into store to talk to one of us about this range-you will not regret it.

At this time of the year, with low levels of sunlight, Vitamin D deficiency is very prevalent. There are a range of products available over the counter to remedy this, as well as higher potency ones that are available only on prescription. The PharmaNord range is particularly popular here in our store,

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it’s unique formulation ensures a fast and reliable delivery of Vitamin D into your system. Our energy levels can be reduced as well at this time of year. A good diet filled with fresh fruit and vegetables will help with this. In addition to this, any supplement with B vitamins in it will give you the lift you need. In addition to the Revive Active listed above, Centrum, Pharmaton and Berocca are just some of the products available in store that can really give you that energy boost you need to tackle the day. These come in a variety of formulations, tailored to your age to give you the desired results. There are a huge range of other products that offer the same benefits and the choice on offer can be overwhelming. Call into store where we will be glad to assist you in choosing the right product for your needs.

In the winter months, coughs and colds are rampant and can sometimes linger for weeks. A supplement containing Vitamin C and Zinc will augment your immune system and give you the best chance of staying healthy. If you do fall sick, Exputex is a fantastic cough bottle for getting rid of the troublesome phlegm associated with a chesty cough and is by far the most popular cough bottle on the market. For a dry cough, Benylin Non-Drowsy is our go-to product of choice. If you want all all-purpose cough bottle then Bronchostop is the product for you-it works on any type of cough. If you feel run down after a period of illness then Metatone is a tremendous tonic that will restore your vitality in no time. Fosfor syrup is a product you can try to help improve your appetite which sometimes wanes when you are unwell.

As always, here in Mounthawk we are big advocates of probiotics as an adjunct to a healthy diet. So many conditions can be improved by having good gut health and there are several products available to help in this regard. Alflorex is a personal favourite of ours, it is a miracle worker and makes a noticeable difference to your overall health. It contains a unique blend of bacteria in an easy to swallow capsule. There are many other brands available such as BioKult, Udo’s Choice and we are proud to stock an extensive range of products for everyone from infants to the elderly. If you struggle with conditions relating to your digestive system (IBS, constipation, diarrhoea etc) then you really need to give these products a try.

This article just offers a snapshot of some of the products we use ourselves here in the shop. We hope you found it someway informative and that everyone is keeping safe and well. As mentioned previously, if you have any queries on any health matters pop into store at Mounthawk Allcare Pharmacy where we will always do out utmost to help. Until next time!”

E: mounthawk@allcarepharmacy.ie Ph: (066) 712 8989 mounthawkallcarepharmacy

Nora's Kitchen Recipes

Keeping you healthy in the new year A complete meal in a bowl, with the rich, satisfying taste you only get from slow cooking

Prep TIme

2h 30min

Beef and Guinness casserole

Serves 4

Ingredients

900g lean beef fillet, visible fat removed, cut into chunk 2 garlic cloves, crushed 6 small onions, quartered 2 celery sticks, cut into 2½ cm pieces.

6 carrots, thickly sliced Small handful fresh parsley, finely chopped Low-calorie cooking spray 125ml Guinness 800ml hot beef stock 1 level tbsp beef gravy granules 1 bay leaf

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 160°C/fan 140°C/gas 3.

2. Spray a large non-stick frying pan with low-calorie cooking spray and place over medium heat. Add the beef and stir-fry until browned on all sides. Next, add the vegetables, Guinness, stock, and gravy granules. Season lightly and add the bay leaf. Bring to the boil. Transfer to a medium casserole dish and cover. Cook in the oven for 1½-2 hours or until the beef is tender.

3. Remove from the oven and sprinkle over the chopped parsley before serving.

Serve with mashed potatoes and your favourite veggies.

You can save time by buying your meringue nests in advance. Shop-bought nests are a little smaller than ours, so this dessert will be 2½ Syns per serving if you have one nest, or 5 Syns per serving if you have two.

Prep TIme

1h 5min

Ingredients

2 large egg whites 75g caster sugar 2 level tbsp sweetener ½ level tsp cornflour ¼ tsp white wine vinegar 150g plain quark 100g fat-free natural Greek-style yoghurt 2 ripe passion fruit 2 small bananas, sliced

Cooling Time 3 Hours

Makes 4

Banana and Passion-Fruit Pavlova Nests

1. Preheat your oven to 120°C/fan 100°C/gas ½.

2. Line a large baking sheet with non-stick baking paper. Using a bowl or cup as a template, mark 4 x 10cm circles on the paper, spaced well apart, then flip over the paper so that the pencil marks are on the underside.

3. Put the egg whites into a large, clean bowl and whisk using an electric hand whisk until stiff peaks form. Gradually whisk in the sugar and sweetener to form a stiff, glossy meringue. Whisk in the cornflour and vinegar and spoon the mixture into a piping bag (fitted with a star nozzle, if you like).

4. Starting in the centre of each circle on the baking paper, pipe the pavlova mixture in a spiral to form a flat disc, then pipe 2 lines of meringue around the edge of each disc to form the walls of the nests. Bake for 45 minutes, then turn off the oven and leave the nests in the oven for at least 3 hours, or overnight, to cool and dry out.

5. When you are almost ready to serve, beat the quark and yoghurt in a bowl until smooth. Halve the passion fruit and scoop the pulp into a bowl with a teaspoon.

6. Carefully peel the pavlova nests off the paper, spoon in some of the quark mixture and top with banana slices and passion fruit pulp. Serve straight away before the meringue has a chance to soften.

Contact NORA on 087 2489838 Manor Retail & Leisure Park, Tralee 25

Women, Menopause and Oral Health.

by Dr Roisín Boyle

Hello Connect Readers, Happy new year to ye all and let's hope it is a year that we can kick this Covid lark to touch. Can hardly believe that January is gone, and I know it is probably the most annoying statement one is likely to hear but "there is definitely a stretch in the evenings" Here in the shop February is a lovely time, we are getting in our Spring/Summer stock daily and we lots of colours to brighten our days. We have included some images just to tease you. Even though we are curtailed in our outings there is no reason not to brighten up an outfit with a scarf or bag or both.....

Just getting away from That's Perfect stock for a moment, I feel there is light at the end of the tunnel, people seem less stressed and hopeful maybe it is the time of the year, Little green shoots in the garden, slightly longer days and cows calving ( I am still a country girl at heart) so all in all we need to look forward as my Dad would say " you won't go far if you keep looking backwards " Now before I sign off I want to let ye know we have got the FFP 2 mask in stock both black and white. They come in packs of 2 for €5.00, packs of 10 for €20.00 and packs 20 for €35.00.

If you need these or any of our masks do not hesitate to contact us.

Will sign off now as I have to empty a shelf both in the shop and a home for the lots of Valentine cards I hope to receive!!!!!!!

Women go through a series of hormonal changes throughout their lives including puberty, menses, pregnancy and menopause. Menopause can be defined as the phase in a woman’s life when she ceases to be fertile, and her menstruation cycles stop permanently.

This process triggers major hormonal changes that affect various parts of the body, including the oral cavity. If you are going through this you may have noticed a range of oral health effects including inflamed gums, burning mouth sensations, altered taste, bone loss and dry mouth.

Dry mouth can increase your risk of tooth decay and makes eating and swallowing more difficult. Periodontal disease (gum disease) is the most common problem which can appear at this time.

With timely treatment, all the oral health conditions caused due to menopause can be managed effectively.

It is advisable to use a fluoride toothpaste, brush twice a day, avoid sugary or salty snacks and aim for a balanced diet. Ensure you have dental check up at least once every six months. Your doctor may prescribe HRT (hormone replacement therapy) to balance out the hormone fluctuations. Menopause will affect all women, but your own personal experience will be unique to you, so always take your own oral health symptoms seriously and seek your dentist’s help to feel better.

Until the next time, Keep safe, Keep smiling, And be kind

Carmel

49, Sráid na Carraige Uachtarach, Trá Lí, Co. Chiarraí 49 Upper Rock Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry Ph: (066) 712 1457 | www.macdomhnailldental.ie | fiacloir@gmail.com

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Pilates with Marie Townsend One of Kerry’s best known Pilates Instructors, Marie Townsend, explains to us about Pilates and what it achieves for the individual. Having originally begun her career in the corporate world, deskbound in an office job, Marie became interested in activity, exercise and how movement could impact her mind-set. Returning to Ireland after spending many years travelling, Marie trained as a fitness instructor with NCEF and began teaching aerobics, body conditioning and exercise for the older adult. In 2000 a colleague of hers showed her an article on Pilates which led her to participating in Irelands first Pilates training course.

Since then, Pilates fast became a worldwide phenomenon with many celebrities and athletes crediting their toned physiques to practicing it. But it runs so much deeper than just toning the body up. Marie

explained to us “Pilates focuses the mind and body to achieve overall body balance, fitness and a greater sense of wellbeing.

It is guided by seven core principles which are; Relaxation and Alignment, Concentration, Centring, Control, Precision, Movement and Breathing.” Marie told us “I am often complimented on how I move and my good posture, and this I achieved through Pilates plus years of learning to gain a better understanding of how our bodies work and move. It is hard to believe that I was once an awkward, clumsy kid, lacking co-ordination – a bit like a baby giraffe – but it’s true!”

Should you wish to experience Pilates for yourself, it is recommended that you begin your introduction with an experienced Instructor who can guide you through the exercises, and breathing techniques, correctly to help you to better understand how your body moves and how to gain the most benefit from these movements”.

For more information contact Marie on 087 7445115 | Facebook : @PilatesTralee

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Romy Birdthistle, Makeup Aritst, Educator and Owner of Paradise Salon & Academy

2022 - A year for self care So this year instead of making any pie in the sky new years resolutions I have decided to resolve myself to making self care a priority rather than a luxury.

The past 2 years have been tough and trying on everyone and taking physical and mental care of yourself is something completely in your control The first thing I've started with is my hands, they are so so dry from all of the hand washing and hand sanitiser.

The L'Occitane Hand Cream is so hydrating and comforting, it's an absoulte must have Next on the agenda is to sort out my sleep. There are so many benefits to getting the correct amount of good quality sleep but it you're like me and you find it really hard to nod off then thisworks Deep Sleep Pillow Spray is a game 28 changer!

Start getting a daily dose of Vitamin C for y0u skin!

Vitamin C products are great and brightening the skin which I always find brightens my mood! Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster serum will deliver your daily dose of Vitmain C plus a firming collagen booster. Firming and brightening, what more could you want for your skin.

Lets talk about a little at home facial treat. Gua sha is a natural, alternative therapy that involves scraping your skin with a massage tool to improve your circulation.It helps the face appear lifted and yuotful. You can pick the stones up pretty easily online, I got a rose quatrz one on Amazon

Step One: Cleanse and Tone Step Two: Apply a Facial Oil Step Three: Perform Gua Sha Step Four: Remove Excess and Complete Regimen

This time of year I find my skin needs all the hydration it can get and a hydrating facial mist always feels superior to all other products for me.

Try the Caudalie Beauty Elixir and thank me later

Take a look at the diagram below to see the directions you will want to move your stone

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Women, Harassment and Violence in Public Spaces Women have flown in space, been elected to senior Government positions, including that of prime minister and led the EU. Women have entered the top professions, won gold medals in the Olympics, owned newspapers and TV channels, had senior positions in the military, the police force and judicial system. Women have trekked to the North and South poles and won the Nobel Peace prize. Women have been CEO of large corporations and made invaluable contributions to science including the development of the mRNA vaccine for Covid 19.

Yet, here we are, shaken and outraged that a young woman, in day light has been murdered whilst running along a canal bank.

of sites that offer advice to women about their personal safety, reveals a range of tips. Women are advised to lock their car doors on quiet roads at night especially at traffic lights. If walking at night, they are advised not to walk alone or take short cuts through deserted parks, to be aware of surroundings, to avoid unlit streets, not to wear headphones.

Women are advised to make sure their phone is charged before they venture out, to tell someone where they are going. If they are meeting someone for the first time, they are advised to do so in a public place.

There are organisations in the UK, USA and India, for women who go running, who travel alone, and who live in a society where sexual attacks on women are commonplace (respectively). These organisations strongly recommend learning self defence techniques and they even organise and deliver this training. In the US, it common for women to carry mace (pepper spray).

There is nothing wrong with being aware that ‘we’ are our first responder if we are in difficulty or in a life threatening situation.

No doubt self defence techniques would be invaluable.

The United Nations, defines violence against women as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats.

Women have grown up knowing that they must beware of the potential threat of violence and that ‘they’ as women have a responsibility to ensure they are safe.

When I was young, going out at night with my sister, cousins and friends to a popular late night venue, my mother would be on the doorstep, anxiously giving instructions. She never said, ‘enjoy yourselves’ or ‘have fun’. Instead, she was issuing safety precautions, which we had to listen to every time we were heading out. “Stay together!” “Don’t get into a stranger’s car.”

“Don’t walk home in the dark, get a taxi together.” “If you have no money, just get the taxi; I’ll go out and pay the driver.”

When I was much older, I was into running and thought nothing of going out alone to run my 10km on the roads at night. When visiting my parents for Christmas, I recall one night I was heading out in the dark for my run and my father insisted on following me on his bike. Like most women I was frequently given the message that the world was not a safe place for women and we should be careful.

The murder of Aisling Murphy has brought the safety of women in public places, into the spotlight. A quick review 30

However, it should not be the responsibility of young girls and women to make sure they are safe. Society should provide safety. Society and all of its structures, law enforcement agencies, judiciary system, government bodies, legislation, schools, colleges, workplaces, the media, all have a major responsibility in shaping the culture of our society.

Societal values, morals, attitudes and behaviours stem from these institutions as much today as they did when the Catholic church locked fallen women into Magdelene laundries.

Every agency, sector and structure has a duty to promote and uphold gender equality and to show zero tolerance for any actions that degrade, insult, threaten or harm women.

Clearly the current structures and attitudes are failing women.

The lens through which key decision makers, law makers and indeed town planners look is gender biased. We need a review of the delicate nuances in our society that allow women to be degraded, humiliated, harassed, touched, attacked, raped and murdered.

The Government have announced that a Strategy to tackle violence against women will be published this March 2022. There is much to be reviewed because clearly there is a toxicity, a bias, an ignorance, that forms an impenetrable barrier to gender equality in our society.

live, work, interact, forge friendships, relationships and rear children. How we relate to each other is shaped by the values that are interwoven into this fabric. We need to unravel, redesign and rebuild much of this fabric to provide the foundation for a safe society, based on gender equality and a complete absence of misogyny.

Phoenix Women’s Centre, Market Place, Maine Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry.

Tel 066 9130430 Email: info@phoenixwomenscentre.ie www.facebook.com/PhoenixWomensCentre Ireland has the highest level of claimed sexual harassment in Europe according to a WIN World Survey (2019) ranking 40 countries on gender equality, sexual harassment and violence. 32% of Irish women between the ages of 18 and 34 said they had experienced some form of sexual harassment in the last 12 months. Of all the 40 countries surveyed, Mexico ranked first, followed by Ireland.

The same survey revealed that only 17% of Irish people believe that social attitudes and behaviours treat men and women equally.

We have come a long way since the 19th Century thanks to our female predecessors but we still have a lot of work to do on the very fabric of our society. It is within this fabric that we

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Oakview Early Years Support Centre

Brings First Class Therapeutic Services to Kerry

by Cathriona Murphy

Oakview Early Years Support Centre is based in Tralee, Co. Kerry.

It is a state-of-the-art facility which was founded in 2016 with the aim of offering Families access to an inclusive and holistic approach to their Child’s learning, development, and wellbeing.

The Early Years Support Centre offers Children and their Families a highly supportive and caring environment where the Children attending the Service are seen as active agents in their own learning. The Centre has a full Multidisciplinary Team available including Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Play Therapy, Adolescents and a Parents Coaching and Educational Psychologist. They provide a comprehensive range of Assessments, Intervention and Therapy Services, to families needing support.

We recently met with the staff of Early Years Support Centre Team to have a chat and find out more about these Services and who can avail and benefit from them!

When you first walk through the doors of the Centre or make that first phone call, the person you will meet is the EYSC Co-Ordinator. With a warm and inviting personality, you will immediately feel welcomed by her. The Clients and Children who use the Services are our number one priority and that is evident throughout the interaction with the team. The Co-Ordinator is always on hand to answer questions big or small from Service Users or a Parent that may need advice and guidance. Speaking to the Co-Ordinator, she told us more about the Early Years Support Centre.

“The Early Years Support Centre first opened in 2016 to the Children within Oakview Village Childcare and to outside referrals too, we welcome everyone regardless of what Service they use. Anyone that may need assistance with Speech and Language, Occupational or Play Therapy, to name a few, can give us a call and we will be more than happy to help. Sometimes when a Parent calls, they can be a little anxious or upset, I take the initial inquiry and reassure them that we will help them as best we can. I emphasise that they are not alone, we are here for them to guide them along the way into the best therapy to suit their needs.” “The Public Services have a very heavy caseload which we completely understand, it's difficult and try as they do, they cannot see every Client as quickly as they would like. This is also very stressful on Parents awaiting assessments

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to help their Children. Fortunately, we are in the position to offer reasonably fast assessment appointments should Parents choose to avail of them. Depending on the needs of the Client and their schedules, we will work with them to find a suitable appointment time that suits them. We are a private business, but our aim is to be easily accessible and within reach for all families. We also offer support to Parents who have Adolescents so really our Services are of benefit from Toddlers to 18yrs. We are very careful when scheduling appointments so that there is little crossover with other units, this allows privacy along with access for Parents strictly adhering to COVID-19 Guidelines. We have a designated Waiting Area with kitchen facilities for the Parents to use as they may be coming straight from work so they can at least avail of the tea and coffee provided. We strive to be a family friendly and user-friendly Service and for our Centre to be warm and welcoming for both our Clients and their Parents.”

Speaking with the Speech and Language Therapist she told us about her role within the Service. “Speech and language therapy (SLT) provides treatment, support and care for Children and Adolescents who have difficulties with speech, language or communication. We also help people who have difficulties with eating, drinking, and swallowing. SLTs’ assess, diagnose, and provide support and advice for Children and their families with a vast range of different needs. We work closely with families to identify the Child/Adolescents strengths and areas of need and identify a management plan to suit this. Areas SLTs’ can help with; Language, Articulation, Apraxia of Speech, Literacy, Fluency, AAC, Phonology, Voice, Social Skills, Hearing Loss, Executive Functioning and Dysphagia. SLTs’ work closely in a wide variety of settings to establish a treatment programme to help each Child/Adolescent to communicate as effectively as possible. SLT’s also work and liaise with other Professionals, such as Teachers, Doctors, and Occupational Therapists, to ensure that their Service is holistic and person-centred. The SLT can do home visits and schools visits to see the Child / Adolescent in their natural environment. The roles of an SLT; Assessor - We provide comprehensive speech, language, communication and eating and drinking assessments. Educator – We educate Children, their families, their school staff about the Child’s difficulties and how they can help. We also hold webinars and training workshops where we can educate others about different areas of Speech and Language therapy. Counsellor – We counsel families through difficult times as sometimes hearing your Child has a disability can be overwhelming, so we highlight and help the family acknowledge the Child’s strengths.

Advocate – We advocate for the Children/Adolescents on our caseload if they need additional support

HOW WILL YOUR INCOME CHANGE THIS YEAR? Welcome to 2022!

From 1 January, a number of tax changes affecting an individual’s take home pay, announced in last October’s budget, come into effect:

· The lower 20% income tax band is extended by €1,500 per annum, amounting to a tax saving of €300 for those earning over €36,800 per annum.

PAYE workers benefit as they are paid throughout the year, whereas farmers and self-employed persons will obtain the benefit in 2023 when filing their 2022 income tax returns.

higher, the increased standard rate band has also increased by €1,500 to €45,800, with a tax saving of €300. · The PAYE, Earned Income credit and personal tax credits all increase by €50 per annum. · The USC rate of 2% now applies to a higher proportion of income, resulting in a tax saving of €15.20 per annum. · The percentage of heating expenses that can be claimed by employees working remotely from home is increased from 10% to 30%.

· For married couples, where one person is earning lower than the standard rate band and one

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in school or referrals into Services. Researcher – We are continuously researching the literature to ensure our practice is evidence based.

If you have any concerns about your Child’s communication; they could be for example a late talker, refer to see a Speech and Language therapist as waiting and see is not always best. You can also just give us a call to discuss any queries and concerns you might have as a parent. Here at Oakview we are offering a number of webinars for Parents and Professionals, some are paid, and some are free, details of which can be found on our website."

Next, we spoke with the Operations Manager who is responsible for the day-to-day operations of The Early Years Support Centre and of Oakview nationally. I asked her what sets Oakview apart from other Service Providers in the Kerry area? “We are aiming to be easily accessible to all families to avail of supports where necessary. We aim to keep the pricing structure as reasonable as possible and we do not require any formal referral from Schools or Professionals, so if Parents notice that their Child is struggling with aspects such as mobility, socialising, communication etc., they are welcome to contact us to arrange an Assessment directly. Parents can also ring for advice, there is absolutely no obligation to make a commitment over the phone, we are happy to chat with them and advise them on what would be the best options for their family dynamic. To our knowledge, we are currently the only Private Service in Kerry that has a full multi-disciplinary team making ease of access even better for Parents. Often the challenges that Children or Adolescents face are not solely related to one area of function. This means the in-house therapists can communicate directly with each other (with Parental Consent) as a team and give multidisciplinary recommendations for any Child accessing the Service. As everyone is under the same roof, this is a lot easier and faster as opposed to the Child seeing multiple therapists across the County or even the Country, where issues like sharing information can be difficult due to GDPR. It can be frustrating for the family and mostly the Child to continuously have to familiarise themselves and repeat everything to new therapists. With the Early Years Support Centre, families are coming to a team setting where they can get to know everyone at once. From my own perspective, previous to this Role, I have over 10 years’ experience in Special Needs Education, so I know exactly how frustrating it is when families are getting passed around from service to service, or even struggling to identify what service should they actually be accessing. A huge advantage for us is to look at the whole Child and their situation, not just focusing to one issue, and as important part of this, we facilitate both home and school visits if requested. This ensures that we get a good overview of the Child in all environments. The school environment can be very challenging for a Child with additional support needs, and it could be something as small as a noise in the room or where they are seated or lighting that could immediately make their days easier. With a visit by one of our therapists we can link in with the Educator and work with them to develop strategies for the Child and make life a 34

little easier for them. We have had huge success within Oakview Village Childcare caring for children of all abilities. We have a team of support workers who liaise with the Preschool department to put necessary supports in place for the Child who might benefit from same. We are also one of the first Early Years Intervention Services to have a Family and Adolescent Coach available. Often when there are challenges in the family or a Child who needs extra support, it is very important that everyone is on the same page and feels seen and supported. The Adolescent and Family Coach is absolutely brilliant at helping with issues within the family dynamics, but also working with Children and Adolescent presenting behaviour that challenges the Parents and providing families clear strategies on improving communication.”

Finally, we sat with their Senior Occupational Therapist who works with Children from as young as 18 months up to as far as 18 years of age. “Generally, I have kids from 3-6 years attending for sessions, I do have other age groups but nowadays there is such a focus on early intervention so little things do get picked up on quicker. Parents get prompted quicker nowadays by schools and professionals even when small issues are noticed. This is great from a Therapeutic point of view as we can start to support the Children earlier. I would have a good, detailed chat with the Parents before booking appointments, you don’t want to put Children through an Assessment unnecessarily. It could take an hour or two to complete an Assessment depending on the Child, I would always say to the Parents – we go at the Child’s pace and offer breaks when needed if they get overwhelmed. At the end of the day, you want to get the best results out of the Child, so you are getting a full picture. I would assess their Fine and Gross motor skills, Sensory Processing, Visual Perception skills and their Auditory Perception skills. It gives an overview picture of the Child and how issues affect them day to day and that’s where Occupational Therapists come in. We teach Parents how to support the Child and get the best out of them.

Occupational Therapists help with a range of everyday tasks such as eating, brushing teeth, sitting still, little activities that others may take for granted but they just might need a little more support around.” “We are running online courses around Sensory Processing and Developmental Milestones which are open to Parents, Guardians and Childcare Workers, anyone really that has an interest in the topic. Some of our courses, which are on our website, are free and others that are a bit more in depth will require a small fee.

We also offer the option of doing workshops with Businesses, delivering a programme in-house to an entire staff at once. I would especially recommend Schools availing in training in Sensory Rooms, with a lot of Schools receiving grants towards Sensory Rooms, it would be great to ensure they are utilising them correctly and offer them the chance to do so. Again, we are happy to help with all inquiries whether it’s professionals or families needing support, just give us a call and we’ll see what we can do.”

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