Connect Lifestyle Magazine July 2021

The lifestyle magazine for Kerry

Made in Kerry, for Kerry

FREAESE

PLE E ME TAK 2021 JULY

Top things to see in South Kerry.

World champion athlete Derval O’Rourke

Help Rose Bloom Fundraising Campaign

Diarmuid Gavin Kerry has always been my escape.

It’s Heaven!

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EDITOR'S NOTE Hello and welcome to July The kids are all on holiday now and whilst we can’t arrange the foreign trip away lets make the most of what we have and take a staycation, I was in South Kerry recently and I have to say it was a fantastic trip from start to finish, fine food and hospitality at the Moorings, boat trips around the Skellig, climb to the Kerry Cliffs to see the breathtaking view I could go on but if you continue reading you will find all the things to do in this month’s issue.

We also had the pleasure of meeting with Celebrity gardener Diarmuid Gavin, that was an experience, we had lots of fun and I have to say he is a complete gentleman as you will read in our story with him.

Derval O Rourke chats to us, about life and choices to stay healthy that work for you.

We have some great new contributors this month-Mairead McMahon from Achieve Fitness has started an advice piece on getting you back to fitness and looking after your all over well being Pat Harmon of All Care Pharmacy Mounthawk, is going to share tips with us each month as is Roger Harty Optician so please feel free to email your queries and we will pass them on.

Elaine Higgins of Pure Beauty Dingle gives advice on getting our skin back on track, and of course we have all our usual experts.

Things are still very uncertain in this crazy world of ours and at the time of going to print there was a lot of uncertainty regarding the reopening planned for July 5th so I hope you are reading this somewhere nice enjoying more easing of restrictions and if not, take a breath and keep focused, we are nearly there.

Huge thanks to you all as always for your support.

Without you I couldn’t keep doing what I love which is ‘Keeping Kerry Connected’ Until next month Stay safe Mind yourselves and mind each other

Mags xx Editor: Margaret Kissane Print: Kingdom Printers Graphic Design: Yevgen Kalynin Editorial Contributors: Marisa Reidy, Lisa Curran, Romy Birdthistle, John Canty Caroline Smith, 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

HAYFEVER HELP....

People who suffer from hayfever have an immune system that is like a melodramatic friend....prone to over reaction!!

Your immune system perceives the harmless pollen from trees, plants and grass as a threatening invader, so your body produces a chemical called histamine, which is inflammatory. This leads to the dreaded symptoms such as sneezing, watery eyes/ nose, dry cough and puffy eyes.

SOME TIPS WHICH CAN HELP HAYFEVER SYMPTOMS INCLUDE: • When outside wear wraparound sunglasses • Change all of your clothing soon as you arrive back indoors as the fabrics will carry the pollen. Put them straight into washing machine, don’t leave them lying around in bedroom.

• Rub some barrier cream such as HAYMAX around your nostrils to help trap pollen before it enters your nasal passage.

• Use a nasal spray such as POLLINSON..this will have a cleansing action , helping to get rid of any pollen in the lining of the nose • Increase your intake of VITAMIN C, it is a key nutrient when it comes to combating histamine.

• Wear a HAY-BAND....a simple band which slips comfortably around the elbow area and works on the acupressure points, it is drug-free, fast acting and re-usable.

• Take an OMEGA 7 or HYLORANIC ACID supplement which helps to keep the mucus membranes moist.

• NEW ERA TISSUE SALTS COMBINATION H...fast melts tablets suitable for all the family. A very effective homeopathic remedy.

• A healthy gut is vital to keeping your immune system strong, so taking a good quality probiotic such as OPTIBAC or Viridian will be of huge benefit.

• It is a good idea to start taking a remedy such as POLLINSON TABLETS before and during the hayfever season to help alleviate the symptoms. These are suitable for long term use and children over 12 years.

As always we are happy to offer our advice on which products will suit your requirements best.

Until next time, stay healthy Deirdre.

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Diarmuid Gavin Kerry has always been my escape.

It’s Heaven!

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E’S undoubtedly one of Ireland’s most renowned gardeners, with an impressive profile that is revered right across the globe. But celebrity gardener, Dairmuid Gavin, didn’t always have the gardening world at his feet, telling CONNECT that he was homeless at 25 after becoming increasingly dissatisfied creatively, which led him to managing his landscaping business really badly.

Diarmuid, who is set to co-host a unique and exciting three-day garden festival in south Kerry this September, says he now feels privileged to do what he does and says his biggest career highlight is being accepted and appreciated in an industry he absolutely adores.

Growing up in suburban Dublin with what he described as a ‘family of conformists,’ Diarmuid says he was always ‘the black sheep’ and the creative one. His love of all things gardening was evident from an early age, admitting that he knew from when he was a child that he had a desire to change landscapes.

“I always loved being outside in the garden and there was a public park that had a woodland very near me called Bushy Park in Terenure and I used to go there as an 8-year-old with my dad’s shovels an spades and landscape up underneath the trees in that park,” he recalls. “From a very young age I seemed

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to have this desire to want to change landscapes.”

Admitting that he was never academic, Diarmuid says that the school system was not for him, so a more creative path was always on the cards.

“I didn’t enjoy school, so coming from a family where studying and doing well and getting a permanent, pensionable job was important was all a bit challenging for me at a young age.

So around the time it came to leaving school, I had two things in mind – either working in a restaurant as a chef or working in the garden area.”

In fact, Diarmuid actually did begin his career as a commis chef, working in Templebar, and loved every moment of it. But after three months, a job in a gardening shop came up in the city centre and he changed course – admitting that gardening was always the big draw.

“The new job was in a shop called Mackey’s Seeds and that was a shop that had been operating in Dublin for nearly 250 years. It was an institution and had been passed down through the family,” Diarmuid explains. “I had been desperately shy up until then and I met great people there who became friends.

I loved the hustle and bustle of cycling in

every day from the suburbs and I loved everything about it. I loved picking up loads of tips from the staff who were trained gardeners and I met people from all over the country - great people who were passionate about gardening,” At the age of 21, after three years in Mackey’s Seeds, Diarmuid applied to become a student in the Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin – another step in his career that he loved.

“That was utterly brilliant. I absolutely loved it because I was in a class of likeminded students from all around the country. At evenings and weekends we’d go out and do nixers, learning in a very practical way how to create gardens. It was such fun. We spent our middle year with the Parks Department in Dublin City and County Councils and every six weeks we’d change from one park to anther – so we could be in Merion Square in the city or St Anne’s Park on the outskirts, working with council workers learning how to look after a park. It was tough going, with long hours, but it was exhilarating.”

After three years at the Botanic Gardens, Dermot immediately set up his own landscaping business – Gavin Landscaping.

“That was always a hallmark of me – as

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my work pretty badly. I was bouncing cheques left right and centre and started feeling very ashamed and in the end I couldn’t pay the rent for my flat in Ranelagh and I ended up homeless.

First, a guy came to repossess my stereo system in my flat and then I lost the flat.

I wasn’t going to go back home, so I had all my belongings in two black bin bags and I’d sleep on couches. I was about 25 at the time, so I definitely hit a low because of not being able to create the gardens I wanted to. It was a really tough time.”

soon as I could get a van and start up I was doing it. I even designed the logo for Gavin Landscaping before I left college and literally had the t-shirts and the business cards printed,” Dermot reveals.

“I had a lot of get up and go and once I started landscaping I never stopped.

I was so excited. Even at weekends, I’d hire a friend’s van and be up at 5am on a Saturday morning gathering all the materials I needed and finish late on a Sunday having finished creating a garden somewhere in the suburbs of Dublin. I loved it. I could hardly sleep with the excitement of what the next day brought. I was always able to get work and I learned from a very early age that I understood gardens, so I could design a really good garden on the back of a pack of cigarettes. They were great days.”

However, Diarmuid admits that his career ‘hit a dip’ a few years later, when he felt he was challenged creatively.

“I was really interested in creating beautiful gardens, but once I realised I was able to do that and that it came naturally, I hit a dip. There were garden festivals I’d go to in the RDS and nearly always win the main prize or whatever, but when I reached that I felt it wasn’t enough. I wasn’t very good at business, but I could make the gardens, and I ended up being very dissatisfied. I wanted to make gardens that were contemporary - whether it was from magazines or pop videos on Top of The Pops - stuff that nobody was looking for.

I wanted to do that, but there was no market for it.

“Even though I was winning the medals and building a profile making pretty gardens for pretty people, I wasn’t satisfied creatively and I started doing 6

Thankfully, at around that time Diarmuid met well known journalist Terry Keane and her daughter, Justine – who would later become his wife – and says their support and encouragement was crucial in helping him turn things around.

“I met a Terry Keane, who was a journalist, and I did her garden, and then I met her daughter, who told me I can do anything I wanted to do - just put my mind to it. I thought she was amazing and with their encouragement I started to look at things again. I’d heard of the famous Chelsea Flower Show in England and myself and Justine went off to see it in 1994 and I thought ‘If I can get in there, maybe my life would change.’

“I sent off an application and they told me to get lost,” Diarmuid jokes. “So, the following year I turned up on their doorstep and they eventually let me. I brought a garden from Ballinskelligs over in 1995 and nobody noticed.”

Diarmuid admits that when he got home from Chelsea, understandably a little forlorn, something extraordinary happened which changed the trajectory

of his life and career.

“I was in a pub one night telling people about Chelsea and was chatting to two girls. One was a producer with RTE, who I knew, and the other was a researcher for the Late Late Show, which I didn’t know at the time. She rang me the following day and said: ‘you were telling us about going over to this thing in London’ and she thought the story was amazing. The following weekend she got me on the show with Gay Byrne and, honestly, after that appearance on the Late Late Show it was as if my life changed overnight. It was mad.”

Diarmuid went back to Chelsea again the following year with his idea of what a contemporary garden would be – explaining that it was inspired by Michael Jacksons’ Billy Jean music video – but unfortunately, it didn’t go quite to plan.

“It was awful and I was almost drummed out of the place. It’s almost impossible not to get an award at Chelsea, but I got a letter to say go away and don’t come back. But the BBC recorded something at that show with me and my life in the UK changed overnight. From being homeless to having every offer come my way, simply because the garden looked great on television. From that day to this it’s been an extraordinary journey.”

Of course, Diarmuid did return to Chelsea and in May 2011 his Irish Sky Garden won the gold medal at the show.

Today, Diarmuid is busier than ever, although Covid19 has stalled his international projects dramatically.

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Riff Raff’. We soon realised that we had to create an event to get these people from all around the world together once we came out of lockdown. I’ve loved Ballinskelligs for many, many years – so what better place to have a three-day festival?

“I have the weirdest job in the world now,” Diarmuid joked. “Pre-Covid, I would have been at the airport every day, flying to some other part of the world to design gardens or make a TV series.

I was spending a lot of time designing gardens all around China. I could have been working for the National Trust in the UK or making a TV series or writing a book or taking part in a reality show.

It was so weird – for someone who couldn’t get arrested before the age of 27 or 28, to turn around and be kind of celebrated and recognised in different places. It was so strange, but amazing.

“Since Covid and lockdown, though, I’ve been doing a lot of stuff online. I’ve also done a new lock down TV series in Ireland, a new garden make-over series in the UK, written a new book and have just launched a podcast. So it’s been busy. It’s very varied and I never know who the next email is going to be from or what it’s going to be about and that’s very exciting.”

Of course, Diarmuid is busy planning an upcoming Garden Festival in Ballinskelligs from September 10-12, which he is co-hosting with his friend and fellow gardener, Paul Smyth.

In typical Diarmuid Gavin style, his explanation of what’s in store sounds epic!

“So, in March 2020, when the first lockdown was announced, me and a friend, Paul Smyth, started going live over Instagram. We realised we could help people garden and we had answers for people so we wanted to make ourselves available,” Diarmuid explained.

“We’ve done that every evening since, wherever we are, and out of that we built a community which we called ‘The 8

“We have people coming from Africa, America and all over Europe, so we’ll have between 300 and 500 people here for a festival where anything goes. There will be great gardening stuff but also hayhem. We’re billing it like a Ted Fest – expect the worst and hopefully we’ll give you the best. It’s open to anyone who loves gardening and will be one big garden conversation with the best experts, marquees, a Riff Raff ball, a gardening disco, plant bingo, quizzes, stalls – a bit of everything. It will be the best gardening show anywhere in the world this year.”

Tickets are still available for the festival from Eventbrite at ‘Diarmuid and Paul’s Garden Festival’

awards, medals and notoriety didn’t feature top of Diarmuid’s list. Doing what he loves and being accepted is what he cherishes most.

“I suppose it was doing some gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show and, through that, getting a voice. The highlight is all my dreams coming true and getting to explore what gardens can be. Getting to explore different - some might say outlandish - designs and sparking a debate,” Diarmuid revealed.

“A couple of gardens in particular that we’ve done there over the last 10 years have been special to me. They haven’t always worked – and I don’t think they need to work as long as you do them honestly and try to get them right. What makes me happy is just acceptance - the fact that people will allow me to be different and understand that I’m different and allow me try and succeed and accept if I don’t. It’s been an amazing journey.”

Yes, everyone can be a gardener:

Ballinskelligs was always going to be the location for the event, Diarmud explained, given his love of the stunning south Kerry village.

Diarmuid’s top tips

“I’ve been coming down here for over 20 years and it has always been my escape. My mother-in-law always came down here and my good friend Noelle Campbell Sharpe is here and of course we got married in Sneem. We come here three or four times a year. It’s Heaven.

Kerry may indeed be the best county in which to garden. The rarest and most beautiful plants are here. Pants love to grow here. Kerry is a garden,”

- Get your soil right. Getting good soil and improving whatever soil you have will be the best investment you will make

Asked finally about some of the highlights of his career, interestingly,

- Don’t garden in a neat and tidy way. Let some of the lawn grow into a wildflower or meadow. Magic stuff happens like that

- Do nothing for the first year - just observe. See where the sun is at at different times of the day

- Get someone local who is interested in gardening to give you some advice.

- Have a look around and see what’s growing locally and go with that – don’t garden against it

- Be a bit untidy about your gardening.

- Garden with nature. We have to garden for the whole ecosystem so don’t use chemicals, pesticides or fungicides or artificial fertisliser - A garden that grows wild is as good as any planted garden, so don’t be snobby about it Location- The Marina Cahercvieen Co Kerry Interview -Marisa Reidy Photography- John Walsh Photography

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By Marisa Reidy There are probably very few sports stars who can look back on their career and boast an impressive five major championship medals in their cabinet - including a world championship gold - but former hurdler Derval O’Rourke can do that with pride, telling Connect that she walked away from the athletics track extremely happy with her lot. Now busier than ever running her hugely popular health and fitness website, www.derval.ie, the mum of two admits that there was no big master plan to pursue a career in athletics – it just happened organically when a former teacher suggested she join an athletics club because she was pretty fast!

“I grew up in an estate of 50 houses and it was ‘80s Ireland, so I was always outside on the green playing and just became quite a sporty kid,” she tells Connect. “I had a really great primary school teacher who told my parents they should put me into a running club because I was really fast, and they did that. To be honest, I just stuck with it as a kid and into my teens, but I never had a plan that when I grew up I was going be an athlete. I just loved to run. I loved the craic in the club and it was a really good social outlet, so I kept going. Then as I became older, I became more aware of the Olympics and stuff and that there were opportunities in it for girls.”

Derval received a sports scholarship to UCD after her Leaving Cert and says that was when her athletics career really started. For the next four years she was making senior championship teams and European and world teams, before making it to the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004.

“I’d love to say there was some big master plan but it was more a case of that I just loved it. I wasn’t an exceptional junior athlete. I was never the stand out person who people were saying would win medals, but I had really good coaches when I was 24 and it turned my career around. I went from someone who was making it onto teams to someone who could win major medals, which was massive for me.”

Interestingly, Derval admits that had she not been winning medals at that time, she wouldn’t have pursued a career in athletics. She had completed a Masters in Business and says if she hadn’t been as successful on the track as she was, she would have just ‘got a real job’ But as we all know, Derval did continue her athletics career – competing in three Olympic Games and winning five major championship medals, including a world title in 2006. Not surprisingly, this was certainly a career high.

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“Winning the world championship in 2006 is definitely up there,” she says. “I have five major championship medals – one world and four European – so of course they are big highlights for me.

But also, I’m really proud of my Irish records (60m & 100m). I took them from where they were to a really good level globally and that’s something I never set out to do,” she says. “Now, when I look on as a fan and a spectator, I get excited that one day an Irish girl will come along and break my records and I will know I’ve set a really high bar. Those records are a really good legacy for me and a really good target for other girls coming through.”

Asked about any regrets she may have from what was undoubtedly a blistering career, Derval has an inspiring attitude.

Of course, there’s the elusive Olympic medal that every athlete dreams of – but it doesn’t weigh on her mind anymore.

“I walked away really happy. When I decided to retire, I had done more than I ever set out to do. I think I was good enough to win an Olympic medal, but for various reasons that didn’t happen. But, actually, I wouldn’t change the experience of not wining one because it made me a slightly better person and it made me look at myself and the world of athletics differently,” Derval reveals.

“I was really devastated not to win an Olympic medal in Beijing in 2008, but actually it put me on a pathway of being more of a fuller person. I went from being totally defined by how fast you run and the medals you win to thinking, ‘how fast you run is great, but it’s only a part of who you are as a person.’

“So, I came out of Beijing and went to cookery school,” she reveals. “I was looking at what else interested me and I started embracing the whole word of health and wellness from a place of curiosity and interest rather than a place of performance. So for me, what you want isn’t always not what you need. Yes, I really wanted an Olympic medal, but it’s not what I really needed in my life and where I am now.”

Knowing that retirement was looming, Derval was always conscious of developing new and exciting skills for the future, and says that every year she was concentrating on her athletics goals, she would also focus on something ‘off track’.

“If your something is five minutes, then that’s fantastic and you’ve done something,”

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"We all have limitations. Take time to plan before you try and do."

“So, while on track I wanted to break Irish records or win a medal, off track I would have a non-sports related goal. So I went from finishing my degree, to going to cookery school, to finishing my Masters. I also worked in a health and fitness centre for a couple of years, so I suppose it was just a goal of mine to get really good work experience.

When I finished, I didn’t have an exact plan but felt I had enough experience to be able to do something different. I always wanted to make myself employable and grounded enough so that when the day came to hang up my spikes I could do something different and would have enough of a skillset to do that.”

Now Derval works fulltime on her website derval.ie, which she explained is an online platform which offers supports and advice to people through the areas of food, exercise and wellness. The website also features a new health and fitness shop stocking some of Ireland's leading brands. The idea to set up her online business came about after writing two cookbooks and coaching some of her friends, when she recognised the popularity and reach of the online world.

“When I did the second book, people started sharing my recipes online and tweeting me and sending me Instagram pictures and I thought this was very interesting. I was also coaching two friends at the time and, like me, they were in their late 30s and had small kids, so anytime they couldn’t make a session, I would record videos and send them to them. Then I began to think about turning all this into a website so I started building it in 2015 - and then I built it badly twice – but finally launched it properly two and a half years ago.

The website, Derval explained, is broken down into food, fitness and mindfulness, with Derval working with a team who create the content.

“It’s a mix of on-demand stuff and live workouts, mindfulness and food demos and is really easy and simple to help make people feel a little bit better. The last 12 months has been a bit mad – we went from 3,500 members to nearly 9000, which is incredible.

People, especially women, are really time poor, so this aims to

help them work out at home and upskill in terms of their nutrition and wellbeing. I can’t do and be everything, so I work with people who are experts in their field and are passionate about what they do and to have them on my platform has been amazing.”

Asked about the biggest stumbling blocks people face in terms of reaching their goals, Derval says we are way too harsh on ourselves and associate health and fitness with restriction, which will never work.

“We get so caught up in the things that we’re not doing well and are so worried about that, we get in our own way,” she says.

“People get upset that they’ve put on weight but I would always approach it from another angle - as in, what can you do to enhance your life as opposed to restricting your life? People often go on regimes of restriction which just sets them up to fail. Instead, add in something like mindfulness or 30 minutes of a strength class. But you have to remember that you’re not adding it in to torture yourself, you’re doing it to feel good. If we move the marker of how we measure our success it would be more helpful.

“Come at it with a different mindset. Be kind to yourself – the world is hard enough. Don’t put pressure on yourself to be the ideal weight or the ideal size because there is no ideal, really.

Concentrate more on feeling good and on your general health and then it becomes more attainable and enjoyable. Also, your attitude around food is so important – food is there to nourish you, not as punishment or reward. I’ll happily have a glass of wine and never feel guilty about it, but I won’t drink 3 bottles of wine. It’s all about balance.”

Asked what advice she would give to anyone really wanting to turn their health and fitness around, Derval insists that ‘something is always better than nothing.’

“If your something is five minutes, then that’s fantastic and you’ve done something,” she insists.

She also suggests an ‘accountability buddy’ to help you achieve your gaols – which, even as a world champion athlete, she still relies on!

“Last night I went for a walk and a jog with my friend but I absolutely didn’t want to go,” Derval laughs. “I tried to cancel her and told my husband I wasn’t going because I was too tired and all I really wanted was a glass of wine. But he said I’d feel better for it and she told me I had to meet her, so I did. And that’s me – I’ve been to 3 Olympics.

“It’s also very important to do one thing at a time and not overwhelm yourself. We often try to do too much at the same time. So, sit down with pen and paper and write where you can find pockets of 30 minutes to prioritise yourself – whether that’s food, exercise or mindfulness. And be realistic - we all have limitations. Take time to plan before you try and do. You have to prioritise yourself. People, especially women, don’t prioritise themselves and they should!”

Start your 7 day trial now on derval.ie

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Living with Hayfever In this first edition of monthly features on the treatment of medical conditions, local pharmacist Patrick Harmon from Mounthawk Allcare pharmacy in Tralee explains how it’s still possible to live your best life despite the nuisance of hayfever.

“Hayfever is an allergic reaction to pollen, a fine powder found in plants.

The main symptoms of hayfever are frequent bouts of sneezing and coughing, a runny or blocked nose, itchy and red irritated eyes and sometimes a headache. Hayfever is most common in warm, humid and windy weather (so scientists are still baffled why anybody in Kerry suffers from the condition) but from early March to late September, pollen levels spike and this can cause problems for people with allergies who are prone to hayfever.

Fortunately, there are some simple measures people can adopt to limit their exposure to pollen. These include staying indoors on hot and humid days and keeping windows shut as much as possible. It is also a good idea to wear sunglasses when outdoors and to put Vaseline under the nostrils as both these actions limit the pollen coming in contact with the eyes and nasal passage.

For some people these measures may not prove enough but fortunately, your pharmacist is here to help with a variety of medicines that can help alleviate the annoying symptoms of hayfever. What follows is a brief summary of what is available

· Oral antihistamine tablets (eg Piriton, Cetrine )-the most popular treatments, these work by blocking the effects of histamine on the cells within the body that give rise to allergic reactions.

These can sometimes cause drowsiness and can interact with other medications so always consult with your pharmacist before purchase. They come in liquid form too for younger hayfever sufferers. · Steroid nasal sprays (eg Nasocort, Flixonase)-fantastic at relieving congestion but must be used every day during the hayfever season for best effect. Only suitable for those aged 18 and over. · Eye drops (eg Opticrom, Vividrin)very effective at preventing itchy red eyes where this is the predominant symptom.

There are other more natural remedies one can try such as hayfever bands which work on the principle of acupressure and saline nasal sprays which are drug free and great at relieving congestion.

The above is just an overview of this common condition. If you have any further questions , please feel free to pop into us in Mounthawk Allcare Pharmacy in Tralee where we will be delighted to assist you. We are open 9-7 Monday-Friday and 9-6 on Saturday and our tel is 0667128989.

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at The Rose Hotel

July Spa Offer A muscle melting back massage followed by a pressure point scalp massage for deep relaxation 55 minutes Now €80 Usual price €95 Follow us on Facebook/serenityspatralee

please call 066 7199111 or email spa@therosehotel.com The Rose Hotel, Dan Spring Road, Tralee, Co. Kerry, V92 HKA4.

www.therosehotel.com 15

ANXIETY I’ve written many times before about anxiety. It is a perennial problem in terms of emotional health. Recently, indeed, I am seeing in my own practice and hearing from other psychotherapists that there is now almost an epidemic of people experiencing extreme anxiety.

It hasn’t been helped of course by the global pandemic and the resulting lockdowns, isolation and fear.

Paradoxically though, some sufferers have been helped by the fact that there are now external boundaries limiting their contact with others, which may have been a source of anxiety for them anyway.

There are different types of anxiety: Social anxiety is familiar to most of us. It is engendered when we come into contact with other people and tends to be triggered by fear of what people will think of us, that we may be awkward or uncomfortable in company. Phobic anxiety is a crippling fear of a specific thing or situation, such as small spaces or rats.

Panic disorder is when people are subject to panic attacks, which manifest as an extreme physical reaction involving breathlessness, racing heart, numbness, lightheadedness, sweating, trembling, and feeling completely out of control.

Separation anxiety, which is more common in children, is an intense anxiety generated by separation from a parent or attachment figure whose presence is usually essential for safety.

Most common and well-known is General Anxiety Disorder.

This is when we are excessively worried or anxious about life in general, without a specific focus or with several or varied triggers.

As always, it is advisable to get help when anxiety is affecting your life. Go to see a psychotherapist or counsellor, speak to your GP, or look at some programmes, podcasts or books that can help you get some perspective on this very common, painful condition.

Caroline Smith , Phychotherapy Counselling www.carolinesmith.ie | 087 6444837 16

Full Mouth Restoration

by Dr Marcas Mac Domhnaill

Many patients query the best way of filling small gaps in their dentition. These gaps have often occurred due to the loss of teeth and the movement of the adjacent teeth.

In some cases, partial dentures, bridges or dental implants can be offered straight away to fill the gap.

In other cases, the patient may benefit from moving the teeth into a more favourable position before restoring the gap.

One way of doing this is by using orthodontics. There are many types of orthodontic appliances available ranging from clear aligners (tray) braces to fixed wire braces. These can move teeth into a position so that the artificial tooth filling the gap will look more natural.

As always, please ask your dentist for information on the options of filling in gaps in your dentition.

Mar a deir an seanfhocal, “níor bhris focal maith fiacal riamh”.

Beir Bua An Dr Marcas Mac Domhnaill 49, Sráid na Carraige Uachtarach, Trá Lí, Co. Chiarraí 49 Upper Rock Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry (066) 712 1457 | www.macdomhnailldental.ie | fiacloir@gmail.com

A LOOK TO THE FUTURE Over the last 15 months, we have worked closely with our clients, helping and guiding them through such unprecedented times.

As we head to the next stage of recovery, businesses can take a few key steps to plan for a successful future. A business plan for 6, 12 and 18 months together with cash inflow and outflow projections should be put in place with the assistance of your accountant. This should incorporate potential tax liabilities including corporation tax, income tax, VAT and PAYE/PRSI. Preparing these budgets and plans for future liabilities enables a business to work with banks, creditors and the Revenue Commissioners.

As a providers of audit, tax and consultancy services, we look forward to guiding our clients with cash flow and financial projections to realise their goals and potential through this period of transition.

FOR YOUR EYE CARE WE CARE A wise man once said that a great place to start is at the start – so here goes. The world we live in is evolving very rapidly and in particular the changes over the last 30 years have been phenomenal. I grew up in a world of black and white TV, in the two channel land of RTE I and later RTE. Some of my earliest memories are of the anticipation on a Saturday afternoon around 5.30 watching Mr Judge, Mr Crow, Rory, O’Brien and Godmother on Wonderly Wagon.

How times have changed with wi-fi and constant bombardment of our eyes through Smart Phones. Computers, Laptops, Ipads, Hi- definition TV’s etc etc. Yes these are all lovely to entertain us, educate us and stimulate us but have no doubt that simply put they are an assault on our eyes.

Added to this the recent Covid pandemic has driven this to atmospheric levels because of all the home learning and distance education.

Getting directly to the point the problem for the eyes is that all of these devices contain blue violet light.

or even pain associated with light is a common symptom.

In fact, 9 out of 10 people declare they experience sensitive to light.

What is the solution ---- Protection of the eyes using blue filters to protect against the harmful effects of blue ultra violet light.

The best protection is provided by Crizal Prevencia from a company called Essilor which is a specialised coating put on the spectacle lens. This will protect your eyes from these harmful rays.

Email me any questions you may have and we will do our best to cover them in our “Ask the Optician” section.

Launching Kerry’s 1st Fully Inclusive Children’s Sight Testing Clinic July 17th

Blue violet light stimulates the chemicals at the back of the eyes, so constant use of these devices leads to constant stimulation.

Constant stimulation leads to fatigue ---- Constant fatigue leads to stress and ---- Constant stress leads to eye- disease.

Simple as that.

The constant bombardment of the Retina at the back of the eye can result in eye conditions and long term damage like macular degeneration and cataracts. Both exposure time and proximity to the source impact the visual discomfort. Indeed, 26% of people complain after using a smartphone due to the brightness of the screen Computers and blue violet light stimulation of our eyes were never part of our evolution so our eyes do NOT have the mechanisms to protect against them. As a result, discomfort

Call today to make your appointment – 066 7122633 Email : hartyopticians@gmail.com Address: 81 Boherbee, Tralee Remember For Your Eye Care We Care!!

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

With everyone finally getting to have some semblance of a social life with outdoor dining and drinks we finally have an excuse to put on makeup again!! Lets talk about the hottest trends for summer.

Brushed up brows This brow trend seems here to stay for now. It's super easy to achieve.

My favorite product to achieve this trend is the BPerfect Indistructibrow Soap. You just spray with water to activate or if your brows are particularly unruly then my top tip would be to spray with some setting spray, This will help keep your brows in place for even longer.

Hot right Now

Beautiful Blush lush is having a moment right now and I'm loving it, personally I prefer a peachy blush but rosey shades are going to be huge this summer I love the dewy effect you get from a cream blush and Inglot have just released the most beautiful range of cream blushes as part of the Inglot x Maura Elements collection. For that gorgeous Rosey glow the Luminous Rose Cream Blusher in Rich Hibiscus is the perfect shade

If you don't want to break the bank then try L'Oréal Paris Rouge Signature Matte Lip Stain in I Achieve. It has a gorgeous light weight but long lasting formula

Bright & Bold lip If you're a bit apprehensive about adding colour to your eyes or cheeks then you could add a bright lip and Orange lippies are all in this summer.

Winged Liner for the win In my opinion a great winged liner is perfect for every season! I just feel ready to go "out out" once I have my liner done. Pair your liner with dewy skin and a peachy nude lip and you'll be right on trend.

I love the L.A Girl Line Art Matte Eyeliner in Intense Black. A highly pigmented, matte finish, precision tipped eyeliner pen boasting a long lasting smudge proof formula

PARADISE HAIR & BEAUTY

First Class Pass To Paradise

Sign up today and get UNLIMITED HAIRDRESSING. Visit as may times as you like!

Limited availability - Book yours today

Also Includes: 10% Discount on all retail 1 brow wax & Tint every month 1 Lash Lift & Tint Special friends & Family Discount

CLUB PARADISE VIP MEMEBERSHIP ONLY €99 PER MONTH!!

*Must pay 3 months in advance (total €297) Excludes 12 week blowdry and hair extensions services.

1 lash lift & tint every 3 months. Friends and family discount valid on Tue-wed- thur for Hair services only. Other Terms and Conditions apply. Enquire today for full details - 066 712 1578 or info@paradisehairandbeauty.ie

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Achieve Your Fitness

At Achieve fitness we recognise that the first step on any lifestyle change or weight loss journey can be daunting , It is this first step that indicates that you are ready for change. Unfortunately many of us have struggled with weight loss for a considerable time, we have been ill informed, sold expensive fads with all sorts of crazy promises, we have starved ourselves, we are slaves to the scales, we fall on and off the proverbial band wagon. Well enough is enough. Let's start with the basics. First things first. No more starving yourself, no more yo-yo ing, and no short lived results. We will be bringing you advice and tips every month to help you on your way. This month we are going to start with the foundation of a healty permanent fat loss journey and the creation of a healthy lifestyle.

CHANGE

- in order to change your body, you need to change your lifestyle. Unless you change what you are doing now - nothing will change.

CALORIE DEFICIT - plain and simple - to loose body fat you have to feed your body with less calories than you use.

RESISTANCE /STRENGTH TRAINING

- is proven to be the most efficient form of exercise to loose body fat. The training causes microscopic tears in your muscles and your body has to work (consuming calories ) to repair these tears. Results- fat loss, toned muscle and a more efficient metabolism- all good 😀

FAT LOSS NOT WEIGHT LOSS

- from now on I am going to refer to weight loss as fat loss because that is what we need to concentrate on. We have become a total slave to the scales. When I speak with a new client one of the comments I hear regularly is I want to be 10 stone, or I would like to get back to my pre baby weight. In reality the scales or weight alone is not a true reflection of body size or confirmation. Combining resistance or strength training with a calorie deficit diet is the most effective way to loose fat. BUT

and heres the thing - the toned muscle weighs more than fat but is smaller in size. Thus we will be smaller, i.e wear a smaller size in clothes but this may not register on the scales . Moral of the story. Judge your success on size reduction not weight loss alone.

PATIENCE - in most cases our weight gain hasn't happened overnight therefore we shouldn't expect it to disappear quickly. We need to gradually adjust our eating habits , our exercise or movement volume resulting in a new norn- a healthy balanced lifestyle.

BALANCE - THE 80/20 RULE Our new life style should be balanced. Adhering to the 80/20 rule - being good 80% of the time and relaxing 20% of the time. Totally resistrcing ourselves wont work in the longterm.

POSITIVE ATTITUDE - Remember this is a positive experience. You are going to feel better, look better and be healthier. Focus on the positives- want you can do and eat versus what cant.

GOALS - Keep them realistic and measurable-

aim to drop one dress size at a time. Or run a specific distance in a time.

Taking these basic guidelines into account here are some simple tips to get you started. # cut down on your portion size # eat less high calorie high sugar foods and increase whole foods, and vegetables # enjoy a treat at the weekend and straight back to it on Monday # move more - 10,000 steps per day # do some form of resistance/strength training # while a personal trainer will need to weigh you to work out your daily calorie intake originally- throw away the scales - focus on body measurements. # drink a min of 2 L of water per day # be patient, be honest with yourself, enjoy and trust the process. #buy something in a smaller dress size. Hang it outside your wardrobe.

When you wake up every morning- that's your motivation

Start your journey today.

We offer affordable options for all your fitness needs.

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

Monavalley Tralee 085 2689880

@Achievefitnessirl

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Ask the Expert

Award winning beauty therapist Elaine Higgins of Pure Beauty Salon in Dingle, who has a special passion for facials is joining us to give us some tips and advice on looking after our skin, this month she tells us about.

Getting Back to In Salon Facials Now that we are starting to get back to some normality again it is time to book yourself in for a well overdue facial. In salon treatments are what can create change and get you over the line with your skincare goals but you’re at home skincare routine is responsible for 80% of your skincare goals.

So, what can we do to help achieve these goals at home?

It all starts with a skin consultation. This is where any good skincare journey begins. Having a trained and experienced professional look at your skin and discuss your concerns, budget and lifestyle will have you on the right track from the beginning. Ensuring you’re getting all the key ingredients that your skin needs to achieve your goals and that you are using the products correctly. In a consultation you will not only plan your homecare routine but you’re in salon treatments can be discussed also.

Don’t be intimidated by the thought of a homecare routine, it is quite simple.

Aim to start with your core 4 steps!

1 3

Cleanse

2

Serum

SPF

4

Night-time treatment cream/ serum

After you have gotten used to this 4-step plan then your therapist will advise you on adding in any “add on’s” such as retinol, an exfoliator, masks etc. Start simple and build from there.

Using a good homecare routine will increase the benefits of your in salon facial treatment and will ensure you are getting the best results.

A few things to remember before your Facial Treatment.

Please avoid the following for 3 days prior/post any facial treatments: • Vitamin A: specifically, retinol • Please avoid the following for 1 day prior/post any facial treatments: • Shaving or depilatory creams • AHA's - glycolic acid • Please avoid the following for 7 days prior/post any facial treatment: • Steroid Cream • Do not wax the area.

•Prescribed Retinol A cream To ensure you get the best for your skin and to ensure you are getting the best from you budget, skin consultations are imperative. I always tell my clients not to over think things. Work your skincare to suit your lifestyle and budget and above all keep it simple and enjoy it!

Call us on 0870921480 or you can find us on Instagram and Facebook @purebeautydingle Main St, Dingle 20

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Top things to see in South Kerry.

Staycation staycation… this is what we are advised this year by the powers that be, and to be honest with so much to see in our own county the advice is to stay close to home and check out what’s on offer, I spent some time down south Kerry recently and what a wonderful trip, stayed in the wonderful Moorings of Portmagee, it’s the ideal base for touring the area. Here are just some of our favourites for you to check out.. and observe the majestic views from here which reach out for 30 miles of the surrounding areas. Many Twitchers come here to enjoy and observe the thriving colonies of cliff birds. Allow a minimum of 1 hour for a visit to the Kerry Cliffs, many visitors spend a few hours relaxing and bird watching for many hours and even return the next day or another day during their vacation.

Skellig Michael

The Skellig Michael boat trips are one of the most mysterious and enchanting of local attractions around the Skellig Rocks.

These floating pyramids of sandstone have been home to some of the earliest monastic settlements in Ireland as well as providing sanctuary to fantastic numbers of bird life in the area. At our time of going to print Skellig Michael is still closed to tours but the boat trip out around the area is highly recommended to view the amazing sights.

Skellig Six18 distillery

The location in the heart of Cahersiveen, Co. Kerry means there are many beautiful scenic routes that take you directly to the doors of the Skellig Six18 Distillery.

On arrival, take in the beautiful views of the Skellig Coastline. Then step inside the home of Skellig Six18, inspired by the Skellig landscape which is rich in history and character, and named after the six hundred & 18 stone steps that lead to the top of the Skellig Michael.

future of Skellig Six18 Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey.

The tours Skellig Six18 Distillery Visitor Experience have now re-opened, make sure to book online at skelligsix18distillery. ie, and all visitors on the tours receive a €5 voucher redeemable against a 70cl bottle of Skellig Six18 Gin, available in the on-site gift shop.

Kells Bay House & Gardens

Kells Bay House & Gardens is Ireland's premier sub-tropical botanical gardens situated overlooking Dingle Bay on the Ring of Kerry. It is home of the SkyWalk, Ireland's longest rope bridge (112 foot long). Ideal for everyone with over 3 kms of walks and lots of Dinosaurs for the children.

Kerry Cliffs

Kerry Cliffs are widely accepted as the most spectacular cliffs in Kerry.

The cliffs stand over 1000ft above the wild Atlantic and were formed in a desert environment 400 million years ago. Out to the west stand the amazing Skellig Rocks one of only three UNESCO world heritage sites in Ireland. Of course the Kerry Cliffs are the closest viewing point to the great rocks and also the famous Puffin Island.

Allied with these facts as you stand at the summit of this mystical place and breath in the freshest of air, deep in to your lungs from the wild Atlantic and observe this natural wonder. You can relax and unwind 22

Take a guided tour around the Distillery Visitor Experience, where every drop of Skellig Six18 Gin has been distilled.

Discover the natural botanical ingredients found in the woodlands, hedgerows and shoreline of the rich Skellig landscape.

Learn about each of the botanical ingredients foraged locally and carefully chosen to create the artisan pot distilled gin. Relax and savour the taste of the Atlantic Coast with a unique gin tasting experience.

Skellig Six18 have ambitious plans to build a state-of-the-art whiskey distillery plant, learn more about their plans and the

Commanding a wonderful vista overlooking Dingle Bay and peninsula, Kells Bay Gardens cover 20 hectares in a short v-shaped valley between the Ring of Kerry and the sea.

Kells Bay Gardens have been open to visitors since the autumn of 2008. They contain one of the finest collections of southern hemisphere plants in Europe. The spectacular topography is complemented and enhanced by the exotic plants. The centrepiece Treefern Forest has attracted horticultural enthusiasts for decades and is comparable to similar forests in Tasmania. With its unique micro-climate and fantastic canopy, it provides an ethereal experience that differs daily. There are plants here

of every description from around the world. The Robinsonian gardening style combines with the variety and acclimatisation of the plants to give the visitor an experience that well repays the journey.

There are various walking routes designed to access the major features of the gardens. The Sky Walk Rope Bridge, Ireland’s longest, is an unforgettable experience. Inspired by owner Billy Alexander’s plant hunting trips in Asia, it stays long in the memory. After the adrenalin rush of the bridge, there is ample opportunity to relax in the nooks or recover in the healing chair sculptures along the River Ramble or Waterfall Way. The eight dinosaurs, beautifully sculpted from fallen trees, shorten the walk.

Derrynane House and Gardens

the Oakwood of St Fionán, stands at the very tip of the Iveragh Peninsula.

Sheltered within the woodland stands Derrynane House, the ancestral home of Daniel O’Connell, lawyer, politician and statesman, and one of the great figures in modern Irish history.

Skellig Chocolate factory

Valentia Slate Located on The Skelligs Ring, just off the main Ring of Kerry road and nestled along the Wild Atlantic Way. Skelligs Chocolate is Ireland’s only fully ‘open plan’ chocolate production kitchen where you can get up close and see your chocolatey treats being made in front of you. Take some time and talk to the friendly staff while you taste some ridiculously fresh (and free) chocolate samples as you take in the incredible scenery. The initial premises opened in 1996 were approximately 1,200 sq feet. Then the new one extended to 6,500 sq feet nd in 2019 an added an extension to bring the total size to 10,000 sq. feet. Definitely worth a visit.

Valentia Lighthouse

Many relics of O’Connell’s life and career are preserved in Derrynane House, but the house is more than just a museum.

Derrynane was one of the great influences on Daniel O’Connell’s life as he himself was always ready to admit. For several generations, it had been the ancestral home of the O’Connell’s. It had been his own childhood home and, throughout his career, it was his country residence.

He and his family spent most summers at Derrynane. It was here that he was host to many guests in the surroundings that he loved and here he indulged his passion for beagling. Many books have been written about O’Connell but one can perhaps gain a greater insight into his character by visiting his home at Derrynane and experiencing the surroundings familiar to him during his life.

Today some 120 hectares (300 acres) of the lands of Derrynane, together with Derrynane House, make up Derrynane National Historic Park, under the management of National Historic Properties of the Office of Public Works.

home from sea over the years.

• Built in 1653 to guard the entrance to Valentia Harbour against invaders, 40 soldiers and eight cannons were stationed here.

• The lighthouse was designed by famed civil engineer, George Halpin Senior.

• A lighthouse keeper lived with his family on site until 1947, when the lighthouse was automated.

Built on the site of a 17th century fort, Valentia Island Lighthouse at Cromwell Point has stood against sea and invader for hundreds of years.Now, this gleaming white lighthouse on beautiful Valentia Island looks out across some of the most spectacular sights along the Wild Atlantic Way.

There’s so much to enjoy on a visit to this lighthouse: • Delve into 17th-century history, explore Cromwell’s ‘Fleetwood’ Fort.

• Take a tour of the lighthouse tower and balcony.

• Be blown away by the dramatic scenery and big weather!

• Soak up the stories and the science as you learn about the people and technology that have guided ships safely

• Valentia Slate Quarry was first opened commercially in 1816 by the Knight of Kerry to supply slates and slabs, mainly for roofing and flooring. It also supplied gravestones to all the local cemeteries and because of the excellent quality of the slate (non-porous with no impurities), these memorials can still be seen today with inscriptions that are as perfect as the day they were erected as far back as the 1820’s. In 1825, a pier was constructed under the direction of Alexander Nimmo at The Foot in Valentia Harbour to allow the export of Valentia Slate. This pier and the nearby Slate Yard became the focus of the subsequent construction of Knightstown Village in the 1840’s, having been designed by Nimmo about 1830. · When the great municipal buildings were being erected in London in the mid-19th century, Valentia Slate was used extensively. These included the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Cathedral, St Paul’s Cathedral and many of the Underground Railway Stations such as Waterloo, Charing Cross, Liverpool St. and Black Friars. It was also used in the Paris Opera House.

That’s just a few things to do while touring around, of course there is the fabulous Derrynane beach for those looking to soak up a few waves, Clean, shallow and often warm, there are long stretches to explore, rock pools, a tidal island to walk out onto, and an amazing area of sand dunes. And Waterville has some fabulous waterside walks to enjoy too. An action packed trip is guaranteed but be sure to take time out to enjoy the local hospitality too which is in abundance in South Kerry.

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Travel Gadgets

Some gadgets for you to remember on your trip this year. There is a fantastic collection on Travelshop.ie here are some items we think are handy when travelling.

The Giant Lifeventure Soft Fibre Towel

€30.00 Small enough to stash in a handbag; absorbs over 9 times it’s weight in water and dries off 8 times quicker than a conventional cotton equivalent.

Money Minder €8.00

Body fitting money belt with three internal compartments. Not that you’d want to, but it’s a bit like having your bank manager strapped round your waist. Three discreet internal compartments and a body-hugging design make it tricky even for you to get to your cash.

Dry iPad €15.00 The Dry iPad is a new addition to our ‘Dry’ range and offers 100% waterproof protection to a depth of 1 metre. Once inside the clear pouch the device will continue to respond seamlessly to the touch. Email and access to applications remains unaffected and an integrated earphone jack facilitates movie watching, listening to music or gaming online.

SB Universal Adaptor €24.00 This Universal Travel Adapter is fitted with a powerful USB port which will charge devices at 1 amp, as opposed to the more common 0.5 amps. It also has a patented plug adaptor system enabling you to connect two pin or three pin devices to local mains sockets in more than 150 countries. Whether you have a digicam or an iPod the Universal Travel Adapter will power your devices safely.

The Aqua Pure Traveller Water Filter Bottle €45.00 The Aquapure Traveller is a high performance personal water purification system that is designed for those who may find themselves in places where water quality is dubious or even dangerous.

Simply fill the bottle and you can safely drink the water immediately! *Not For Use On Sea/Salt Water.

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Experience Al Fresco dining at Meadowlands Hotel and enjoy spacious dining options on our terrace and gardens.

New Outdoor covered and heated terrace now open!

Covered & Hea ted Terrace

| Casual Outdoor Dining Area

| Spacious Gardens

Enjoy our delicious specialties on our Barfood & Takeaway menus sourcing ingredients from local producers.

Our Seafood is directly sourced from our own fish company Iasc Uí Mhathuna in Dingle. Delicious pies in house from Pióg Pies.

Ár m

B uíochas

L ibh

See social media for menus and updates.

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Dining Out

The Ashe Hotel The beautiful Terrace at Alfie's offers a unique and relaxed al fresco dining experience in the heart of Tralee Town Centre, the perfect spot to enjoy an early brunch or late night supper and cocktails. Our cosy south facing terrace allows you to take in the warm Summer sunshine or stay toasty in the heated area under our retractable awning during those cooler Autumn evenings.

As we head into summer, the Terrace is very popular and advance booking is highly recommended to avoid disappointment. To book a spot, contact the hotel by calling 066 710 6300 or emailing info@theashehotel.ie. Bookings can also be made through the hotel website on www.theashehotel.ie.

Kitty o Se’s Kitty o Se’s college street killarney - serving delicious fish, steaks and lots more.. style taste, value and a warm welcome are always on the cards at Kitty O Se’s, operating outdoor dining Tuesday -Sunday until indoor resumes, booking is essential to ensure your experience. Eileen and the team are waiting to welcome you.

Ph: (021) 470 0053 Dooleys Waterfront Bar and Restaurant An amazing dining experience in the heart of Waterville, stunning views on their rooftop restaurant, delicious food and fantastic staff, will all make for a wonderful dining experience The finest Steak,Seafood and Wines with exquisite Ocean Views and Stunning Sunsets. Enjoy lunch or dinner in our Oceanfront Bar, Restaurant or Dooleys Deck Rooftop Bar. Ph: (066) 947 8766 The Horseshoe The Horseshoe is a well-established bar and restaurant in the food and beverage industry. It is situated in the famous literary town of Listowel, Co Kerry. The building itself dates back to 1903 and has a much character about it. In November 2005, Jerry and Margaret Behan purchased the business, then known as Woulfes Horseshoe and have grown it from strength to strength. Its always a great place to stop for a bite while in listowel Ph: (068) 21083

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The Country Market Catleisland At The Country Market Catleisland they have been serving quality, fresh food in a homely, welcoming environment for 40 years. Priding themselves on using prime, local ingredients, and providing efficient and friendly service. Serving breakfast lunch and dinner there is something for all the family For Bookings contact at 066-7141517 Nana bees CasstleislandOld treasured & very secret recipes from their beloved Nana Bea, they serve some delicious food with a bit of magic in the heart of Co.Kerry At Nana Bea's they aim to offer the best quality and finest produce in their fabulously designed café.

Home cooking- just like we were reared on.

How Nana used cook it. Family friendly café Ph: (066) 714 2110 New Outdoor Covered & Heated Terrace Area at the Meadowlands Hotel NOW OPEN! Our new outdoor terrace opened June 11th, and we have been overwhelmed with the reaction and support since opening. The Terrace is located just off our spacious bar & restaurant and adjacent to our beautiful private gardens. We are delighted to have the facilities to welcome Al Fresco diners in a comfortable and spacious setting which is fully covered and equipped with outdoor heaters.

We are taking booking on our Terrace for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We highly recommend a reservation, however walk in service may be available during off peak times.

In July, we are taking bookings for in-door dining in An Móinéar Restaurant and Johnny Frank’s Bar. From July 5th, we are allowed to welcome events up to 50 guests, so our restaurant and private dining rooms can be reserved for private parties following guidelines and restrictions at that time.

Support local is the theme of our restaurant, bar and terrace menus. Our Seafood is directly sourced from our own fish company Iasc Uí Mhathuna in Dingle. Our delicious pies in house from Pióg Pies. For updates and menus, please contact us on 066 718 0444 or follow us on our social media pages. We look forward to welcoming you!

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Fundraising Campaign for 4-year-old Kerry girl with rare genetic condition A group of family, friends and local community members have volunteered to organise a fundraising campaign on behalf of Rose O Flaherty, Ballymacelligott, Tralee, Co Kerry. This is Rose’s plight in her own words: “Mommy, when will I be able to hold your hand to walk to school?”

Rose is only 4 years old and was diagnosed with a rare and serious genetic neuromuscular condition called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), Type 1, when she was 9 months old. SMA 1 children typically have a life expectancy of 2 years. Currently, there is no cure for SMA. However, there are treatments available to help manage symptoms. Rose is a gorgeous determined girl who is defying medical odds. She has already learned to stand with aid for 10-15 seconds thanks to intensive ongoing physiotherapy. However, she regularly asks extremely difficult and heart-breaking questions such

as “Mommy, why can’t I play like the other kids?” and “Mommy, I don’t want to be 4, I want to be a baby forever because I can’t walk” This is Rose's very sad reality, but highly indicative of the level of awareness that Rose already has in her brilliant and clever mind.

Her parents dream that one day Rose will walk (aided) and be able to do the simple things that we take for granted like, being able to move from a lying to a sitting position. There is a treatment plan for Rose involving intensive therapies, many surgeries and specialist equipment but financial support is crucial.

Organisers of the ‘Help Rose Bloom’ campaign have created a GoFundMe page to help raise funds for Rose and her family and hope to raise €250,000 through the campaign. They are also organising some novel fundraising events during the month of July. Anyone interested in finding out more or supporting the campaign can do so at:

www.gofundme.com/helprosebloom

WWW.HELPROSEBLOOM.IE

Here in Connect we will be checking in each month with family and fundraisers to see how its all going and keeping you the reader updated on progress, there is a lot to be done to help Rose, her house needs much modification to be suitable for her needs, not to mention the equipment she will need to give her life some quality.

This month one of the events is called 'Daisy Does A Dump'. It's quite funny really, They have 1000 tickets to sell at €10 per ticket and will mark out a field with 1000 boxes numbered 1-1000. They will then leave Daisy, the cow, into the field and wherever she poops first and most is the winner of the prize. The prize is a 2 night stay with dinner on one evening for 2 people in the Ballygarry Estate and Spa. Contact : Conor Ellard 087 290 3407 or Catherine Baily 087 248 7523 If you met this vivacious little girl like we have you would want to do so much for her, her bright positive enthusiastic smile and outlook on life is a lesson to us all.

So we would ask you to join us as we do our best to raise as much as we can to get things happening for this amazing little girl.

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AWARDED NO3 IN ALL IRELAND

Delicious dining on our terrace in our Bar or SeaSalt Café Enjoy a warm welcome and locally sourced ingredients

A5 Advert.pdf

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Manor West Hotel, Tralee, V92 YC59 Tel +353 (0) 66 719 4500 info@manorwesthotel.ie

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Phoenix Women's Centre

The PHOENIX WOMEN’S CENTRE is dedicated to supporting women, bringing women together to engage and network, and providing opportunities for women’s personal development and empowerment.

Women may be in crisis for many reasons and the stress and trauma of life events can trigger a multitude of set backs. Sometimes, just having the space to talk things through can have a dramatic impact by clarifying the way forward. We have approximately 60 phone calls a week from women seeking guidance. We are also partnered with ‘Let’s Get Talking’ Counselling Services who offer a no set fee service.

We believe prevention is better than cure. We want to provide early intervention, support and advocacy. We also want women to support each other, enjoy social interaction through activities and events. Women need to be reminded how brilliant they are, how creative and resourceful they are. Women are eager to find joy in a massive range of activities; it is through being part of a network of supportive women than isolation can be avoided and self esteem re built. Our recent photo competition blew the judges away by the immense talent of the 130 women who entered. A gardening project with herbalist Christine Best and florist Maura Sheehy of Maura’s Flowers was booked out within days. A Motivation course was so popular we had to run it twice to meet the demand. We know women are eager to participate in events and seek support.

The Centre receives no core funding. It is run by dedicated volunteers. If any sponsors or friends of the Centre would like to support us please see details below.

For the price of a cup of coffee each week you could ensure that the centre flourishes. Whether you can afford €5, €10, €20 or €50, every monthly subscription as a FRIEND will allow us to plan for the future.

To

set up your monthly subscription either pop into your bank/or set up a standing order online: The Account is Kerry Women's Resource Centre IBAN: IE56AIBK93001603474020 Please put your name and FRIEND so we know who to thank and send us an email with your contact details, so we can keep in touch.

Thank you for being a FRIEND Phoenix Women’s Centre, Market Place, Maine Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry.

Tel 066 9130430 Email: info@phoenixwomenscentre.ie www. facebook.com/PhoenixWomensCentre 30

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Hi to all the lovely Connect Readers and also hello to any visitors to our lovely Kingdom. As I write my piece I am looking out at people enjoying the outdoor dining and from early this month we will be able to eat indoors again. There is definitely an air of positivity in the County. This time last year we had just reopened after first lock down and our shop was full of masks and a year later we are delighted to say we are back to almost full range of our accessories and is such a lovely feeling matching up Fasinators, pasminas and dress bags with the outfit. We still have a range of masks in store but we also have a range of colours in the disposable masks Orange, Pink, Lilac, Navy, Red, Nude, Denim and Pale Pink so if you need any mask do not hesitate to drop in or contact me on 087 6675926 or on our Facebook page.

As I have said on more than 1 occasion what ever query you have big or small contact us and we will do our best to solve it and if we can't we can have a laugh trying...

Before I sign off just a reminder that we still have our hug stones available in the shop for those who haven't heard about them they are a little stone in a little bag with the word hug hand written by me on it. No charge and no purchase necessary.

Until next time keep safe and keep smiling.

Be kind Carmel xxxx

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Hello Connect readers ! Its great to be back, its been a busy time, with everythnig back up and running so its good to sit down and think about writing some design tips. Keeping in theme with the current times, as we all adjust to the new normals, like socialising outdoors. I am going to take a look at how we can create our own social space in our own back yard, to give us a comfortable space to entertain guests, gather as a family or simply escape for some rest and relaxation.

As it is an important part of interior design to get the balance of what hits you in terms of colour and pattern when you an enter a room, we can transfer this approach when considering our outdoor living, so if you think of it as an additional living room without the walls and ceiling. ( you can add a hint of these too )

Outdoor Living

The first step is to select the area you want to use and decide wbat will go on the ground.

There are endless options of groundcover, from paving, decking, stones to outdoor carpets, you will need to decide what works best for the space you have think of the functionality as well as the aesthetics. Think about how to define your area from the rest of your outdoor space.

You could go for an eyecatching painted paving, using a simple repeat pattern, giving a simple tile effect. (see above right) Depending on your individual taste, there are many options of style, to create a comfortable yet traditional living area, you could consider a brick built fireplace as an alternative to the more contemporary fire pit. You will have an instant focal point to organise furniture around.

Hang a hammock as well as a fun addition they are known to promote deeper sleep, reduce insomnia and decrease back pain !

Create your very own living gallery wall, helping you to define a space.

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Music in the Kingdom

Aftershock

By Lisa Curran

Aftershock are Tralee’s newest band ready to get out performing post lockdown. The band is made up of Conor, Daragh, Séamus and Coren all former students of Mercy Mounthawk where their career asa 4 piece began. You’ve probably heard them in the past few weeks lifting the streets of Tralee and Killarney in the sunshine and bringing badly needed live music back to our ears. This is such an uncertain time for musicians so please do support our local acts.

Hey lads it’s great to meet ye! How did ye become a group?

(Conor ) It all started in March 2020. We took part in a battle of the bands competition in our school Mounthawk and we formed a band to compete in it and ended up winning the competition. The original lineup has changed but this our final lineup.

Describe your music style for new followers?

(Séamus) We play a bit of everything but focus mainly on classic rock such as songs like Johnny B Goode, Sweet Home Alabama and Dancing in the Moonlight.

What did you do during lockdown to stay musically active ?

(Coren) Lockdown has been tough on everyone in the music industry and has definitely affected our goals of live performances with no live gigs in bars and no festivals to perform at. To stay musically active during quarantine, we directed our focus on songwriting and wrote our single “Journey from Nowhere”. We recorded it, mixed it, and released it all online.

How did you start off in music in Kerry? And who have been your biggest influences locally and further afield?

(Daragh) Our music teacher Ms. O’ Carroll has been a huge influence on our band as she has helped us with recordings and performances over the last year.

We started off playing on the streets in Tralee and have since played in places such as Killarney and Cork.

All four of us have different influences that we look up to but also share influences such as Bruce Springsteen, Thin Lizzy, Coldplay and The Rolling Stones.

(Conor) Our plans for the future are to keep busking on the streets in many places around Ireland, keep writing our own original songs and hopefully get gigs when live music is allowed again. Hopefully we can build a bigger fan base from all around the country and hopefully, one day tour the world!

What else keeps ye lads going?

(Séamus) The buzz we get from playing our music to a crowd is definitely something that keeps us going. There’s nothing better than doing what you love, playing great songs and getting an unreal reaction from it. Another thing that keeps us going is the fact that we are on the final stretch of covid and hopefully can start live gigs in the future.

You’ve had the chance to work with some amazing people in your career so far! Tell me about those experiences and if there is an artist that you’d love to work with in the future.

(Coren) We’ve had the chance to work with a sound engineer in our school who toured with Aslan. This has definitely been an amazing experience as we have recorded songs professionally and have got to experience what it is like to be in a studio. We’d love to work with new and upcoming bands in Ireland but we also dream of working with massive names and inspirations such as Bruce Springsteen.

What do you hope people will realise about the arts industry after their time in lockdown.

(Daragh) We hope people will realise that the arts industry is full of people who are passionate about music and hope people realise that many things can be done such as recording , mixing, mastering and releasing while online if enough work and effort is put in.

Where can people see ye perform/follow you on social media or indeed contact you about bookings etc?

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What’s the plan for the immediate future with how things are for the music industry at the moment?

(Conor) We have an Instagram and Facebook page set up - @aftershock. band . We usually perform on the streets of places like Tralee, Killarney and Cork, and we hope to be able to perform in bars and restaurants in the future. Instagram is the best place to contact us about any bookings or requests. Our e-mail is another good place to contact us, aftershock.band@hotmail.com .

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