Connect Lifestyle Magazine July 2022

The lifestyle magazine for Kerry

Made in Kerry, for Kerry

The Battle is on!

James Patrice returns to our screens with Justine Stafford in RTÉ’s Battle of the Food Trucks

Martin King

talks about his career in TV, family life and staying positive in times of hardship.

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EDITOR'S NOTE Hi everyone July has arrived, our little darlings are on holiday and looking to be entertained all day I guess, so take a few minutes out from all that to enjoy our action-packed magazine this month.

We have lots of lovely memories of our night at the awards for you.

We had an amazing night, it was so good to see everyone smiling, catching up and having fun.. you can catch up on all the fun here in this issue and on our website www.connectpublications.ie We also chat with Martin King, famous for being the TV3 weatherman all those years ago, he has done many things since and takes time out here to chat about work, family, and life in general.

RTE are launching the return of Battle of the Food trucks, so we chat with presenters James Patrice and Justine Stafford, and they tell us what to expect on our screens, this is going to be a must watch for all the family.

We met up with the fantastic team at Mounthawk Montessori Group, a fabulous service for the younger people in our life, it’s a real family run business where Susan and her mum Maureen started the business, and now Susans daughter Caroline the 3rd generation to join the family business, so it really is your home away from home for your little people.

So, we will leave you to enjoy your favourite monthly read and we will pray for some sunshine, Until next month

Mags x

Editor: Margaret Kissane Office Enquiries: Cathriona Murphy Print: Kingdom Printers Graphic Design: Yevgen Kalynin Editorial Contributors: 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

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TheBattle is on!

James Patrice returns to our screens with Justine Stafford in RTÉ’s Battle of the Food Trucks RTÉ’s “Battle of the Food Trucks” has returned for a second series hitting our screens this Summer, July 5th. With James Patrice returning with his new co-presenter, Justine Stafford, this series is bigger and better than ever. I sat with both James and Justine to ask them what we can expect in this upcoming series!

Having been so well received with season 1, Battle of the Food Trucks is returning for season 2. James and Justine, can you tell our reader’s here in Connect what to expect and how was your transition into the show Justine?

James; It’s great that its back for a second year, I’m delighted because it’s always a nice surprise when you get a good response because you never know how these things are going to go. I think it just goes to show that there is a demand for a show about food trucks in general. Even with a return to normal life, food trucks are going nowhere because people are still loving them. It definitely opened Ireland up to a cosmopolitan way of living. With the show itself, it’s a bit of escapism for people where in that they can download it and binge watch it all at once. Last year’s contestants were absolutely incredible and this year there is even more variety again amongst them, our new judge Gráinne and of course my lovely new co-presenter Justine! The show is twice as long so double the entertainment, the challenges are exciting, it’s just bigger and better than ever before. So whether you want to lash into it in one go or treat yourself to a little bit every now and then, you will not be disappointed! I love the drama and the tension the show gives. I am definitely one for the dramatic pause before I reveal the results, very X-Factor of me!

Justine; For me, it’s been so much fun in that James is such a natural and a great person to be paired with and the fact he had presented the show last year, I felt like I was in really good hands.

He really showed me the ropes, made me comfortable and helped me to ease into the whole thing. We really bounced off each other so just really had a lot of fun with it! What I tried to bring to it was my comedic flair and I hope that translates to the audience.

My background is in comedy so I tried to bring that across and integrate it into my presenting style.

What do you think sets Battle of the Food Trucks apart from other culinary programs out there?

James; With Battle of the food trucks, it’s not only their culinary skills, it’s their personality that is being judged too. The food truck is an extension of themselves, it’s something that they have created and that they are incredibly passionate about. The show becomes almost a bit fly on the wall because you really get to see everything they do, with other cookery shows the chefs are put into different environments whereas with Battle of the Food trucks you really get to see them at home as such. You are seeing them with their own equipment, their own recipes in their natural habitat and just challenged and put under pressure without giving too much away! I think that’s what makes it so exciting because we really get to know their story, how they got there etc?

Some of the Chefs may have started their food truck due to the pandemic, they may have lost their job or even had an entirely different career before setting up their food truck. So you are getting to see a very present talent but also a very present passion which is fantastic to see.

Justine; When I sat down to watch it last year, I watched one episode and got so invested in these trucks and had to watch it all!

I’ve always had an interest in food, I am involved with a YouTube channel called The Try Channel where we would try different foods from around the world. It just shows that there is a huge appetite for these kinds of shows. I think what sets Battle of the Food Trucks apart from other food shows is that these trucks are representing their local areas, they are travelling around Ireland and bringing that local pride with them. Its really very interesting

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because it’s a different format of bringing very different styles of cuisines together, there is no two food trucks on the show that are alike. So it’s really giving the individual an opportunity to show off their skills, their food and the area they are coming from. Also, with other shows, the chefs are put into a designed set with a huge focus on the aesthetics whereas with food trucks, everyone is within their own environment. I think that brought a lot of colour to it, even as a presenter it didn’t feel like a production set? I almost felt like I should be queuing up to order food! We were so blessed with the weather, everything just came together to make it so colourful and just some stunning visuals overall. It’s exciting to see the participants get a platform to show the world what they have done so then in turn, inspiring others to take those risks.

What did you both enjoy most when working on the show?

James; When you look at the foods they are producing and where they have gotten their inspiration from be it travelling, foods that are available near them or they just want to create something new. But ultimately the variety is amazing with foods such as Mexican cuisine, sushi, BBQ. I was very jealous of the judges getting to sample everything! I was trying to sneak away bits here and there for myself! I think it really shows as well with the rise in prices everywhere, people might not be able to go out anymore and spend €80 on a meal as frequently as they did. With food trucks, you are getting access to amazing chefs, high quality food at a fraction of the cost.

on board because she has all that wealth of knowledge with her own successful business, Grá Chocolates. Herself and Eric have definitely butt heads more than once! Myself and Justine just stood back awkwardly and watched them row with each other which will make great TV altogether! But with a show like this, having everyone neck and neck each week, drama with the judges it all just works together to produce an amazingly entertaining program.

Justine; There is most definitely a great variety. For example, we had a girl from Limerick who had moved back from London. She really enjoyed sushi and after moving home quickly realised there was no one really in Limerick making sushi. So she set up her truck to bring sushi to the people of limerick and beyond. That’s what I loved, hearing their back stories and finding out what led them to start a food truck business. We have seen people who never had previous culinary experience and because of the pandemic just took that leap and changed careers, it’s very inspirational to see.

Justine; Gráinne was brilliant, she really took it all in her stride.

It was a bit of a comfort for me really to feel like I wasn’t the only new person to be brought in this season, so we had that in common. She absolutely held her ground, there was great camaraderie between herself and Eric, but as James said, they had difference of opinions at times! They were both very quick and easily confident in putting across their opinion or validating why they felt that way. There was some points were they had different views on the food completely but they navigated it very well. But its moments like them that really grip the audience, its exactly why I watched it all in one go last year!

In addition to yourself Justine joining the show, you were also joined by new judge, Gráinne Mullins of Grá Chocolates. How did Gráinne settle in and work alongside other judge, Eric Matthews?

Justine, you previously mentioned giving up your full time job to focus on your work as a comedienne. Do you think this helped you identify with the contestants on a personal level?

James; Gráinne is amazing, she is just so passionate and so talented. The thing about the food trucks is that obviously you want to see them do well but you want to see how they conduct themselves in business, how they market themselves and how they are selling it. Everytime a food truck owner meets a new customer it’s a chance to sell. In that respect it was great to have Gráinne

Justine; During the pandemic I did leave my full time job that I had, to try and go into comedy full time, it was a huge risk to take at the time and I know I would never have taken that risk if it hadn’t been for the pandemic. I had left Dublin and moved home, I wasn’t paying as much rent and didn’t have as much expenses so I felt like I could take the chance with it. It paid off for me, so far so good! So for me, it was great to get involved with a show that celebrated people that took these risks too? It’s encouraging and couldn’t come at a better time really, I felt like I really had something in common with them and could understand the emotions that come with taking a risk like that.

James, your career has gone from strength to strength.

From contributor to lead presenter, how has that journey been for you?

James; It’s been great, I love everything that I do from having recorded for the Today Show, Dancing With the Stars, I love doing those things. But with Battle of the Food Trucks, it was great to stand there myself and now with Justine and just put my own mark on it, an opportunity to really show people what I am capable of.

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As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, do you feel there is adequate diversity on our TV with representation of all communities?

Having an experience like that gives the mindset that if things are not going my way, then so be it! We all just have to motor on and do our best and not dwell on things.

James; That’s a very good question Cathriona, there definitely is more inclusion and diversity but we do have to be careful we are not going into “token LGBTQ+ Person” territory and if it is then so be it, you cannot think that and question every job you get hired for? I like to think we are all hired for our ability and personality, not our sexuality and to tick a box. I had a near death experience as a child that has given me a sense of perspective. I always say that if we all had a bit of perspective, the world would be a fantastic place.

Will we get to see you again in your backstage correspondent role for RTÉ in this year’s Rose of Tralee?

James; Apparently so! Yes, I am very excited about that, The Rose of Tralee festival is such an amazing festival and to be involved in even just a small role is fantastic. I love it, there is such a great dynamic down there and they are so lovely, I always say if you haven’t been down, don’t judge it!

James and Justine, it was a pleasure having you both and I know our readers will be so excited to see Battle of The Food Trucks on RTÉ Player, July 5th James; Thank you so much for having us! Just to finally say, Battle of The Food Trucks is back this year, its bigger and better than ever! There is grit, glitz and some absolutely amazing dishes so be sure to tune in!

Justine; I completely agree with James! It is going to have you hooked from the very first episode, it really will be a trucking great series! I am so excited for the public to see it.

You can find Battle of the Food Trucks on RTÉ Player from July 5th, season 1 is currently available for download

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Martin King talks about his career in TV, family life and staying positive in times of hardship.

Cathriona Murphy From the moment he first appeared on our TV screens, Martin King charmed his way into the hearts of his audience. With his quick wit, down to earth personality and captivating screen presence, it is easy to see why he has become one of Irelands most loved TV presenters. I recently sat with Martin to find out more about the man behind the TV persona, from being a father to now a grandfather and his most cherished role of being a loving husband to his wife Jenny.

Martin, it is a pleasure to sit and chat with you! Having started out your career in radio, how did the transition into TV come about for you when, for most presenters, its usually a change from TV to Radio!

Making that move from Radio to TV felt like a very natural transition to me, people had often told me that the kind of content and material I put out on my radio show would work well on TV. For me, radio is like theatre of the mind and I enjoyed that.

When the idea of me making that move came about, it was actually when TV3 was first spoken about in the 80’s and they had approached me to present a dating show, but the money that was needed to launch a TV station just wasn’t readily available so it was put on the back burner. In the late 90’s the idea raised its head again but this time it would carry through.

The guy that was running the news, Andrew Hanlon, I had previously 10

worked with in 98FM amongst other places, he told me they were hoping to make the second half of the show more magazine style. They wanted to line up both a sports and entertainment segment followed by the weather. That was the difference, they wanted the weather to be its own segment rather than just an information slot and that was the type of material I put out on the radio. I used to do these live entertainment segments, members of the public would ring in and nominate a family member who was difficult to get up in the morning, myself and the team would burst into their bedroom and say “Get out of the bed!” and it was very entertaining for the public and all involved. Another example was we would say on the show ok, this is the area we are in we are parking up. We want tea and toast for the whole team, you have 10 minutes to find us and give us our breakfast. It would bring the entire street together, it was great fun for all involved. The first one out to us would get a big prize, the rest of the street would all get breakfast paid by us so it was just a really fun, entertaining segment and that’s the style of presenting I wanted to carry into my TV career.

You really came into your own when you became a presenter of the 6 O Clock show given that evening shows can be difficult to get off the ground, how was it for you to bring it to the public and make it the success that it is today?

The idea behind the 6 O Clock, which was initially the 7 O Clock show, was to have something in place because UTV Ireland was about to come on air meaning that TV3 would lose the evening soaps. Now we know now that UTV Ireland was a short lived thing and we eventually did get the soaps back. So with the show, we really just wanted to trial it in the afternoon to fine tune it to eventually move it to the evening time and that was always the plan with it. We would go in, test the waters, trial a few different features and see what worked, get rid of the parts that weren’t working. So we initially broadcast at 7pm but of course when the soaps came back we had to move to 6pm which completely changed our audience too. The people that were previously available to us at 7pm are usually commuting at 6pm. It was challenging, we had spent so much time fine tuning the show to what worked, we had built up a good audience base and now we were starting from scratch again. Thankfully, the 6pm show has turned out to be a great success and then covid came along and the show took on a whole different meaning. Who would have known or thought that television would be an essential service?

The day I was told that I thought to myself, my dad is up in heaven breaking his heart laughing at the idea of me being called an

who is now in charge of An Post, his sister also went through a traumatic time and he said to me, every time you go in for a scan

essential service! It opened us up to a greater, more available audience because there was no commute anymore for most people, a 1hr drive home had now turned into a walk down the stairs! People really wanted the break from the news, they had covid and news fatigue. Everyday was so heavy and it got to stage hearing the numbers in the daily figure announcement was so upsetting you just didn’t want to hear it anymore. We were so mindful that we were coming on straight after the news and of course had to acknowledge the situation but still to provide people with that escapism.

With all this going on, how did you manage to raise 5 children with your wife Jenny?

It really was a tag team effort and we were really lucky in one sense because I have been working remotely for years. I would have my notes emailed to me so that I could read over them at home and our production meeting became digital too due to Covid. I had always spent part of my day working remotely anyway, so when my children were younger I was able to be there in the mornings, drop them to school and collect them afterwards and then head into work for the evenings. When Jenny opened up her own photography business, she would work in the mornings and then come home to take over from me for the afternoons with homework and dinners. I’d come home from work and take over the evenings so she could use that time to meet clients over at the studio so it was very much a tag team! It was almost like a football game at times, substituting on and off! Now we were also fortunate to have Jen’s sister in law, who has sadly since passed away, she would mind the kids in the afternoons when both of us had to work.

you are right back at the start again and he was completely right. That is what it felt like, waiting anxiously on results.

Now we went from scan to scan but the thing was, we did not live our lives scan to scan and I think that is a huge difference because we had to live our lives and we would just face the scans when they came. All were good until recently when there was no scan because of Covid, so she went 2 years without a scan and when she eventually got one, they saw there was something there. I had taken Jenny away to Salzburg for our anniversary, we had known that there was something brewing and we were told that yes, they had found something and she would need surgery to remove it, this was just before Christmas. It was a lot tougher this time round because the surgeon had to go in a little bit deeper to get it out so in terms of recovery, it was a lot tougher on Jen. We were told that there was a 50/50 chance that she might need chemotherapy and/or radiation, but thankfully, she celebrated her birthday and the following Wednesday she got a call to say her scan was really good so there was no need for any treatment.

It was brilliant to get that news because it had been hanging over us the weekend of her birthday but we both just parked it and got on with the celebrations. We are very fortunate that she is in a great place, we are all in a great place now thankfully, with our new grand-daughter arriving and another grandchild on the way in August, there is so much to celebrate and look forward too.

With that said, it is difficult not to acknowledge that so many families in Ireland are currently undergoing similar situations. On a final note for our interview, what advice can you offer to anyone finding themselves in those similar circumstances?

You have to find the positive, just really try hard to find the positive and remain that way as much as you can which is sometimes very tough but that’s what we did. Whether it was a scan or a consultation with the consultant, we would just focus on the good news and whatever route we had to go down we would just work towards a resolution and do it as positively as we could. I know it’s tough but you just have to do it, it will make a difference and help get you through it.

Your wife has recently been through a traumatic illness and I’m sure as a family it was an incredibly difficult time for you all. Can you tell us about that time in your life and how you are continuing to come through it?

It was a very difficult and tough time, both times were. The first time she got the diagnosis it was a real shock to us because we just weren’t expecting it to be a brain tumour? We were thrilled when the surgery was so successful and there was no need for further treatment, it just became a yearly thing that she would go for a scan. I remember the CEO of TV3 at the time, David McRedmond 11

Connect Kerry

Women in Business Awards 2022

We were delighted to host our Connect Women in Business Awards once again at the Rose Hotel on Friday June 10th, after a break of two years it was wonderful to welcome everyone and see such fun and excitement in the room A huge thanks must go to our sponsors and all who supported us to ensure we gave a wonderful night.

Lifetime Achievement Award Margaret Gilbert Changingtracks4life Coaching Margaret is passionate about supporting parents, in what, can be very rewarding but also a challenging and demanding task, i.e., raising children. She works with parents, and families, online and in-person, all over the world, empowering them in their daily lives and on their parenting journey. She partners with parents, building on their competencies and strengths to improve, the quality of life for individuals and families. In 2020 Margaret decided to set up her own Life and Parent Coaching business @changingtracks4life

Women in Business Awards Winners

Woman in Health and Wellness in Association with Seabody Oceanic Products – Jasmin Stallard

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Customer Service Award – Aine Stack

Woman in Law, Finance, Insurance and HR – in association CDS Law and Tax LLP – Nicola O Sullivan

Woman in Business Services in association with Irish Drain Services – Louise McGillicuddy

Business Development award-.

Emer Leahy

Business Entrepreneur award – Nicola Lynch

Woman in Childcare Services in association with Mounthawk Montessori Group. – Donna Griffin

WE BACK BRAVE We know it takes a certain kind of brave to run your Business. We see it, and we back it with specialist teams dedicated to your business needs.

Drop into your local branch in Kerry and talk to our Business Advisors.

Call or email Sean Cooke, Business Banking Kerry on 086 040 5808 or sean.m.cooke@aib.ie

Click on business.aib.ie to make an appointment.

Lending criteria, terms and conditions apply. Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

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Women in Business Awards Winners

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Family Business of the year award – Mountain Adventure Walks Kerry.

Woman in Training and Education in association with Red Chair Recruitment – Niamh Dywer

One to Watch – Reelika Ollo

Woman in Entertainment in association with Muckross Wild Irish Gin – Cathriona O Sullivan

Team Leader – Joelene Wallace

Woman in Fashion Retail- in Association with Hannons Fashion and Lifestyle. – Carina O Shea

Specialist In her business Award – Anuschka Wolfe

Woman in Technology in association with K&A Cleaning and Maintenance Services.

– Marie Carroll O Sullivan

Reader’s Choice Award Johnnys Cottage

Retail or Consumer Services in Association with AIB BANK Grainne Ryle

Social Media Award – Catherine Casey

Creative Design in association with TNC Drinks – Cathy Troth Miliner

Years of Service to her chosen Industry Award – Mary Murphy

Woman in Food Production in Association in association with O Sullivans Bakery – Mary Thea Brosnan

National Business Woman of the year Award – Edel Lawlor

New Business Award in Association with The Busy BotanistLinda Hussey

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Women in Business Awards Winners

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Further Training Support to Women in Business – Nora Daly

Woman in Marketing and Events in association with John Drummey Communications – Fallon Moore

Media Support to Women in Business – Emma Gill

Outstanding Manager Award in association with Kellihers Toyota. – Siobhan McSweeney

The Innovation Award – Fran Fogarty

Young Business Woman in association with Cara Credit Union.

Phillipa Ball

Rising Star Award – Katrina Galvin

Woman in Floristry -Horticulture in association with South Kerry Skillnet.

Jen O Leary Collins

Mission Possible Award.

– Martina Farrell

Woman in Veterinary, Grooming and Animal Care in association with Connect Business Club – Dr Carina Mederle

Home Based Business – Hollie Lynch

Woman in Construction, Art, Design and Auctioneering in association with Expose Design – Daire McCann

Overall Best Business – Listowel Garden Centre.

Community Champion award in association with Radio Kerry – Mary Fitzgerald

Most inspirational Business Woman Orla Coughlan

Editor’s Choice Award – Mairead McMahon

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Guests attending our recent Women in Business Awards

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Our Judges on the night

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Guests attending our recent Women in Business Awards

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THE NATURAL ORDER

S M A L L BATC H BIG ON B O TA N I C A L S

A NEW SPIRIT FROM AN ANCIENT KINGDOM W W W. M U C K R O S S I R I S H G I N . C O M

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Guests attending our recent Women in Business Awards

TALKABOUT with Deirdre Walsh Weekdays 1.30-3pm

The ultimate lifestyle radio show www.radiokerry.ie

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Guests attending our recent s rd a w A s es n si u B in en m Wo

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Guests attending our recent Women in Business Awards 26

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Guests attending our recent Women in Business Awards 28

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Thank you to the businesses of Kerry that supported us with amazing prizes for our charity raffle Brehon Brehon Hotel and Angsana Spa

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Holistic Hound Busy Botanist The Tech Company Dominic Street Tralee Ciara O Donnell Photography Kitty O Se’s Mountain Adventure Walks 30

BECOME A VOLUNTEER ITS A WORK OF HEART! Comfort for Chemo Kerry's goal is to fundraise to help build, equip and provide comfort in a state of the art chemotherapy unit in Kerry . We are looking for volunteers to help make this a reality .

Can you help ?

Please contact us on 086 36480 or email info@comfortforchemokerry.com

A lot done, a lot more to do!

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Sugar; not so sweet.

As addictive as COCAINNE, hidden in our foods and causing an amount of health issues including Obesity.

What if I told you that it was sugar - not necessarily fat that is causing our weight gain. Traditionally those who wanted to loose weight or fat went on low fat diets. And unfortunately many of the "Low Fat" foods or meals available are loaded with sugar.

Increasing evidence suggests that it's the sugar rather than the fat in our diets that is the major contributing factor to our obesity epidemic. As addictive as COCAINNE and often hidden in processed food.

What is sugar?

Sugar is a carbohydrate found naturally in a number of different foods, from lactose in milk to fructose in fruit and honey. There are two types of sugar: naturally occurring sugars, such as lactose and fructose , and added or ' processed" sugars that include refined table sugar (sucrose). Health organisations advise we cut back on these 'processed sugars.' These sugars are often hidden in processed food and we don't even realise we are over consuming.

Why is sugar bad for me?

Eating too much sugar on a regular basis leads to: • Energy slumps: a high intake of sugar causes our blood sugar levels to shoot up, giving us that feel-good 'high’, which is followed by a crashing slump that leaves us tired, irritable and craving more sugary foods.

Weight gain: over-consumption of sugar leads to extra pounds and may in turn increase our risk of chronic health conditions.

• Diabetes and heart disease: • Tooth decay: a common problem and with its incidence increasing, sugary snacks and fizzy drinks are major contributors.

Where is the hidden sugar in food?

The instant 'fix' we get from sugar is one of the reasons we turn to it at times of celebration, or when we crave comfort or reward.

However, even those of us without a sweet tooth may be eating more than we realise because so many everyday shop-bought foods – from cereals and bread to pasta sauce and soups – contain sugar. And unfortunately the Low Fat options are often just as sugar heavy. Here are some common examples: • 'Low-fat' and 'diet' foods unfortunately often contain

extra sugar to help improve taste and palatability and to add bulk and texture.

• 'Ready off the shelf savoury foods, like readymade soups and sauces, may contain added sugar, please check the label - same type jars or sauces can vary from 22g per 100g to just 7g per 100g.

• Breakfast cereals, bread and even yogurt may contain high levels of added sugar.

• Fizzy drinks – on average one can contains the equivalent of seven teaspoons of sugar.

Find out how much sugar is in your food by doing these simple checks: • Look at the 'carbs as sugars' on the nutrition panel. This includes both natural and added sugars. Less than 5g per 100g is considered low, more than 15g per 100g is high. As a rule aim for no more than 10g per 100g. Check the ingredients list – any items ending in 'ose' (glucose, sucrose, fructose, lactose, maltose) are all forms of sugar, as are honey, agave, molasses and syrups like corn and rice syrup. The higher up the ingredient list these are, the more sugar the product contains.

• Manufacturers are increasingly using what they describe as more ‘natural’ sugars like coconut sugar. These are still ‘processed ' sugars and carry the same health risks, despite the healthy perception.

How much sugar is considered ok to consume each day?

The Recommendations from the World Health Organisation (WHO) is that only 5% of our daily calorie intake should consist of added 'processed ' sugar. This means: • Adults should have no more than 30g a day (approximately six tea spoons .

• Children aged 7-10 years old should have no more than 24g a day (five teaspoons ).

• Children aged 4-6 years old should have no more than 19g a day (four teaspoons).

• Know your substitutes. Xylitol, sorbitol, Steeva and mannitol occur naturally in small amounts in plants and fruits and are often used in low-calorie products to provide sweetness, but with fewer calories.

What can I do to minimise my sugar intake?

It can be hard to spot added sugar, because the figures (carbs as sugars) on the label include both naturally occurring sugar and added or processed sugar. The most effective way to minimise your sugar intake is to avoid highly processed foods, buy whole foods and cook from scratch where possible. When you do buy off the shelf – check the ingredient list carefully. In addition to this add less sugar to tea or coffee and choose water instead of sugary drinks.

We offer affordable options for all your fitness needs.

Services - Building Strength - Losing weight - Personal Training - Fitness Classes 34

Monavalley Tralee 085 2689880

@Achievefitnessirl

When Did You Start Up Zenergy? and Why? Nicola, can you tell us what inspired you to start up Zenergy?

Many years ago I suffered severe burnout from having three businesses to run and having four small kids all happening together.

When conventional medicine failed me I started looking for other alternatives. I started researching nutrition for my chronic anxiety and fell into a whole new world. I must have read 50 books on nutrition and also saw a very interesting documentary on Netflix called fat, sick and nearly dead. It has been a long journey for me but nutrition is vitally important to keep my head above water. I really do believe there is massive healing in natural foods. Nutrition is only one piece of my jigsaw. I do mindfulness, yoga, tms and nutrition and the combination is working well at the moment.

some way. The cleanse give our customers a great start on their own health and healing journey. I really believe in the power of nutrition for a lot of health problems these days. My job really works for me now as I work in Killarney mostly. I have a cafe in Killorglin with a fantastic team who have been with us for years. They are like part of our family. Patricia our manager does a fantastic job in running Zest from day to day. I love working in Zest with the girls as we all get on so well. Our customers are great and have supported us in the worst times in business. I was lucky enough to trust Patricia to run Zest while I was able to put all my time into Zenergy in Killarney. We start juicing at 5am when our deliveries arrive. They are thoroughly washed and prepared then our courier company collects at 6 PM to dispatch our boxes nationwide and offer next day deliveries.

Was it difficult to get started with equipment etc.?

Can you explain the products and who it might benefit?

I convinced my husband to go to Barcelona to see a juicer that I wanted to purchase and two week later it arrived from America.

It was massive money to invest at the time but I was willing and determined to make a go of it. Zenergy is based in Killarney and we only do door to door deliveries to provide our customers with top class nutrition in a drink. Raw cold press juicing is a hard business and is very time consuming and very precise. It takes a huge amount of time making these juices but you can be guaranteed that they are what they say in the tin.

What sets your product apart from others?

We never pasteurize any of our juices because when you pasteurize a juice it is heated to a certain temperature which will kill off any of the bacteria that would spoil a juice but this also kills off the goodness that should be in juice. Juices these days are mostly pasteurized. Pasteurized juice gives a longer shelf life of a couple of weeks to a couple of months. Juice should not sit on a shelf for weeks or months on end it needs to be made and consumed as soon as possible. I did the Food Academy program with the Kerry Enterprise board a couple of years ago and I was successful in getting into all the Supervalu ‘s in Kerry. I did it for a couple of weeks and it nearly broke me, not financially but in spirit. I would spend all this time making these juices and would hate to see the way they looked on the shelf, compared to other juices but we weren’t comparing like with like. Pasteurized juices always look amazing they never separate as they have added stabilizers. A lot of juice companies also add water, artificial flavours, artificial colours or artificial preservatives to make juices look more appealing on the shelf. Our juices are just pure natural untreated Raw cold pressed juice that has nothing added and nothing taken away. It is so time consuming but it is a labour of love.

What do you love most about running Zenergy?

I absolutely love when I get phone calls and emails from customers who have gone on the Juice Cleanse and it has helped them in

The most popular Item in Zenergy is the three-day juice cleanse.

This is where people consume juice only for the three-day period.

Everybody experiences the cleanses differently. It is a very difficult three days but on the fourth day the benefits are clear to see and people feel that their energy is restored along with losing a few pounds. Their taste buds are reset after the fourth day and everything tastes really sweet, so this is the best time to cut out sugar and start a new way going forward. Most of our customers cleanse every two months just for a general reset and to recharge energy and nourish the body. Most people lose a good amount of weight but it is more about nourishing the body to function better rather than losing weight. It is what you do after the cleanse that will make all the difference. We provide video demonstration on how to make breakfast super food bowls that will take minutes to make and taste amazing. I was absolutely thrilled to win the entrepreneur of the year award at the Connect Kerry women in business. I think you need a lot of drive passion and commitment in any business. It takes a lot of tears but if you really believe you have a great product eventually it will come right. I am passionate about juicing and absolutely love making a difference to people’s lives and health. Our newest functional juices are shark juice and charcoal lemonade.

Shark juice is for someone who really needs a boost of minerals and vitamins. It contains Organics Spirulina which has an incredible amount of benefits. Our Charcoal lemonade is for a general detox. Charcoal latches on the toxins in the body and expels them.

We do baby shark juices and unicorns juices for kids which are also flooded with goodness. They are ideal for picky eaters. Zenergy is more than a beverage, they are functional juices.

You should feel a difference when consumed regularly.

zenergyKillarney info@zenergyjuices.com 35

HORMONES: The Culprits for HORMONES

Problems with your Health?

How often have people said “it’s her hormones” when someone seems out of sorts.

So what are hormones?

Hormones are internal messengers which control the organs in our body. At the beginning of puberty, the hormones controlling our gynaecological organs “switch on” and continue to be produced until we reach perimenopause and menopause.

The main hormones involved in women’s health are oestrogen, progesterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and testosterone. Other hormones such as thyroid can affect aspects of women’s health.

Hormones are like musical instruments in an orchestra, they need to work in a specific sequence for the smooth running of our bodies. If the amounts produced or sequences are altered, then it can impact the functioning of our bodies.

The most common hormonal imbalance that can affect young girls is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). PCOS affects between 6-12% of women. We see significant numbers in Kerry and many cases go undiagnosed for a number of years which can cause distress for young girls. In this condition the hormone imbalance means that there may be an excess of free male hormones in a girl’s blood stream. Symptoms can include irregular periods / no periods, increased facial hair, changes in head hair including loss of head hair, acne and fertility issues. Mental health problems are also very common.

There are many ways of managing PCOS including using the oral contraceptive pill, specific dietary programmes and exercise. There are also many cosmetics procedures such as laser or peels can be helpful tools in addition to medical care. It is always good to see advice- as early treatments are important.

Hormones and Mood, PMS /PMDD

HOW HORMONES CHANGE AS WOMEN AGE

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a term describing physical, emotional and psychological symptoms which occur specifically in the week prior to a period. This can be due to altered oestrogen and progesterone levels affecting the brain. Symptoms can include breast tenderness, headaches, bloating. Psychological changes can include anxiety, sadness or extreme irritability. The key factor is that these symptoms reverse after a period starts.

As a woman enters her early to mid-40s her ovaries will start to become less responsive, resulting in the start of the perimenopause where oestrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate more, and periods become less regular.

Up to 30% of women can be affected by PMS and in up to 5% of women symptoms can be severe when we call it PMDD.

Normally when people think about hormone issues in women, they think we are talking about fertility or menopause. But hormones can affect us at any stage from puberty onwards.

From the age a woman reaches puberty to around her mid-30s hormone levels are stable and fluctuate naturally each month in line with the menstrual cycle. Periods will be regular in women with a healthy hormone balance unless a woman is on some form of contraceptive pill.

Oestrogen and progesterone levels gradually decline during the perimenopause and FSH and LH levels increase. These changes cause a hormone imbalance resulting in menopause symptoms such as irregular periods, mood changes, hot flushes and loss of libido.

The transition from menopause to postmenopause occurs after a woman has not had a period for at least 12 months. Oestrogen, progesterone, and testosterone drop to very low levels. Declining oestrogen levels can lead to longer term health issues such as cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.

Hormones and Adolescence

After a young girl enters puberty her hormones can take a few months to settle into a pattern.

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PMS can be helped by dietary changes, vitamin D / B6/ B12 / magnesium supplements, reducing caffeine of alcohol intake, ensuring good sleep or using psychotherapy techniques such as CBT. Herbal remedies such as Agnus castus or chasteberry are also helpful.

Balancing hormones through the use of the Pill can also help.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a much more severe form of PMS. It results in extreme emotional disturbances that require medical assistance, usually mental health support. In addition to the measures outlined above women may need to introduce medications to alleviate anxiety or depression.

There are many ways of helping to manage hormone imbalances and it is always good to seek help.

The Scotia Clinic, Scotia House,Manor West, Tralee, Co. Kerry (066) 7181100

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Ask the Pharmacist

As we approach the second half of 2022, here in Mounthawk Pharmacy I thought it would be as good a time as any to stop and reflect on the past few months and years and share my thoughts on the times we live in.

After more than two years of living through the worst pandemic in living memory, we finally appear to be coming out at the other side. This is not to say COVID is gone, but we are learning to live with the ever present threat. The vaccination programme has been a huge success in bringing down both the number of cases and the number of hospitalisations and it was wonderful to see such a big uptake among the population. Here in Mounthawk pharmacy we were proud to play our small part in helping people get back to living a normal life by taking part in the vaccination programme. We would also like to thank our loyal customers for bearing with us on the days when we ran our Walk In clinics and the queue outside the door seemed to stretch from one end of the Fat Mile to the other. It was a lot of work but so worth it and it really meant a lot to people. It is testament to the faith that people put in the programme that we now get to enjoy the freedom that we have today. So really I just want to thank people for rolling up their sleeves and helping us all get back to living again.

The pandemic also helped shine a light on the importance of our health-both physical and mental. The old saying that “Health is Wealth” has never been more apt and I think we all did a lot of soul searching during those months of lockdown. The Irish are such a social group of people and community spirit means so much to everyone. It is now more important than ever to rekindle those old friendships that may have fallen by the wayside through the lack of contact over the last few years. The isolation so many experienced over the last two years has taken it’s toll on a lot of people and not everyone is able to bounce back from it as they would like. So even if it is just a phone-call or a quick visit to an elderly neighbour….a good deed will benefit both you and them.

A wonderful night was had by all at the recent Women in Business awards and I would like to congratulate Mags on the organisation of such a wonderful event. As you will see in the rest of this magazine, there are a lot of talented ladies in this county and it is only right to shine a light on them. It is hard work operating a business yet all those women make it look effortless.

I would like to extend my congratulations and admiration to all of the nominees and winners for the example they set and wish them continued success. They say behind every great

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man there is an even greater woman and here in Mounthawk I’m blessed to have 7 exceptional ladies that keep me on the straight and narrow. Bridie, Claire, Louise, Lydia, Maria, Marie and Niamh are well known to all of our customers and do such a wonderful job and I’m so fortunate to have them on my team. I’m sure all of our customers will agree. They are always here to offer their expert advice.

Next month marks our two year anniversary up in Mounthawk and I couldn’t be more excited. The time is absolutely flying by and we are so proud of our little shop on the outskirts of town.

To celebrate,

We will be giving one lucky customer a beautiful hamper in a giveaway on our 2nd birthday at the start of August. Just pop into store to enter your name and you could be in with a chance of winning!

I have been humbled at the warm welcome I received since I took over the running of the pharmacy in August 2020. You never forget the first day in any job but at the end of it I knew I had made the right decision. As a boy who went to school in the Spa and afterwards in the Green, I already knew half the customers on day one. Those that didn’t know me knew my parents or my grandparents (and we all know here in Kerry it is vital that you can place someone going back at least four generations!) As a team, we are so proud to call many of our customers our friends and don’t think we ever take your kind support for granted. We get so excited when you call in with happy news of a new job or a new grandchild.

Conversely we hold back tears when we hear of bad news. We really take our role as a healthcare provider seriously and the trust people place in us is a privilege. It is such a strong community here in Mounthawk and I am so proud to be a part of it.

So I will finish by thanking you all again for supporting Mounthawk Pharmacy. In these uncertain economic times it is important to shop local to keep businesses in Tralee and Kerry open and I’m sure I speak on behalf of all other businesses in thanking you for your support. Thank you for reading this column and remember to pop into store to be in with a chance of winning the grand hamper. Until next time!

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

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July Favourites Hey guys! I hope when you are reading this article the sun is shining! It’s been a while since I shared some of my beauty/fashion and just general favourites. So, without further ado, here are a few of my favourite things!

New Hotspots!

I am a big foodie and love nothing more than going out for a meal! We recently ate at TOBA in the Square Tralee.

They also have a restaurant in Killarney. It’s a Thai/Asian restaurant and OMG the food!

It is delicious AND healthy!

All the food is made fresh that day and most of the menu Toba, the Square is Gluten Free and Vegan Tralee adaptable. They have Low-Calorie and High Street, options so you can eat out, even Killarney when you are watching your diet!

I’d highly recommend dining in one of their restaurants or getting a takeaway.

Another restaurant/ takeaway I want to tell you guys about is Boho Burger in Tralee. Throw the diet out the window and enjoy the nicest burgers EVER! My mouth is watering just writing about them! They also do the most delicious chicken wings and loaded Boho Burger, Edward fries. The restaurant offers Street, Tralee a really relaxed atmosphere so definitely give both these restaurants a try and support our local businesses.

Wine O’Clock There’s nothing better than ending the work week and sitting down with a super chilled glass of wine on a Friday night. My favourite wine is a nice bottle of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. I really enjoy Mud House 40

or Brancott Estate, but they are a little on the pricey side. I’ve recently discovered this beautiful NZ Sauvignon Blanc called Freeman’s Bay from the Specially Selected section in Aldi. It’s quite dry and clear with notes of citrus, gooseberry and tropical fruit flavours. It’s €9.49 - try it and thank me later!

Socks over leggings – a trend..

Freeman’s Bay New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc available at ALDI

I personally love this ‘90’s throwback trend. People seem to either love it or hate it and there’s no in-between.

Team your sports leggings with a pair of socks, a sweatshirt and a baseball cap for the ultimate cool girl vibe.

Do you like this trend?

Adanola Gym Set adanola.com

New Foundation.

I recently tried the new Estée Lauder Futurist Hydra Rescue Moisturising Foundation. It is beautiful. It is so hydrating, breathable and leaves my skin looking natural and glowy. It feels so light, but it does even skin tone and hide imperfections. It is buildable, so you can make it more full coverage Estée Lauder for night time. Best of all, it has Futurist Hydra SPF 45 in it.

Rescue Moisturising

Foundation Available at CH Tralee.

Face Mist I am obsessed with face mists and always use a mist as a toner in my skin care routine. I was a big fan of the Trilogy Mist toner with rose. But I can share a much cheaper alternative. I go to Leonie Guinane Skin Studio in Tralee.

If you haven’t been to Leonie for a facial, you seriously need to make an Ultra Pure appointment! But back to the mist….

Rose Water, available at most Leonie recommended I buy a bottle of rose pharmacies water and decant it into a bottle that has a spray on it. It costs €7.35 for a 500ml bottle v €22 for a 100ml Trilogy Mist. It is so gentle on the skin and super hydrating.

Have a good hair day!

I always use Kérastase and find their entire hair care range fantastic.

I recently tried their new Chroma Absolu Bain range and wow....it is so good! The shine it gives my hair is unreal! It’s a lightweight formula that gently cleanses and hydrates hair, while protecting colour from stripping or fading away. The nourishing Kérastase formula doesn’t weigh my hair down available at Peter Mark salons and definitely helps to minimise any frizz thanks to the lactic acid. It also has the most beautiful scent of Neroli and Sandalwood.

On the go!

If you’re like me and always take a coffee to go in the mornings, then you should invest in one of these Mother reusable cups. Not only do they look sleek with their beautiful designs, it keeps coffee hot for up to three hours and you can throw it into your handbag confident Available at it won’t leak or spill. It’s an Irish motherreusables.com company, all their products are made from 100% recycled materials and they plant a tree for every cup/bottle sold. I also have their water bottles for all the family and they keep water super cold all day.

Hope you enjoyed this article. Let me know if you try any of the above. Keep an eye on my Facebook and Instagram to see how I style my outfits.

For any fashion or beauty queries, please email laurahollystylist1@gmail.com Laura xxx @laurahollystyle Laura Holly

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Hello Summertime from all at Ballyseedy, especially the garden centre team. At this point I’m sure you all have your hanging baskets and window boxes planted. Ideally one should get five to six months from their baskets but there are a few key pointers to achieving this.

Hi Readers,

• Purchase quality plants

Longest day of the year.. check Junior and Leaving Certs.. check Kerry women in Business Awards.. check

😕

Where has 2022 gone . Here in That's Perfect it is bang in the middle of wedding season and every second customer coming in is asked Is it a family wedding?

Followed closely by " mother of bride or groom? There is always great excitement sorting the "mom" out with fasinators, bags and shawls. Races are back also so feel free to call in with any questions regarding accessories for any event.

I can't not mention the Kerry Women in Business Awards held on June 10th. What a come back for Margaret ... outstanding from start to finish and am very proud of her.

👏

Before I finish this month I would like to mention that heaven welcomed one of my faithful readers, a very stylish lady whose name was Ann. This very stylish lady was Margarets and my Auntie Ann. Until next time, Keep smiling and be kind

Carmel xxx

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• Quality compost i.e. never using old compost, always dispose of last years, washing your containers out and starting with fresh compost.

We at Ballyseedy recommend baskets and containers. The reason for this is the exact amount of feed and wetting agent is in this compost. Westland our supplier goes to great lengths with trials, to get the right results, therefore all the work is done for you.

• Feeding locally sourced where possible, Brandon Seaweed feed comes from our local shores, it has extra mineral and trace elements, therefore getting the best from your plants.

• Watering is of paramount importance, neither under or over watering, it has to be consistent, sometimes investing in a drip system if you have a lot of baskets, it's a worthwhile investment.

Window boxes and hanging baskets don't necessarily need to be floral, a mix of floral and edible or all edible, e.g., strawberry basket, herb basket/box or why not both.

A window box planted with perennials can draw butterflies and bees, these plants can be subsequently planted in your garden in the autumn, therefore no waste. How beautiful to sit out on a summer evening taking in the scent of lavender, dianthus or scented geraniums, invoking memories of grannie's garden and long lazy summer days.

For all your loyalty, please remember we are here to guide you on you planting questions.

Visit www.ballyseedy.ie and @ballyseedyplants on Social media for more information.

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By Cathriona Murphy

...Blossom Boutique

This month, in our Style Focus, we popped into Blossom Boutique to chat with proprietor, Nuala Keane. Blossom Boutique will soon be celebration its 6th anniversary, nestled in the heart of Listowel it has become a magnet for all fashionista’s. I met with Nuala to chat about how her dreams of opening a boutique, blossomed into reality.

Nuala, can you tell our readers here in Connect a bit about Blossom Boutique?

Blossom Boutique is an affordable, casual and occasion wear boutique in Market Street, Listowel. We are open Mondays from 12pm-5pm and Tuesday to Saturday 10pm-6pm. There are two of us here, myself and Helena who is just a fantastic worker, amazing with fashion retail and has a good eye for clothes. I had always dreamed of opening a boutique but raising young kids it just wasn’t feasible then.

Eventually the time came in my life when I decided to take the plunge and open up Blossom Boutique. A good friend of mine, Donna Kavanagh, had opened up a clothing store in Drogheda and she was a huge help to me. She really just inspired me to follow my dreams and I am delighted to be celebrating the 6th anniversary of blossom boutique this coming August.

What kind of customer experience do you provide and what can new customers expect?

One of the major things of my business is that we have an extremely friendly atmosphere, we try to make each customer feel as welcome and as comfortable as possible. Sometimes customers come in and they feel shy or embarrassed due to their size not being what they want it to be, they can be very conscious of trying on clothes so we try to make them comfortable, help them and do it in a private way. We can pick clothes for them and bring into the dressing room so they won’t feel like other customers are watching them. But we do love the aspect of having fun with our customers too! We have regular customers over the last 5/6 years who have become really good friends of ours. As for being a mother and trying to shop in the summer holidays! I have been there, I remember trying to shop for a wedding outfit with 3 kids so I understand the difficulty. For that reason, we have a sofa in the changing area where the kids can relax, so that should buy mom’s a certain amount of peace and quiet!

Do you offer a styling or personal shopping service?

Yes very much so! I think that is a huge aspect of my boutique, I have customers that will ring me and tell me they have a wedding coming up so I will pick out a few outfits and have them ready for them to try. I am very honest about what does and doesn’t suit someone, I won’t make a sale just for the sake of it, I want my customer to feel confident and look their best in my clothing. When they try on something that I have picked that they ordinarily wouldn’t and end up loving it, it’s that trust between us and the customer that I just love. I personally used to hate going into shops years ago and they would tell me everything I tried looked good on me, everything does not look good on everyone so I would rather be honest.

What size and age demographic do you cater too?

We go from size 6-16 with some items fitting a size 18. I have customers from their 20’s right up to their 80’s. My mother is in her 70’s and she is the most glamorous woman I know! Just because you 44

are getting older it doesn’t mean that you don’t want to dress up? It’s all about keeping it age appropriate and suiting the person who is wearing the item, young or old.

What brands are you currently stocking?

So I have an Irish label called “Rant and Rave” which is hugely popular along with “Sugarhill Brighton”, they would both be my best sellers. Sugarhill is a very quirky brand, they have pretty light knits and shirts. They are both labels that are exclusive to my boutique here in Listowel. I have also brought in a new brand “Garcia”, it’s a higher end casual brand that has become very popular but still not reaching high prices. We have started to gradually introduce footwear by Rant and Rave. In addition to this, we have started to stock earrings by a brand call Ethan & Co. Finally Nuala, what can we expect coming down the line in terms of trends?

To finish up, I will say that the dresses are really lasting through the seasons so they are good investments to make as they are so versatile in the way you can wear them. Culottes are making a huge comeback so watch out for that! Blazers are a fashion item that never go out of style so they are a great investment to make. So what I would say is, pop into us here in Market Street, Listowel.

We will make you feel very welcome and do our utmost to have you leaving happy about the shopping experience you have had with us, regardless if you purchased or not. Myself and Helena are looking forward to seeing customers both new and old!

You can find blossom Boutique on Instagram @blossom_ listowel or phone 087 315 4699

Tax Relief on College Tuition Fees Tax relief is available on qualifying Third Level Tuition fees including student contribution. Unfortunately, no relief is available for on administration fees.

Amount of Relief Tax Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%. The maximum amount of relief in respect of qualifying fees is €7,000 per student in 2022. NB: First €3,000(full time course) or €1,500(part-time course) is discarded.

Examples: My son is in College and I paid €3,000 in tuition fees, is any Tax Relief due?

I have two children in Private College and paid €11,000 in fees, am I due Relief?

Yes provided the course is an approved third level course, relief would apply. Tax relief would be available on the excess over €3,000; which is €8,000 in this example, assuming fees are split between children, relief as follows: €8,000 X 20% = €1,600 Tax Credit Note the Maximum limit of €7,000 is per student so wouldn’t apply in this case.

No, as the amount which qualifies for relief does exceed excess of €3,000 therefore, no relief is due.

I have two Children in college and paid €6,000 in tuition fees, is any Tax Relief due?

Yes Tax Relief is due on excess over €3,000 which is €3,000 as follows: €3,000 X 20% = €600 Tax Credit

job opportunity Qualified Accountant The candidate should have strong business and finance knowledge.

The ability to plan and prioritise workloads in order to meet deadlines is fundamental in order to meet accounting deadlines.

Qualification/Skills/Experience • Third Level Qualification • Must be proficient in use of standard office software • Good experience with accounts / bookkeeping, • Excellent attention to detail and accuracy • Energetic, self-motivated and proactive • Minimum of 2 years relevant accounting experience in practice environment essential • Excellent written and oral presentation skills • Effective Time Management •We Ability to work as part of a team look forward to meeting you!

Benefits: • Competitive salary on offer

nty

John Ca

Apply with CV to info@jcantyaccountants.ie

We look forward to meeting you!

nty a C n h o J

John Canty & Co. Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors 3 Denny Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry. T: 066-7127802 M: 087 9431998 E: info@jcantyaccountants.ie 45

Three Generations of Early Year’s Educators; A Family Legacy of Montessori Education approach. Our Early Years Education system not only values families, it also embraces and includes families in the activities in the centres. Children are supported to engage in meaningful indoor and outdoor activities, predominantly child-led.” Susan Quirke-Crowley quoted by Dept. of Children .

Liz, Susan , Maureen Quirke , Helena & Ruby Established in 1999, nothing could be truer than the old adage ‘ Mighty Oaks from Little Acorn’s Grow’ for Mounthawk Montessori School & Busy Bees Nursery . From the humble beginnings of a home based sessional Montessori Pre-school catering for 10 children, started by Susan Quirke-Crowley & Maureen Quirke ;quickly joined by Helena Wallace Dowling , the Mounthawk Montessori Group now lead the way for high quality Early Years Education provision in our family owned and operated services in Tralee , now catering for 150 families every day.

As Day Care , Nursery , Montessori School & After-school settings; Our vision was to create purpose built , high quality , indoor and outdoor learning environments , that are responsive to the evolving holistic needs of children and families . We are present in our settings on a daily basis and our ethos exudes the core values that we have, to foster respect for all stakeholders. Our many Awards are testament to our commitment and the commitment of our Teams to the provision of high quality Early Years Education for all children in our locality.

Mounthawk Montessori & Busy Bees Nursery quickly outgrew our initial school and moved to our current home at the Mounthawk Roundabout , Fenit Roundabout , Clogherbrien . Located on an acre green field site , we enjoy the ambiance of the countryside on the outskirts of the town.

Our poly tunnels , natural planting areas and large indoor and outdoor classrooms and learning areas , enhance the quality of care for children within our flag ship , purpose designed Montessori School. We explore Natural Sciences, Botany , Ecology and life cycles in our Outdoor Science areas and our Orchard of mature apple trees. Our Degree led Team are headed by Helena Wallace Dowling, as General Manager , supported by Katie O’Sullivan , Centre Manager, under the Directorship of Susan Quirke-Crowley, MSc, HDIPA, BA , Dip. 066-7189964 Maureen’s Childcare & Montessori School , 48 Casement’s Avenue, Upper Rock Street, was established in 2003 to serve our neighbours and local community. Maureen’s boosts two classrooms and an amazing all weather outdoor classroom – that can be enjoyed every day , no matter what the weather, enhanced by natural planting areas ,based on the Forest Kindergarten experiences enjoyed by Susan, at Queen Maud University , Trondheim, Norway and extensive outdoor learning and play areas. The programme in Maureen’s is headed by Directors Maureen & Liz Quirke , ensuring that the motto ‘Quirke’s for Quality’ is delivered upon every day. For queries please contact Maureen & Liz on 087-9449446

This includes our most recent All Ireland Business Foundation ‘All Star Montessori School of the Year Award’ , 2022 , for the second year in succession. Our motto is ‘We work and play” and our innovation in practice is based on Susan’s Forest Kindergarten experiences in Norway , Italy & France as well as Ireland, ensuring a highly educated and dynamic approach.

“The image of the child as a protagonist (initiating and leading their own learning ) of learning and a competent being is at the heart of the Mounthawk Montessori Group 46

Mounthawk Montessori

BABY & KIDS CLOTHING BOUTIQUE

The Award Winning Team

2022 sees the exciting launch of Oak Park Montessori School , headed by Caroline Crowley , the 3rd Generation of our family to join us as Montessori Pre-school Providers in Tralee. The Oak Tree is the Family Crest of the Quirke Family and this is celebrated in the naming of our newest school. Conveniently located opposite Spar at the top of Oak park. En route to the Irish Maureen & Caroline School , Munster Technological University and Kerry College , Clash Campus, our newest centre will cater for children aged 2 and a half to five and half years.

We offer a large bright and airy classroom , complete with a high quality Montessori Aistear Curriculum . Natural Planting areas will enhance the outdoor play and learning environment at Oak Park Montessori School . The service hours will be from 8.30 am to 1.30 pm , providing Free ECCE Montessori Preschool with wrap around National Childcare Scheme options before and after our Montessori Pre-school Session. For bookings and queries please contact Caroline on 086-1620003

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FOLLOW US TO VIEW OUR FULL RANGE

We are delighted to welcome families and children, to visit our purpose built schools when considering Early Years Education options for their little ones. We were happy to join the response for support for Ukrainian children in the locality and each of our schools has welcomed little ones to our community. We celebrate the uniqueness of every child in our care. Diversity , Equality and Inclusion in the philosophy and ethos of our Early Years Provision and our highly qualified team of caring Teachers look forward to meeting you and your child at one of our local Montessori schools .

For further information and appointments for a personalised tour, please Susan Quirke-Crowley 086-8153757 Or find our Montessori Schools on Facebook .

Susan Quirke-Crowley 47

Q. Who Might Need Occupational Therapy?

A. OT can help Children & Adolescents who have: · Birth Injury

· Broken bones

· Congenital Disorder

· Orthopaedic injuries

· Sensory Processing

· Developmental delays

· Learning Difficulties

· Post-surgical conditions

· Autism

· Burns

· ADHD

· Spina Bifida

· Mental Health Disorders

· Traumatic

· Behavioural Issues

· Amputations

· Spinal Injury

· Cerebral Palsy,

· Brain Injury

· Multiple sclerosis,

· Cancer

· Chronic illnesses.

Q. How Can Occupational Therapy help my child?

A. Paediatric OT’s helps Children’s to play, improves their school performance, and aids their daily activities. It also boosts their self-esteem and sense of accomplishment.

With OT, Children can:

· Develop fine motor skills so that your child can grasp and release toys and develop good handwriting or computer skills. · Improve hand-eye coordination so your child can play and do the required school skills such as bat a ball and copy from a blackboard. · Master basic life skills such as bathing, getting dressed, brushing teeth, and self-feeding. · Learn positive behaviours and social skills by practicing how they manage frustration and anger. · Make recommendations to get special equipment to help build their independence. These may include wheelchairs, splints, bathing equipment, dressing devices, and communication aids.

Riding a Bike · Maintaining an upright posture (postural control, core strength) · Motor planning (pedalling, turning handlebars, stepping back to brake, pulling the brakes on handlebars while cycling) · Bi-Lateral Coordination (pedalling forwards coordinating both sides of the body together) · Pedalling (leg strength to turn pedals, taking feet off pedals when stopping bike, pedalling fast enough, getting 2 feet on

pedals, and getting started) · Balance (this can be an issue due to decreased core strength or vestibular processing difficulties) · Visual Perception (spatial relations, judging distances etc while moving fast) · Cycling (Putting all the steps of bike riding together and performing them at once)

The below tips will help you to support a child to have fun and be a safe cyclist; Strategies to support the child in developing this skill.

upright posture. If your child cannot hold themselves upright and immediately slumps while seated on the bike seat, core strengthening activities are essential e.g., animal walks, wheelbarrow walks, obstacle course · Teach your child to kick the pedals into position ready for push off, with their preferred foot just forward of the highest position to get good leverage. The effort of pushing the pedals round, especially for push-off, will make balancing much harder. Keep the bike in a low gear. A tarmac path will give much less resistance than grass. · You will need to hold the back of the seat to give some help with balance at first as the child gets used to pedalling whilst balancing. Two adults, one each side, is best. If your child really struggles with balance then you need to work on their balance skills with activities like walk on a balance beam while reading an alphabet chart, stand on a shaky surface (balance board, BOSU) and dribble a ball/play catch, complete an obstacle course, and any other multi component activity you can think of! · Again, repeat the same stages of learning as when scooting – first learning to go in straight lines and to use the brakes. To gain balance, longer stretches of space are helpful. · Practise and patience are the key to success. Bike riding is an achievable skill for everyone!

· Set the seat height correctly; their feet should be flat on the ground when seated. · Remove Stabilisers; it is strongly recommended that you start your child off with a balance bike or remove the pedals from the bike so that your child can learn to balance by pushing their feet against the ground. · Before your child learns to cycle, teach them to walk along in a straight line whilst holding onto the handle- bars, with the bike on their right-hand side. When they can do this, teach them to use both brakes to stop the bike suddenly on command. · Once the pedals are back on. Adding straps to the pedals to keep a child’s feet in place may be helpful. If leg strength is an issue some activities you can do at home are jumping games (obstacle courses), hopscotch, jump on 1 foot, or have your child kick a large therapy ball when laying on his/her back. · The next piece of the puzzle to be examined is balance and

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Call us on 086 138 2126 if you wish to speak to an Occupational Therapist

Oakview Village, Tralee, Co. Kerry.

066 712 7400 / 086 138 2126

Pearly Whites

by Dr Marcas Mac Domhnaill

Dental Implants

Increasingly in Ireland, patients are eager to replace any spaces following the loss of a natural tooth. Traditionally, dentures and bridges filled the gaps, however dental implants are now proving to be a common choice.

Phoenix Women’s SHED

A dental implant is a screw type device that is placed into the jawbone in order to mimic a natural root. A small metal core extends from the implant into the mouth. This core can act as a foundation for a porcelain tooth or indeed it can act as a support for a denture.

The Phoenix Women’s CENTRE is expanding its range of activities, training programmes, workshops, and events.

Patients would need an assessment before opting for an implant as not everybody is suitable for them. You need a minimum amount of space for an implant along with good quality and a good quantity of bone in the area.

Scans and radiographs ( x-rays) can help with the assessment. As always, please ask your dentist for advice.

We are now known as the Phoenix Women’s Centre and Shed.

The Centre will still be providing the full range of supports, counselling, advocacy, signposting to specialist agencies, confidential phone line for any challenges, difficulties or crises faced by women in Kerry. We are still here for you!

Beir Bua.

49, Sráid na Carraige Uachtarach, Trá Lí, Co. Chiarraí 49 Upper Rock Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry We Have Arrived TBG FV.pdf 1 17/06/2022 16:41 Ph: (066) 712 1457 | | fiacloir@gmail.com www.macdomhnailldental.ie

Under the banner of the Phoenix Women’s SHED we will be consolidating our Empowerment and Personal Development programmes, Walking Group (every Wed, 11.00a.m. meet at Wetlands), Nutrition classes, Yoga sessions, Drumming, Art Therapy, Self Care Workshops and Talks on issues affecting women. We will continue to hold special events for International Women’s Day, competitions, social gatherings, quizzes and other fundraising events.

WE HAVE ARRIVED

All Shed events from July – December 2022 will be held on a Thursday, 10.30a.m. – 1.30p.m. in the Pipers Band Hall, Matt Talbot Road, Tralee.

This Summer to launch our SHED, we are holding an inaugural Summer Social event on 15th July at the Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee.

@thebrandgeekstralee

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Details will be posted on our website and facebook page.

We will be asking attendees to give us their ideas, suggestions and thoughts about how the Phoenix SHED can serve you, the women of Kerry.

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

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

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AT OUR NEW TRALEE OFFICE MARKETING EMERGENCY? CALL: 066 401 01 21 49

Into The West

Margaret Kissane

Its time of the year to take a break and we decided to head back west of our lovely county to check out what it had to offer, we arrived at the furthest point, well it must be far as there was a signpost saying BOSTON 2400km.. anyhow we anchored up the jeep by the beach and made our way to Tigh TP, checked into a lovely room called the 3 sisters, called this as it was facing the 3-pointed peaks of the 3 sisters far in the distance on the Dingle Peninsula, a most beautiful view. TighTP’s is a family run bar and restaurant overlooking Smerwick Harbour in Ballydavid Dingle, a welcoming atmosphere where locals and visitors mix and mingle, the evening sunshine added to the atmosphere for sure, for dinner I had Scampi, Chips and Salad, huge portions of fresh scampi with a tossed salad, whilst himself opted for the catch of the day ‘smoked hake’ equally delicious.

Sunday morning was time for our seaweed bath where host at Dingle Wellness Orla had our room ready and waiting, my first time ever embarking on a seaweed bath, I have to admit that as a child I dreaded walking on it at Ballyheigue and Derrymore beaches, probably as my older brothers had told me that it housed many species of strange sea creatures that would be a danger to my then small life… however I am a big girl now so I braved it.. am I glad I did, it was the most amazing experience, I could feel the oils from the seaweed soaking into my skin listening to the waves crashing outside, it certainly is a piece of heaven if you want to switch off and think about nothing for a while, After a relax and a sip of peppermint tea we headed for the bustle of Dingle town, taking the slea head route, we came across a little gem called ‘Café an Tra’ it was like walking into someone’s living room and for a minute I thought I was imposing until the most pleasant girl appeared from the kitchen and said would you like to order, We had a delicious tomato and basil soup, definitely homemade, and of course you couldn’t not try the rhubarb crumble, I often think these small home industries are missed and passed by for the bigger names and it truly is a shame as they are thriving and providing some delicious home made produce.

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Finally arrived in Dingle and checked into the lovely Benners Hotel, the room was divine, spacious and an amazing window that the sun shone through. We relaxed for a while, and decided it was time for dinner, we went to Paul Geaney’s pub, had some delicious chicken wings with a blue cheese dip and a tipple of Sauvé Blanc, as it would be rude not to.. we took a little walk around Dingle town to savour the atmosphere of tourists mulling around the streets, a site we haven’t seen in some time it was so good to hear all those strange accents once again, We decided to finish the night by paying a visit to the Dingle Pub, a lively pub on main street run

by Tom Geaney, on arrival there was an amazing atmosphere with a trad session in full swing, shortly after this performance World champion Irish Dancer David Geaney casually stepped out from behind the bar where he was serving and did an amazing display of Irish Dancing, it was breath taking and I thought to myself if this is your regular Sunday night in Dingle town no wonder people travel from all over the world. We stayed there until it was time to call it a night.

So as an overview, I looked at many counties and to be honest the cost of the hotel rooms was just so shocking it wasn’t a runner, I couldn’t justify paying €550-600 for a bed for a break away for no particular occasion.. whereas Tigh TP Is listed at 130 per night and we got Benners Hotel Dingle for 160 including breakfast which is not too bad considering the times we are in. two nights away with accommodation coming in at under €300.00.

So, my advice is yes you need the break we all do, but shop around and get your value, don’t jump at all the online offers talk to a person and get your price.

It often pays to holiday at home and enjoy what’s on our doorstep, we will be checking out more parts of the county over the coming weeks so keep an eye out for us

Happy Holidays!

LIFE. CHANGING.

Full-time Programmes Part-time Programmes Apprenticeships

2022

Kerry College is Ireland’s only integrated provider of Further Education and Training. We offer clear routes to employment, further study, third level and apprenticeship.

5 Locations. 180 Programmes. Unlimited Opportunities.

Our Admissions Office is always here to help. Call in to the office to discuss information and advice on any of our courses.

To view our full list of programmes

Don’t forget! CAO applicants can now apply for Further Education and Training courses and explore Apprenticeship opportunities alongside Higher Education options on the CAO website.

www.kerrycollege.ie

Visit www.cao.ie for more information!

Call our Admissions Team 066 714 96 96 | info@kerrycollege.ie

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Limited places available on certain courses.

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