Connect Lifestyle Magazine March 2022 by Margaret

The lifestyle magazine for Kerry

Made in Kerry, for Kerry FREEKE ME SE TA

PLEA

H MARC 2022

Meet the Finalists

WEDDINGS

All you need to know when getting married

Daniel O Donnell

on his phenomenal career and his upcoming exclusive INEC shows 1

EDITOR'S NOTE Hi everyone Welcome to March, we are extremely excited here at HQ as its all systems go preparing for our Annual Connect Kerry Hair and Beauty Awards, after last years break due to lockdown this year is going to be bigger and better than ever, we are looking forward to welcoming all with their families and friends to celebrate in style. We have included a list of our finalists here and the voting system will open from March 3rd to March 12th all details will be on our social media channels so stay tuned. In other news we catch up with Daniel O Donnell, he talks of life during lockdown and what getting around to sing for the older in our society did for him, and also his return to the stage with his tour this year. Weddings are starting to return and we have lots of tips and advice from many suppliers across the county so if you are planning the big day this is for you. We chat to a lovely couple who had their plans halted five times but they got their happy ever after in the end. Mothers day is March 27th (least you need to be reminded…) we chat to a lovely lady and a wonderful mother Marie Ferris who tells us the challenges she faced with her children and also the joy she got from being a mom. So in all we have as always lots for you to enjoy. Till next month.

Mags xx

LIVER AND SKIN When someone mentions poor liver function, your first thought might not be skin issues. Perhaps major skin issues like jaundice will spring to mind when thinking of the connection between your liver and skin, but everyday skin conditions can be linked to the liver also.

POOR DIGESTION:

Take spots and blemishes for example, you may be aware that poor digestion can put a lot of pressure on the liver, which plays an important role in detoxification. If the liver becomes overwhelmed, it can struggle to remove waste products efficiently. Plus if your bowel is not moving as it should be, the waste/toxins must leave the body via alternative routes. These routes include the mucous membranes, menstrual blood and, yes, your skin! So a sudden breakout of spots or blemishes may indicate that your liver is under too much pressure, whether it is due to a condition like IBS or a heavy weekend of bingeing on alcohol and fast food.

THE MENOPAUSE

Of course, hormones also fluctuate in the run up to and during the menopause. As oestrogen levels are particularly affected during this time, similar symptoms can crop up. This can come as quite a surprise, as most of us associate acne and oily skin with teenage years and puberty. Some tips to help reduce pressure on your liver include: • cut down on alcohol and caffeine • substitute fish and vegan proteins for red meat • take regular exercise. Some natural remedies which can help support your liver include: • MILK THISTLE • ACTIVE LIVER • FLORESSENCE

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

As always, we are happy to recommend products to suit your specific requirements, just call instore to chat to one of our wellness consultants. Until next time, stay healthy Deirdre

Finalists at the Connect Kerry Hair and Beauty Awards 2022 Make-up Artist of the Year

Nail Technician of the Year

- Edel Joy - Paradise Hair and Beauty - Romy Birdthistle - Paradise Hair and Beauty - Annette O'Brien - Annette O Brien Make up - Rasha Amin - Rashas Beauty - Juliette Murphy - Brush n Blush - Sharon O'Sullivan - Sharon O Sullivan Make-up - Tasha Flaherty - Glamour Rose Beauty - Zara Lee O'Shea - Coco Cottage - Sinead Hillard - Sinead Hillard Make-up - Aine McMahon - Vogue Beauty Tralee - Chantelle Reidy - Haven Pharmacy Kenmare

- Emi Polgar - Nails by Daniela at Brush n Blush - Chloe Tagney - Chloe Marie Nail and Beauty Rooms - Maggie Begley - Maggies Nails @ Sean Taaffe Tralee - Aimee Maher - Nails by Aimee - Natasha Tobin - Paradise Hair and Beauty - Milica Lazic - Beauty Studio M Killarney - Joy Murphy - Vogue Hair and Beauty Tralee - Agnieska Jurczyk- Savannah Beauty Millstreet - Chloe Keane - True Beauty Killarney

Wedding & Occasion Make-up Specialist

- Rasha Amin - Rashas Beauty - Kirsti Cunnigham - Paradise Hair and Beauty - Sinead Moriarty - Blush Beauty Lispole - Meg O Mahony - Vogue Hair and Beauty - Ramona Scur - Serenity Spa at the Rose Hotel - Linda Murphy - Pamper and Pout Castlegregory - Maria Murphy - Beauty Lounge Dingle - True Beauty - Killarney - Cathy Duggan - Hidden Beauty Rathmore

- Annette O'Brien - Annette O'Brien Makeup - Michelle O Connor - Vanity Case Killarney - Sharon O Sullivan - Sharon O Sullivan Make-up - Tasha Flaherty - Glamour Rose Boutique Killarney - Romy Birdthistle - Paradise Hair and Beauty - Aifric Rice - Killarney - Aishling O Leary - Beauty Rooms Kenmare - Victoria Murphy - Vogue Hair and Beauty - Aine McMahon - Vogue Hair and Beauty - Maria Murphy - Beauty lounge Dingle

Wedding / Occasion Hair Specialist of the Year

- Megan Arnopp - Lashes by Megan - Veronika Klisina- Lashes by Veronika - Cliodhna Foley - Nikkis Boutique Hair Kilorglin - Zara Lee O'Shea - Coco Cottage Tralee - Micheala Sugrue - Lashes by Micheala - Amy Carmody - Dingle - Egiija Adamane - Vogue Beauty Tralee - Jolanta Vaida - Little Rosebuds Tralee - Roxsanna Jaglowska - Roxsanna Lashes

- Tara Boughan - Bridal Hair by Tara Killarney - Sarah Anne Dwyer - The Hair Room Waterville - Amy O Donoghue - Vogue Hair and Beauty Tralee - Tina O Connor - Aspire Hair Tralee - Kate Kearney - Emma Quirke Hair Tralee - Nicole Morris - Sean Taaffe Hair Killarney - Tereasa O Sullivan - The Hair Studio Kilorglin - Joanne Henderson - Joanne Henderson Hair Kerry - Tricia O Sullivan - Tricia O Sullivan Hair and Beauty - Maureen McCarthy - Brush n Blush - Louise Kelliher - Hair Heaven Camp - Aisling O Carroll - Style Council

Male Grooming

Dental Specialist of the Year

- Shan McCarthy- Shans Barbers Miltown - Niall Ashe- Lincoln Skins Killarney - Pj Hand - Chop Central Dingle - Labi Morina - Labis Barber Tralee - Joel Vesey - Claude Monte Tralee

- Susan Crean Dental - Denny Street Tralee - Kenmare Dental - Kenmare - Castleisland Dental - Castleisland - Castle Clinic - Killarney - Mac Domhnaill Dental - Rock Street, Tralee - Tasha Flaherty - Glamour Rose Beauty Killarney

Brow / Lash Specialist of the Year

Waxing/ Threading Laser Specialist

Colour Technician of the Year

Salon Counter Manager of the Year

- Alana Foley - Sean Taaffe Kilorglin - Clodagh Moore - Paradise Hair and Beauty - Nikki Reidy - Nikkis Boutique Hair Kilorglin - Nicole Morris - Sean Taaffe Killarney - Edel O Donoghue- Image Hair Tralee - Courtney Griffin - Paradise Hair and Beauty - Rachel Daly - Orlaith Sheehan Hair - Emma Barrett - Vogue Hair and Beauty Tralee - Emma Quirke - Emma Quirke Hair Tralee - Emma Lawlor - Aspire Hair Tralee - Mairead Lynch - Style Council Tralee - Eilis Casey - Roses Hair Studio Ballybunion

- Carleen O Shea - Sean Taaffe Kilorglin - Courtney - Emma Quirke Hair - Tara Johnson - Brush n Blush Tralee - Noreen Middelton - The Spa At Muckross Park Hotel - Nicola Carroll - Sean Taaffe Tralee - Boguslawa Gruszka - Lake Hotel Killarney - Justin Tuason - Sean Taaffe Killarney - Samantha Clifford - Vogue Hair and Beauty - Fiona Mangan - The Beauty Loft Kilorglin - Chantelle Reidy - Haven Pharmacy Kenmare

Cutting & Re-styling Specialist of the Year - Shannon Donoghue - Image Hair Tralee - Francesca Apostol - Sean Taaffe Kilarney - Vanessa Casey - Vogue Hair and Beauty Tralee - Kellie Houlihan - Aspire Hair - Jenny O Brien - Paradise Hair and Beauty - Shannon Murphy - Emma Quirke Hair - Louise Morris - Paradise Hair and Beauty - Kitty Lucid Carroll - Style Council Tralee - Lousie Kelliher - Hair Heaven Camp - Patricia Duggan - Style Council Tralee - Imelda McGarry - Image Hair and Beauty Tralee

Best Blow Dry of the Year - Viola Baran - Sean Taaffe Killarney - Harriet Rees - Paradise Tralee - Rosemarie Horgan - Roses Hair Studio Ballybunion - Rachel O Mahony - Brush n Blush - Edel O Donoghue - Image Hair - Laura McCarthy- Emma Quirke Hair - Katie McCoy - Vogue Hair and Beuaty - Sunny Riordan - Sunnys Hair and Beauty Listowel - Kitty Lucid Carroll - Style Council - Bet O Mahony - Style Council

Facial Specialist of the Year - Emma O'Connor - Eileens Beauty Ballyduff - Patricia Horgan - Nadur Spa - Linda O Connor - True Beauty Killarney - Ashling o Leary - Beauty Rooms Kenmare - Siobhan Guilbert - Serenity Spa at the Rose - Fiona Mangan - The Beauty Loft Kilorglin - Linda Murphy - Pamper and Pout Castlegregory - Ellen Burns - Beauty By the Beach Ballybunion

Junion Hair / Junior Beauty of the Year - Emily O Flaherty - Roses Hair Studio Ballybunion - Roisin Dunne - Sean Taaffe Killarney - Shania O Sullivan - Head First Kilorglin - Ciara O Sullivan - Sean Taaffe Killarney - Blaithin O Brien - Image Tralee - Hannah Lynchehan - Emma Quirke Tralee - Edel Joy - Paradise Hair and Beauty - Tara Naughton - The Spa at Muckross Park. - Agnieska Dukarska - Inisfallon Beauty Rooms Killarney

Hair Salon of the Year - Aspire Hair - Manor Village - Image Hair Salon - Oakpark Tralee - Vogue Hair Salon - North Circular Road Tralee - Nikkis Boutique Hair Salon - Kilorglin - Brush n Blush - Market Lane Tralee - The Hair Studio - Kilorglin - Paradise Hair - Tralee - Head First- Kilorglin - Roses Hair Studio - Ballybunion - Emma Quirke Hair- Tralee - Salon B - Tralee - Sunnys Hair and Beauty - Listowel

Beauty Salon of the Year - Paradise Hair and Beauty - Manor, Tralee - Eileens Beauty - Ballyduff Tralee - Glamour Rose Beauty - Killarney - Rashas Beauty- Tralee - Little Rosebuds Pamper Parlour - Tralee and Killarney - The Beauty Loft - Kilorglin - Beauty by the Beach - Ballybunion - The Beauty Lounge - Dingle - Beauty Rooms - Kenmare - True Beauty - Killarney - Hidden Beuaty - Rathmore

Spa of the Year - E-SPA At the Europe - Killarney - Nadur - Ballygarry Estate - Serenity spa - Rose Hotel - Angsana Spa - The Brehon Killarney - Muckross Park - Killarney - Easanna Spa - Sheen Falls Kenmare - The Spa at Killarney Park - Killarney

Massage Specialist of the Year - Shauna Baitson - Nadur Spa - Jasmine Kelly - E-spa at the Europe - Justyna Brozowska - Killarney Park - Louise O Connor Kenelley - Beauty By The Beach Ballybunion - Linda Murphy - Pamper and Pout Castlegregory - Shauna Cahill - Serenity Spa at the Rose hotel - Sunny Riordan - Sunnys Hair and Beauty Listowel - Bell(Suthathip Lewkimju) - Angsana Spa At the Brehon

Hair Extensions Specialist of the Year

- Courtney Griffin - Paradise Tralee - Noelle Casey - Vogue Hair Tralee - Orlaith Sheahan - Orlaith Sheehan Hair Killarney - Chanelle Hurley- The Coco Cottage Tralee 5

Daniel O Donnell on his phenomenal career and his upcoming exclusive INEC shows By Cathriona Murphy Daniel has been a household name across Ireland and Great Britain since the 1980’s, reaching across to garner critical acclaim and success in both the USA and Australia. Now, as he is set to embark on his first Irish shows since 2019 in Killarney’s INEC, in what will be his only shows in Southern Ireland this year, he spoke to us candidly about his phenomenal career and humble home life. Daniel has long been a firm favourite with the people of Kerry, selling out countless shows and drawing in audiences from far and wide. I asked him how he felt about finally returning here with an exclusive run of shows? “We are really looking forward to it, unfortunately we’ve been postponed twice, as have many people, different shows were put back and some performers unfortunately had to cancel their shows. The first time we had to postpone was back in September 2020 to August 2021, and then again to August 2022. We’re really looking forward to it, we always enjoy the shows at the INEC, it’s a super venue. It’s a unique venue in that people travel from everywhere, it’s not just the local Kerry people that come because Killarney seems to be a destination

for a lot of people. Outside Dublin it’s hard to get people to attend the venues in the country, people will travel to Dublin, but generally, when you put on a show in a town or city outside of Dublin, it's usually the people within striking distance that attend. But Killarney is very different in that it attracts people from everywhere, people make a bit of a holiday out of it I suppose for both the show and for a break, so we are hoping against hope that by then everything will be ok, and we do believe it will be at that point”. When you mention Daniel’s name, it is hard not to immediately think of images on TV of his performances, surrounded by adoring fans. But the unique thing is his bond with them, and that they are not just groups of friends attending, they are generations of families passing their love of both him and his music down to the next generation. With the excitement of his exclusive upcoming INEC run, I asked him how he felt about it after the effects of the pandemic. “The show’s that we did, we did a few in October and November, there was no meet and greets at all. You know - I didn’t go out after the shows to meet anybody. I’m hoping by August that will change, that it’s something we will be able to do. Now whether it’s something we will be able to do the way we did it before, I really don’t know. . . we would have to be guided by people who will know what’s the best way to approach things. But for me, that was certainly missing from the shows but given the fact that we were restricted for so long, I think the fans were just pleased to attend a show, as I was to get to do the show. Even though there was no meet and greets, which are a big part of it for me and for them, I think we were all just happy to be out! The atmosphere in my tour in England was just one of relief, like - thank God we are this far you know?” During the pandemic a huge source of conversation revolved around the nursing homes and the sadness and extreme loneliness that afflicted them. Daniel very quietly and without publicly announcing it himself, devoted his time to visiting the outdoor areas of nursing homes in Donegal to provide some musical entertainment and just some brief but well needed respite from the isolation they were enduring. I asked him about how it felt to be able to provide that?

“Ah sure it was lovely. It was just something that happened by me sitting at home thinking about going to the local hospital. I’m very aware of the local hospital in Dungloe. I'd generally be in and out there with a friend of mine and his two children to sing at the mass on Christmas day in the hospital. I knew they had an outdoor garden that a lot of the room’s surround, especially the lounge and dining room areas, so I thought, surely I could go outside there and sing a few songs, and with their windows open they could hear a bit of music. So that’s really how that started, and then I thought if I was able to do that, if I could travel, you see at that time we were restricted in travel to the 5k limits, so I called the Guards and said to them I was thinking about doing it, and they sent me an email saying that it was allowed. It gave me the opportunity to go around the county to 20-25 nursing homes. It was something I could do very easily, all I would do is call up in the morning, there was no preparation for it, just call in the morning and say “I’ll be in Letterkenny today - would it be any benefit for me to come and sing a few songs?” They were delighted and I really enjoyed it, I have to say.” With all his fame and fortune, Daniel has remained humble and down to earth in a business that can have the complete opposite effect. Living in Donegal where he grew up is something that he takes great pride in which is evident from the tone of fondness in his voice. “You know I’ve been lucky to be able to live at home, that’s our main house, we chose to live there and not a lot of people can live where they were brought up, because of work. But with my situation, in the beginning I didn’t need to move to Dublin because we were travelling all the time around the country. As years went on and my career grew, I started touring as opposed to doing shows every week, so I would go away for maybe three weeks to a month and come back for a few weeks. I settled back home in 1996, I’m very lucky to be able to do that.” Daniel’s career has been successful since the early 1980’s, surviving many changes from cd’s to streaming, new audiences, demands for different styles of singing and music. I asked him would he tell us how it all started for him?

“Oh god I couldn’t, you know I started out because I just loved singing and I had always sung from when I was very young. I don’t think me or anyone else could have anticipated that my career would be as it is or as it has been for many years. I’ve been very fortunate, I mean I’ve worked hard, but I’ve enjoyed it all and been lucky in that different things happened. With the music industry you can have talent and great ability, a great voice and everything else, but if you don’t have that wee bit of luck and being at the right place at the right time, it can be difficult. I was kind of at the door when it opened and I just walked through.” In 2021, if you were not already familiar with Daniel O’ Donnell, that would soon change. His release “Down at the Lah De Dah” became a viral phenomenon with audiences both new and old. It became a “guilty pleasure” for new audiences who really took to it for the light hearted video it provided in times when it was desperately needed in the world. I asked Daniel what his thoughts were on its success? “You know with the La De Dah, I heard that song on the radio one day, and I thought “God, that’s a really good song”. I didn’t know who was singing it, I actually thought it was somebody from Ireland and I knew I would love to have gotten it first, but when it finished playing (it was Ronan Collins playing it), he said that was Jimmy Buffett. I knew then that it wouldn’t matter whether I recorded it or not, it didn’t affect anybody at home. So, I called my manager immediately and I said I’ve found a song. I’m going to record it and I really think it’s a great song - if it gets airplay, it’ll be very popular. Then we had two young guys at home who have this company, React Productions, they do videos and I had worked a wee bit with them before, so I gave the song to them to do a video. They put the video together, another local girl did the artwork, and everybody was from within a few kilometres of where I lived, I couldn’t believe it (Other than the guy that was playing the barman in the video, he was from Belfast, a friend of theirs). The video then really caught the attention of the public, it got the airplay from the interest in the song. The video was as important, if not more important than the song in the end… because it got people to see it and got people watching it.”

were very blessed that she was the one that was our mother, she was at the helm and steered the ship so to speak.” Finally, I asked Daniel about his much publicised 60th birthday, if it brought him any reflection and what advice he would give to young people who would love to have a career as successful as his?

Daniel is no stranger to being at the top of his game, from performing on “Top of The Pops” to performing on “Strictly Come Dancing” he has always forged a pathway to success. But most recently his album “Daniel O Donnell 60” charted at an impressive number 4 in the UK charts, behind both Adele and Coldplay. Daniel told us; “Ah sure, you know it’s great to be in the charts at any time, again down through the years, I’ve had lots of albums in the charts and to still be doing that, it’s really down to the audience who follow what I do. They are so supportive, it’s quite amazing and I’m very grateful. But it’s great to be in the charts, to be mentioned along with all these people that everybody knows.” Once known as Ireland's most eligible bachelor, that all changed when he met the love of his life, Majella. Daniel told me the impact meeting Majella had on his life. “She brought a lot of joy, we get on tremendously well Majella and I. We enjoy some of the same things, and then again, we are very very different in the things we enjoy too. So We have our life together, and then I love bridge and playing golf, whereas Majella paints, so we tend to have different interests as well as combined interests. Because of Majella, I now have the joy of the grandchildren. Michael and Siobhan were about 8 and 10 when I first met Majella and they then grew up with us. Siobhan got married and she has 3 children, they are just the best thing ever. They have brought so much happiness to my life, this is something I would not have had if I hadn't had the good fortune to meet Majella, they just bring us endless joy.” Mentioning about the woman in his life cannot be done without acknowledging the love and adoration Daniel had for his mother. I asked Daniel about his memory of her? “She was very strong, there was no doubt about it, she was a very strong presence in all of our lives, all 5 of us. We were blessed that she lived to be the age that she was because we were able to make her life as good as we possibly could for her in her later years. When my father died, she was obviously heartbroken and I suppose for a period was lost, but after not very long she seemed to gather herself and forged ahead. From that point of view, we 10

“It didn’t really affect me, I suppose it was a very public birthday, but when you’re living the way I am, everybody knows your age anyway, so it’s not like something you can try to hide! But even before the birthday, I had started to take things a little bit easier. You know, not travelling as much, but still travelling and still enjoying it, just not doing as many shows. The ones I do I enjoy tremendously, so maybe that’s what the future holds for me, just a wee bit more down time. In terms of advice, I think to just be yourself really, no matter how much you admire somebody else, you’re never going to be as good as them - even if you’re better, if you know what I mean? You need to be individual, sing the way that you sing, and not sing in a way that you hear somebody else doing - because your voice is unique to you. The other thing I would say is never to get carried away with all the things that are written about you, be it good or not so good, believe in yourself but do not believe the publicity. Be grateful that what you’re wanting to do you’re getting to do.” Daniel’s exclusive run in the INEC will take place August 25th-28th inclusive. Tickets can be purchased via the INEC box office at www. inec.ie

The I do’s and I d

on’ts

A Wedding Guid e

Well first of all let me contradict the title of this article. The most important piece of advice I’d like to share, is there are no rules and you do you! Here are just some things I learned from planning my wedding and take what titbits you may from it.

Do start planning early. The earlier you start planning and the more organised you are, the less stressed you are on the days leading up for the wedding. Make lists and plenty of them. Get your partner involved and share the workload if you can. Lock down a date/time of year first, then venue. Do you want a local wedding or a destination wedding? We choose the Sneem Hotel and we were beyond happy with it. Not only was the hotel set on the most beautiful backdrop, the hotel itself was amazing and the staff were fantastic. We also choose Sneem, as although it is in Kerry, it felt sort of like a destination wedding. It kept all our close family and friends in the one place and it was a mini getaway for everyone. You couldn’t find a more picturesque village than Sneem. Once these big decisions are made, you can move on to the fun stuff like the dress! I would say do try on all shapes, designs and materials. What I thought I was going to go for, was completely different to what I ended up with. Don’t be afraid to move away from the traditional whites and ivory. I went for a more cream colour, 12

which suited my complexion much more. I bought my dress in the Attic in Limerick. Orlaith knows her stuff and is a designer herself. It was Orlaith that suggested the colour and said it was very rare for a bride to go for it. Again – there are no rules. Drives me nuts hearing people saying ‘but you have to do x, y and z’! The Attic Bridal Boutique, Limerick Credit Tara Donoghue Photography Kerry taradonoghuephotography.com The shoes! I had pure notions about my shoes. They had to be sky high, designer etc! At the end of the day, don’t ruin your day by wearing ridiculously uncomfortable shoes. In the end, I saw sense and bought a pair of mid heel shoes from Carvela. To be honest, you rarely even see a Bride’s shoe, so why do it to yourself? – Brown Thomas Cork Credit Tara Donoghue Photography Kerry taradonoghuephotography.com Do let your bridesmaids pick their own dresses. If you get a sense they don’t like them, do not get them. They have to like them in order to feel good on the day and that’s the main thing. You want everyone looking their best and feeling comfortable. I only had two bridesmaids so it was pretty easy to do. I have seen bridesmaids recently that all wore the same shade, but different dresses and it was stunning. Different silhouettes to suit their different tastes and body shape. Don’t sweat the small stuff. This is hypocritical coming from me, as I overthink everything! But seriously, who cares about the invites or wedding favours on the table. Can you remember a nice invite from a wedding? Doubtful. What you want to get right are two things – the food and the music. You get both these right and everyone will have the best time. Everyone spoke so highly of the food at our wedding and again this is thanks to the chef and staff at the Sneem Hotel. When it came to the music, our friend’s band played. I hate the traditional wedding music songs, like ABBA or for example ‘Sweet

Caroline’ - but my husband and friend said you have to have keep some of that music in there to keep everyone happy. I was slow to agree, but they were definitely right. Those songs do fill up the dancefloor. When it came to the DJ at midnight, I took carte blanche! I might have played way too much hip hop and R’N’B, but it was to this day, the best disco I have ever been at! I changed into a short dress and danced shoeless into the wee hours. Our friends loved it, but some of my older relatives scarpered to the bar!

Do have a mini make up bag with all your make up essentials in it. Give it to a friend/family member to mind for the day. I stupidly forgot this and at one stage went to the bathroom and noticed my makeup was falling off my face! So, I had to go upstairs to our suite to reapply. Not end of the world stuff, but smart all the same.

Don’t bow down to traditional wedding etiquette. It’s you and your partners day. Enjoy it! I’ve seen countless brides and grooms kill them selves in between courses, running around to tables, trying to say hello to everyone. Although I admire their thoughtfulness, I just think, sit down and enjoy the beautiful wedding dinner with your new husband or wife. I think we got up once during our entire meal and it was probably to go to the bathroom and stop at the girls/lads table to have the craic!

We choose to stay local on our own for two nights after the wedding celebrations in the stunning Parknasilla Hotel. They gave us the most beautiful suite and it was here where we came down from the high of the previous couple of nights and decompressed. For anyone that’s going to get married soon, the day after its all over, you feel like you’ve been hit by a bus, but in a good way! You’ll be BATE!! It’s lovely to chill out locally and not have to face into a long travel itinerary. After recharging our batteries in Parknasilla, we then went to Belfast for a few nights and had a blast. We went on honeymoon to Kenya and Zanzibar, three months later, for Christmas. It meant the ‘Wedding Blues’ didn’t kick in and we spread out the fun!

When it comes to the speeches, I personally think it’s a good idea to break them up before the starters and after the mains. It keeps your guest attention as its shorter and no one is left hangry! My father, maid of honour and I spoke before the starters and my husband, his father and best man spoke after the main course. It worked really well. We also had a prosecco truck outside the Church and the hotel reception and it went down a storm! I think we had enough prosecco for three times the guest list, but it was great fun and a great photo opp! The Prosecco Van Co. by Premium Vintage Kerry Credit Tara Donoghue Photography Kerry taradonoghuephotography.com If you can, do have a photographer and videographer. It’s so nice to have both the video and photographs to look back on. We also had a package with Tara Donoghue Photography, that included the wedding album being designed and produced. One of the best decisions we made. The photographs turned out amazing and we had our album a couple of months later. I think if we didn’t do this package, the photos would still be on a memory stick in a drawer.

Basic Tips Do have water bottles next to where you and your partner will be sitting for the ceremony. And tissues! You’d swear I was being brought to the Gallows going up the aisle. I was cool all morning and when we got to the Church, I lost my tiny mind! Thank God we had all the above set up. My mouth was like cardboard. The priest joked there was so much water in the church for our bridal party and indeed the guests, he though he was going to the Munster Final! Don’t overshare your glam! I had my hairdresser and make up artist look after not just the wedding party, but close family too. It ended up putting too much pressure on them and lead to me being over 40 minutes late to the Church. I felt absolutely awful for leaving my guests waiting and its one of my biggest regrets.

Mini Moon/ Honeymoon

The main thing out of all this is DO HAVE FUN!! It was the best day of our lives and we enjoyed every second of it. (Obviously the best day of our lives was our daughter being born, but giving birth isn’t as much fun! ) The fun and craic you’ll have on your wedding day is like nothing else. I’d love to do it all over again! I really enjoyed writing this article and reliving our wedding. It is such a special time. Hope you guys enjoyed it and as I prefaced, these are just my opinions and tips! Keep an eye on my Facebook and Instagram to see how I style my outfits. For any fashion, beauty or questions relating to this article, please email laurahollystylist1@gmail.com Laura xxx @laurahollystyle Laura Holly

Credit Tara Donoghue Photography Kerry taradonoghuephotography.com

Love is. . . 5 Proposal’s and a Pandemic by Cathriona Murphy

In April 2010, Nicola Mullins found herself on a plane heading for Germany with 29 colleagues from Borg Warner. Having just recovered from the recession they were sent over to develop a line to bring the factory more business for the next decade. On her third day there she went out with her new colleagues and as faith would have it, she met Thomas. Nicola told me “Thomas approached me and said can I talk to you for a while and honestly, we just clicked. We arranged to go on a date a few days later, he wanted to take me to see a castle 20 minutes away but he was so nervous it took him 2 hours! We never stopped talking the entire time, we still haven’t stopped because we are both chatterboxes.”

After spending the entire summer together it was time for Nicola to return to Ireland, they spent the next 6 months writing to each other until Nicola was sent back for work where they picked up where they had left off. Nicola recalled “We had ups and downs but we maintained a long distance relationship for 7 years until we decided that Thomas would make the move to my home in Ballyheigue. It was an adjustment on both sides but it was worth it.”

I asked Nicola about when Thomas proposed to her, she said “There was 5 proposal’s in total! One on the beach, one on the footpath walking home, one in Munich, in Prague and finally in Lanzarote , that was the one that worked! We went straight to a jeweller’s and picked out a ring and the wedding planning started from there.” Nicola, like many brides could not have foreseen what was coming with the Covid pandemic. “We went straight to the West Cork hotel, which is in my home town and booked our wedding for June 5th 2020. We invited 120 guests and everything was smooth sailing until the first of the lockdowns happened. I got a phone call from the hotel saying sorry but they couldn’t open due to regulations in place. I had to contact the civil registrar to arrange another date so we booked for February 12th 2021. I spent that Christmas rushing around trying to get everything, with all the essential shops closed it was difficult. The numbers permitted to attend weddings were then reduced to 6, which I was willing to do because I just wanted to get married but the hotel couldn’t open for just 6 people. Once again, I had to look at new dates however, this time we were caught up in the cyber-attack on the HSE so the registrar had difficulty processing our forms, at this stage it just seemed like one thing after another. We finally got a new date for the 18th of June 2021.”

I asked Nicola about the restrictions that were in place for that time, “We couldn’t have a band which look, it wasn’t the worst thing. Thomas’s family couldn’t travel over so it was just my family and there was 25 of us. I was determined to enjoy my day and that’s exactly what I did. There was fierce excitement in Skibbereen, everyone was waving us off down the street as I passed in the car, it was the first wedding after the covid in Skibbereen so it brought a lot of excitement to the town. We had to finish by 11pm, but we made the most of it. There is a lot of musical talent in my family, my Dad is an amazing singer, my sister in law plays the trumpet and my nephew plays guitar so they played the wonder of you, we spent the evening singing songs. The registrar herself made it a beautiful ceremony, it was very personal, all about us it was just beautiful. We streamed it to Germany so that Thomas’s family could see it in some form. All in all we couldn’t have asked for a better day, it was intimate and filled with love , the sun was shining, it was perfect”

Sneem Hotel

Wed inWinterBliss in Goldens Cove, Sneem Hotel, Co. Kerry

Call to arrange your consultation on 064 6675100

www.sneemhotel.com15

Hello lovely readers, I mentioned in my piece last month that there was a sense of optimism all around us and that sense has definitely increased over the last couple of weeks. Here in That's Perfect we have had the loveliest of " Debutants " coming in full of excitement looking for the perfect bag and the question that is asked the most is " will my phone and a pair of flats fit in to that bag?". Oh to be young again .... We have lots of bags in stock at the moment that fulfil this criteria I am happy to say . Weddings are also coming fast and furious also and hopefully we can match up whatever you are looking for. I must say that people are a lot more relaxed regarding accessories to finish a outfit than they were pre Covid 19 and I feel this is because they are so delighted that they are getting a chance to get to a head out and get dolled up. As I have said lots of times bring in outfit if you can but if this isn't possible bring a photo of it and we will do our very best to sort ye out. March also sees the return of the Connect Kerry Hair and Beauty Awards taking place on March 20th, the most glamorous event happening, the whose who of beauticians and hairdressers in Kerry. I must admit of all the awards I am involved in it is my favourite , the outfits, the up styles, the curly blow drys,the make up and most of all the laughter and fun coming from all the tables . Mind you I have heard the disco and dancing afterwards is magic also but I have a tough task master (Margaret)!!! and by that time of night I am fit only for my bed .....so ladies and gents get the glad rags ready and get yourself to the Awards. Before I sign off I just want to add something that really has nothing to do with fashion or style . On the 31st of January last a very special young man skateboarded his way to heaven, words fail me to describe how amazing this person was but all I can say is, he will be remembered forever for the beautiful person he was and I was privileged to have known him and call him my friend xx sweet dreams Bruce Keep safe and keep smiling,

Carmel xxx

ts r e s s e d to g n i From danc de

i u g f o o r e for p k a l c d n a c a foo i s t mu c e f r e p e h t g Day n

by Cathriona Murphy

to choosi

g your Weddin

Choosing your Wedding Cake Ingredients The process of choosing your wedding cake can nearly be as long and complicated as choosing the dress itself! There are so many tiny details to factor into account, but don’t worry, with our 3 step guide we will make the process a piece of cake!

Choose your supplier Choosing your supplier carefully is important. They need to communicate and understand you clearly. Listen to your needs and be able to suggest ideas that fit your personalities as a couple. Have they come recommended? Don’t be afraid to seek out previous customers through friends and ask about their experiences with them too. Also, it is important to remember that some venues will not allowed food brought in from outside by suppliers who are not registered with the HSE and HACCP compliant so be sure to ask to see certification.

Size and Budget When it comes to a wedding cake, size matters! You don’t want to spend a lot of money on a cake that will have a lot left over that will most likely be thrown out. So sit with your supplier and have a copy of your guest list, take into account how many people are attending and then look at how many people each tier will serve. A typical 3 tier 6, 8, 10 in” round cake will likely serve 120-140 portions depending on who cuts it and the fillings inside. A soft cake will give less portions whereas you would get more from a traditional fruit cake or even a recent popular trend of biscuit cake. With that said, a budget will have to be decided on and this will vary according to size and ingredients so perhaps enter the process with an open mind. Be open to ideas and suggestions from your supplier because the cake you want might work out more expensive than your budget will allow. 18

When it comes to choosing the flavour of your cake this is most definitely the fun part! Be sure to have a taster session with your supplier and choose together as a couple what you both love in flavour. You might have had your heart set on chocolate but then sampled a mouth-watering red velvet that you immediately want. But that is the beauty of having tiers. Don’t be afraid to have different flavours it will make it much more enjoyable.

Drinks Reception Music Celebrate the joy of finally being able to have live music at your wedding and make your pre-dinner drinks reception stylishly different. John Collins is a saxophonist with a modern rich tone and high quality sound. Tralee born John is an experienced, trained musician. He played in London for wedding receptions, social events and functions for many years. He now plays regularly at venues throughout Kerry and the neighbouring counties. John is passionate about making your day really special. He has over 1500 tunes to suit all tastes, ranging from contemporary to classic songs and will include a special tune for the bride and groom to make the day more personal for them. John played the final slot at The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival as part of the main lineout in The River Lee Hotel, Cork. He is looking forward to performing there again later this year. Go ahead and let John Collins wow your guests at your predinner drinks reception and give them a unique and memorable experience. Check out a sample of John’s music on YouTube (john collins sax player kerry), Facebook (john collins sax player tralee), Email (johncollins.saxplayer@gmail.com) or contact John on 086 2282117

wedding day moments...

To book a wedding consultation, contact Aisling Foley at 066 7199100 or email sales@therosehotel.com The Rose Hotel, Dan Spring Road, Tralee, Co. Kerry. V92 HKA4.

Wedding Day Smiles by Dr Roisín Boyle If you are planning your wedding and want your smile to be at its best for your big day, then now is the time to chat with your dentist about what you can do to make sure your smile is healthy and bright on the day! It is always best to visit the dentist as early as possible, giving plenty of time to complete any treatments required, without time pressures. Of course, even if the wedding is soon, there are still options for you to brighten and improve your smile. Gum health is essential for a healthy mouth but also for your overall wellbeing. Pink and healthy gums are also crucial for a beautiful smile. Often, even a simple scale and polish with oral hygiene instruction can make an enormous difference to the overall aesthetics. A popular treatment that will brighten the teeth further is tooth whitening. This is a safe and effective way of brightening your smile. There may be some sensitivity during the treatment, but we can successfully manage this with sensitivity gels and toothpastes. The process takes approximately two weeks to achieve optimum results that last. Suppose you have a darker tooth that received root treatment previously. In that case, we can often whiten this using an ‘Inside/outside’ whitening technique. It is a good idea to visit your dentist to assess your suitability for these treatments. If there is some crowding or spacing around your teeth or an out-of-line ‘snaggle’ tooth bothering you, we can address those issues using the ABC approach. First, we ‘Align’ the teeth using Invisalign clear aligners, then ‘Brighten’ the smile with some tooth whitening before ‘Contouring’ with composite bonding to create an even smile. Depending on the case, you can complete these procedures within six months. Of course, a healthy smile is a beautiful one. So, make sure to arrange a full check-up and address any other issues first, such as filling any broken or decayed teeth, treating any gum problems, and replacing any leaking old fillings. Today we are very fortunate in dentistry to have the best functional and aesthetic materials available for us to use to restore teeth. We have highly aesthetic composite options for bonding to close spaces, contour, mask defects and repair broken teeth. We also have modern ceramic materials that give excellent results and are the closest materials available to replace enamel. These modern materials are crucial in many types of teeth restoration, including inlays, onlays, crowns, and veneers. We have a range of options that allow us to restore teeth in the most minimally invasive manner and preserve as much natural tooth substance as possible. So, book your check-up so you can smile with confidence on your big day!

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

Giving b ack to Palliative Care Any special guests at the event?

We are excited that Ardfert's Colin Horgan will be showing his latest collection. We are also delighted that Ballyheigue's own Don O'Neill will travel from New York to talk about his inspiration behind some of his Theia creations that will be modelled on the day.

Everyone loves a good day out and I think especially here in Kerry we are spoilt for choice when it comes to amazing events to attend. There is always lots to choose from all as good as each other but when it is supporting a worthy cause it makes it all the more worthwhile, so Connect sat down with Claire Murphy to discuss the forthcoming Palliative Care fundraiser which she and her committee are organising for April 10th at Ballygarry Estate and Hotel and Spa.

Hi Claire can you tell us how this event came about?

My father, Noel Loughran spent his last 3 weeks in the expert care of the doctors and staff of the Palliative Care Unit, Tralee. Before he passed, I made a promise to do a fundraiser for the unit. Because of Covid, it has take 2 years, so on the day of the event, it will be my dad's 2nd Anniversary. This event is for all those who have lost loved one's in Palliative Care.

Where did the name Love - Kerry come from?

I sat down with my little committee of Orlagh Winters (who will be MC on the day) and Mandy McKenzie Vass and we decided on the name. Even though my dad was from Drogheda, he settled in Kerry many years ago and had a love for all things Kerry, including beautiful Ballyheigue. In choosing the name, we wanted to celebrate Kerry by inviting local designers and boutiques to participate, whilst the guests dine on the best of Kerry produce.

What can attendees expect on the day?

When the 300 guests arrive, they will be entertained at the Champagne reception by the fabulous Pianist JP Murphy after which they will be wined and dined, whilst the models from Upfront Model Agengy will be showcasing the best of Kerry fashion. 22

2014 Rose of Tralee Maria Walsh will be taking time off from her busy schedule as MEP to be with us. Maria is a great friend of Kerry and is very generous with her time for such an amazing cause.

We heard a rumour that a diamond will be won on the day. Is this true? Yes, John Ross & Son Jewellers have kindly sponsored a Diamond which one lucky attendee will win. Many thanks to Heather for her generosity.

Any more entertainment?

Yes, during the event Ray Stack Productions will be providing the sounds and afterwards the amazing Jason Fallon will have everyone on their feet!

How is the sponsorship going?

We are delighted that Bathrooms4U have sponsored a table for the hard working staff of the Palliative Care Unit. Margaret at Connect Kerry has kindly sponsored a monster ticket package to all of the Connect Events this year which include The Connect Women in Business Awards Gala Black Tie event, and three more events through the year, one lucky lady and three friends will get to be a guest of Connect at all these events to the Value of 1500.00. We have also received some private donations for which we are eternally grateful. We are still looking for more sponsors to help give the staff a well earned break from the amazing work that they do. Also any donations in the form of raffle prizes , private donations or sponsorship would be gratefully accepted. If anyone would like to donate, please drop to any of the Expose salons in Tralee, Kilflynn or Firies or email Claire at clairemurphygh@gmail.com We in Connect would like to wish Claire and her team the very best for this wonderful day, we are looking forward to it and we will be bringing you all the style from the day with an extensive feature on it in our May issue of Connect.

THE LISTOWEL ARMS the square, listowel, co.kerry FAMILY RUN HISTORIC BUILDING

RIVER VIEW RECEPTION ROOMS

AWARD WINNING BESPOKE WEDDINGS

www.listowelarmshotel.com PLANNING AT SHORT NOTICE DUE TO COVID? STILL A FEW NICE DATES AVAILABLE 2022/23 LET US GET YOU MARRIED!

tel. 068 21500

Strength of a Woman - Marie Ferris on motherhood

Behind every strong man is a remarkably strong woman. This could not be more true about Marie Ferris, wife and matriarch of one of Irelands best known political families. As we celebrate Mother’s Day, Marie spoke open and honestly with us about the ups and downs of motherhood.

What advice did you give your daughters when they were expecting their children? My own mother was a pretty remarkable woman and always full of advice, she always said to me as I said to mine, you do the very best you can. The relationship you have with your children is important, they should always know that they can come to you at any time, openly and freely and that you will always answer them honestly. So that is what I told my daughters.

Rearing children often brings situations that are spoken fondly or with humour years after the fact, have you any particular memories that make you laugh at something your kids did?

I asked Marie about the joys and challenges she faced as a mother? I think for me, my greatest joy was giving birth. I absolutely adore new-born babies. I breastfed all of my children, there is just something about them relying on you to survive, I just loved that era. When it comes to challenges I thought I faced some, I was basically raising 6 children alone. But it does not compare to the challenges of the modern day mother. Today, mothers are trying to juggle careers, being homemakers, parents, relationships, I’m just in awe of working mothers today. When I was rearing mine I was home 24/7, I was always there, so, I’m just in awe of how mothers today get through the week. I see my own 3 daughters, they are all working moms and I don’t know how they do it.They balance everything from putting food on the table, rearing their children, plus, they are entitled to have their own careers.

Having a family of 6 children in modern times is very uncommon as opposed to past generations raising large families, why do you think this is? Everything has just changed, we didn’t have the massive amount of debt that young people have today with mortgages etc, but back in the 80’s, everyone was the same. We didn’t have brand names or peer pressure to have branded things, that must be almost traumatising for parents today? I couldn’t even imagine it, when mine were growing up it was all hand me downs, I just think the role of parenting today is extra hard. 24

A lot of the time, we had to make the long journey up to Portlaoise to visit Martin. On one occasion we were put through the metal detectors as was normal to do so, but my son Martin was about 4 at the time and the detector kept beeping as he went through. The prison officers were asking was I sure he had nothing metal on him? I said there couldn’t be, I had travelled with him from Tralee, which was an exceptionally long journey. I turned to Martin and asked him was there anything he had that would make the metal detectors go off? Well, he pulled out a toy cowboy gun from his underpants, I was totally speechless. All the prison officers were looking at us and asked why have you got that? He said “I was just coming up to get my Daddy!” At the time it was traumatic and mortifying, but he had carried it in his underpants all the way from Tralee to Portlaoise, so now when we look back we get a great laugh from it that he actually did it.

How does your roles as mom and Grandmother differ for you? Completely different, I enjoyed my children but times were different, you were always worried about putting food on the table, paying the rent etc. Whereas with grandchildren, they are such a joy, children nowadays are so much older from a young age and the things they come out with, I just thoroughly enjoy them. I’m lucky that they are from 18 years down to 4 years old, so I’ve had it continuously almost every 12 months. You see things that you just didn’t have time to see in your own children, which is sad. I had 6 children so close in age and I reared them all the same but that is one of my biggest regrets. I wish I had reared them individually, treat them all with their different personalities and what they needed. For me, it was a case of that I just didn’t have the time, whereas now I have the time.

What advice would you give to women who will be either mother of the bride or mother of the groom in weddings coming up?

They are 2 completely different things. With mother of the bride you’re involved with everything, whereas with mother of the groom you wouldn’t be as involved. But I’ve been very lucky that my daughter in laws included me, I never felt like a guest I felt like the mother in law. The advice I would give to women who have their children’s weddings coming up is to just enjoy the occasion, but that it’s the bride and grooms day, their choices must be their own choices. No matter what the parents want, it’s the bride and grooms day so they should do exactly what they want.

Welcome to Lottie s' at The Ashe

Lottie’s is the newly refurbished events space in the four star Ashe Hotel. Step into a space inspired by the golden Twenties, a symbol of glamour, style and sophistication. Relax yourself on scalloped occasional chairs and fan-style velvet couches while enjoying the awe-inspiring decadent detail of the room. Shimmering chandeliers, lavish gemstone coloured velvet and fiercely unique décor make this a space like no other. A space of splendour and rich décor that is both flamboyant and versatile, an ideal setting for your next event or occasion. Hotel Stylist Jane Boyle says ‘We have created a special space for people to dine, celebrate and entertain, a room for a sense of occasion, to toast those beautiful moments in our lives. ’

Celebrate at Lottie's We’ve been waiting a long time to celebrate again and Lottie’s is the perfect location for your next special occasion. Lottie’s is a versatile and unique private space that offers you and your guests a private area to dine and celebrate. Our culinary team take great pride in creating menus, sourcing the very best of ingredients and creating a memorable dining experience. Our hospitality team are looking forward to welcoming our guests back to celebrate all their special occasions, Anniversaries, Retirements, Birthdays, Baby Showers and more! Naomi McDonnell, Operations Food & Beverage Manager says, ‘We love hosting celebrations to be part of a families special occasion is a privilege and we are looking forward to being part of that.’ The versatility of Lottie’s provides Wedding Couples with a glamorous and romantic setting with velvet couches, a shimmering tiled bar, Art Deco chandeliers and vintage touches. Our Wedding Team know that it’s the little details that make an experience truly memorable, and we are happy to work with couples to personalise all aspects of their wedding. Adding their own sense of style to our love of good design brings together the perfect pairing. When one day just isn’t enough- enjoy a Wedding Weekend at Lottie’s! A Pre Wedding gathering is a great way for your guests to meet and mingle. Choose from an evening of canapés and cocktails or a more intimate affair of a sit down with your nearest and dearest to relax. Alternatively, unwind after your Wedding Day with a Post Wedding Party. Enjoy a laid- back affair where you can relive moments and revel in the enjoyment of your guests. Choose from a relaxed gathering on the Terrace, trendy Birdcages or host a family sit down dinner in Lottie’s, the choice is yours.

Dine at Lottie's

The Birdcage at Lottie’s is the latest dining experience you’ve grown to expect from The Ashe Hotel. Each birdcage contains three layers of sharing plates, offering the diner a selection of savoury light bites to enjoy. Choose from one of the three themed birdcages, the Classic Charcuterie & Cheese, the Meat Feast or the Vegan Delight. Each menu has been carefully curated and ingredients specially sourced by Head Chef Alex DeGlorie. Indulge on dishes such Dingle Whiskey & BBQ Chicken Wings, Tim Jones Beef & Sneem Black Pudding Sliders or a selection of Farmhouse Irish cheeses. While enjoying your Birdcage sharing platter sip on a cocktail in this uniquely glamorous setting. Our mixologists Nicole Sugrue & Diana O’Keeffe have designed a selection of creative and original cocktails both alcoholic and nonalcoholic using only the best of ingredients for you to enjoy. The Birdcages launch Friday 18th March, St. Patrick’s Bank Holiday weekend, bookings are open and advisable.

Meet at Lottie's With no detail left to chance Meet at Lottie’s is your next meeting space. Your guests will enjoy the specially chosen comfortable conference balloon backed chairs, natural daylight, advanced audio visual facilities and high speed broadband. Our culinary team have put together a range of menus to suit your event and will also create a bespoke menu to suit your needs. Whether you are planning a meeting, team building event, board meeting or conference –our events team will help you plan the perfect experience for you and all of your guests and ensure that the day runs smoothly. To make an enquiry for Lottie’s at The Ashe please call on 066 7106300 or email info@theashehotel.ie. 27

...Hannons With so many boutiques and style houses in the county we are spoilt for choice so over the coming months we will be chatting with the people behind these great outlets to find out how life has been over the past two years and what lies ahead for the future. Our first stop is Hannons of Castleisland. Jill, can you tell us a bit about the background of Hannons?

We are in business over 80 years, since 1939. We are a third generation family run business first established by our grandmother. The business has always been family run, my grandmother was joined by my dad who in turn was joined by myself and my sister Lorna. We were then joined by our sister Susan who spent 14 years as merchandising manager in Bloomingdales, Boston and together the 3 of us have been running it since. What changes has Covid brought to your business? We would have always stocked casual to dress wear but we were renowned countrywide for our occasion wear, debs wear and mother of the bride etc. During Covid we decided to change and rebrand a bit different, so we became more of a lifestyle store. What we do now is casual wear and gifts, but we have kept to the quality in products which we were always known for. We like our business and products to be sustainable where and when we can. We invested in the shop, doing a complete makeover of the premises and making it feel as relaxed as possible. We want people to feel like they can come in and browse comfortably knowing we are there to help if they need it. We are completely child friendly and actually dog friendly too. We have introduced some high quality Irish brands such as The Dublin Herbalist, La Bougie Candles from Cork. We are stocking the beautiful Wrendale collection by artist Hannah Dale along with products such as hats and scarves, Snoozie slippers and water bottles. We just wanted to provide more than just clothes but with our main focus still being casual wear. The casual wear that we stock is smart casual, something you can throw on but will be admired in. Items like a jacket, casual but by no means basic. How has this change in direction been for yourselves as a business?

That is the direction we have taken and we are happy to go in that direction. We have found since the start of the pandemic that people are spending more on their casual wear than ever before. They no longer want to spend a lot of money on a dress that will be worn once but they will spend money on a jacket they will wear again and again and get great value out of. During the first lockdown we actually set up our first online business, which is great and it’s an option but the type of clothing we sell, its sold by the feel of the quality. We also

have a strong social media presence online with our Facebook and Instagram accounts. So then we started searching for casual brands that are just a bit different than the high street brands. But again, like everyone in the first lockdown we were waiting week to week for the end of it but when it wasn’t, we knew we had to make long term changes within the business and products on sale. We have a nephew living over in France who we have all visited and love the layout of the shops over there, we wanted to bring that feel to our store and for our customers. That even if they weren’t there to buy anything they are still very welcome to browse. How have you adapted to seasonal trend’s within fashion and implementing it in your store?

We are very much embracing the trend’s within our range. For example the way the long Gillet’s became fashionable, wearing leisurewear and tracksuits but in a smart and dressy way. Smarter leisurewear I guess you could say, we are going down that road now as opposed to the occasion wear we have been known for. We want people to realise that even if it’s just going for coffee, you can still dress up without being done up to the nines. We are really working on promoting smartening up your casual look, if you are wearing a hoodie for example the hoodie might have a nice motif on it. It looks well with your jeans and sneakers than just turning up in yoga gear! I’m a huge believer for the purpose of your mental health, giving yourself that extra 10 minutes in the morning, grooming yourself can just make you feel better for the day. With everything that has gone on in the last 2 years it’s very important that we look after our mental health. You mentioned sustainability in your store, with

conversation in the media surrounding fast fashion can you tell us more about your commitment to sustainability?

Yes, sustainability is a huge focus of ours. We believe that having less in your wardrobe is actually better because you will actually wear it all. I’m a huge believer in buying something nice and wearing it as much as you want then pass it on with love. Give it to a charity shop who will be delighted to have it. To ensure people aren’t wasting money on ill-fitting clothes we are only too happy to help and advise on the right fit. Everyone has their own style but we will certainly advise on fit and new pieces. We will teach people about recognising their body shape and what will suit it. That is what comes easy to us because it has been our livelihood and what we grew up learning. We look forward to welcoming customers new and old for 2022

If you would like your business featured please contact us on info@connectpublications.ie

Ask the Pharmacist “As COVID related restrictions are loosened, many of the events that have been cancelled/ postponed over the last 2 years are finally going ahead. This month’s issue of Connect Magazine focusses on weddings and events so we thought we would compile a list of the products that we stock that people may require in the weeks and months ahead. As the saying goes- Fail to prepare-prepare to fail” so as always it is best to plan ahead and avoid any mishaps. What follows is a brief summary of some products we think people may find beneficial. Weddings and big events can be stressful. You may find yourself worrying if it is OK to marry him just because he’s rich (last we heard it was OK…) or whether you are going to fit into that dress that is 4 sizes too small. Luckily there is a wonderful product available called Melissa Dream that is a natural product proven to maintain normal functioning of the nervous system and thus aid restful sleep. We have received fantastic feedback on this product. Also we stock the ever popular Rescue Remedy range which is proved to calm the nerves during stressful periods of your life. These are handy items to have around during tough times when you find yourself having a hard time switching off. Another product available is the Kalm’s range which harness the natural sedative properties of Valerian to get you through tough times. From personal experience, these products do work. Stress can take a tremendous toll on our physical and mental health so its helpful to know that there are products out there that can help with this. As always, if you have any queries pop into us and we would be delighted to talk you through your options.

The stress of attending big events can often result in tummy upset so luckily we have a range of products available to alleviate any distress. Imodium will work wonders to stop diarrhoea and Dioralyte is effective in preventing dehydration. We hear it is also great for hangovers but here in Mounthawk Pharmacy we know nothing about those

so couldn’t really say. A heavy sit down meal can often result in indigestion so a product like Nexium, Gaviscon or Rennies will fix that in no time. These products can however interfere with other medicines you may be taking, so always ask your pharmacist for advice. Preparation for a wedding or family event can often require more products than they sell on Amazon. False tan, false nails, make up, nail varnish, hair spray, fragrance….the list goes on! Luckily, here in Mounthawk we have you covered on all these essentials. We stock all the major brands of hair products to help you achieve the look you desire. We stock Rimmel make up and Sally Hansen also. We have an enormous range of fake tan to give you that sun-kissed glow that’s all the rage at the moment. We have beautiful perfumes/aftershaves that will mean people will want to sit beside you and not far away from you. We sell heel grips and blister plasters for your feet so that you can walk in some degree of comfort on the day. Whatever events you find yourself attending over the next few months , we sincerely hope that people enjoy them. As always, thank you to Mag and all the team at Connect for featuring our humble pharmacy in her magazine. It is very much appreciated. Until next month!”

Myself and Shane are delighted to announce Aileen Galloway as the winner of our January gift hamper worth nearly €200. Aileen works as a nurse up in Dublin and was absolutely delighted with her prize. Thank you so much to all who took part in the competition and stay tuned online for further competitions.

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

SLEEP - ZZZZZZ

The importance of sleep in terms of fat loss. A good sleep is hugely beneficial to your fat loss success. Here are some of the reasons why and some tips for a better sleep Zzzzz.

in the bloodstream and the body produces more insulin to compensate.

Poor Sleep Can Increase Your Appetite

• Increase bright light exposure during the day especially natural sunlight. • Reduce blue light exposure in the evening - turn off the phone/computer at least 1 hour before bed. Read a book or listen to relaxing music. • Don’t consume caffeine late in the day - I avoid tea or coffee after 5pm • Reduce irregular or long daytime naps - ( I wish 😀) • Try to sleep and wake at consistent times - even at the weekend • Take a melatonin supplement or indeed try ONE of these change it up every month or 2

This is likely caused by the impact of sleep on two important hunger hormones, ghrelin and leptin. Ghrelin is a hormone released in the stomach that signals hunger in the brain. Levels are high before you eat, which is when the stomach is empty, and low after you eat. Leptin is a hormone released from fat cells. It suppresses hunger and signals fullness in the brain . When you do not get adequate sleep, the body makes more ghrelin and less leptin, leaving you hungry and increasing your appetite.

Sleep Helps You Fight Cravings and Make Healthy Choices

Lack of sleep actually alters the way your brain works. This may make it harder to make healthy choices and resist tempting foods.

Poor Sleep May Decrease Your Resting Metabolism

SOME TIPS THAT MAY HELP WITH SLEEP QUALITY

Ginkgo biloba: A natural herb with many benefits, it may aid sleep, relaxation, and stress reduction, also helps with cognitive function. Valerian root: Several studies suggest that valerian can help you fall asleep and improve sleep quality.

Research indicates that sleep deprivation may lower your RMR

Magnesium: Responsible for over 600 reactions within your body, magnesium can improve relaxation and enhance sleep. Also helps with muscle repair.

Sleep Can Enhance Physical Activity

L-theanine: An amino acid, L-theanine can improve relaxation and sleep.

Your resting metabolic rate (RMR) is the number of calories your body burns when you’re completely at rest. It’s affected by age, weight, height, sex and muscle mass.

A lack of sleep can cause daytime fatigue, making you less likely and less motivated to exercise. In addition, you’re more likely to get tired earlier during physical activity.

Lavender: A powerful herb with many health benefits, lavender can induce a calming and sedentary effect to improve sleep. CBD Oil: Improves sleep and joint health.

It Helps Prevent Insulin Resistance

Poor sleep can cause cells to become insulin resistant. Insulin is a hormone that moves sugar from the bloodstream into your body’s cells to be used as energy. When cells become insulin resistant, more sugar remains

• Exercise regularly - some form every day — but not before bed • Don’t drink any liquids before bed - avoid those trips to the bathroom (with the eyes shut ) • Invest in a comfortable bed, mattress, and pillow - we do usually spend 1/3 of our day in bed.

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c i s u M m o d g n i in the K

n a r r u C a s i L By Cathriona Murphy

Our readers in Connect will be familiar with our regular contributor, Lisa Curran as she interviews some of Kerry’s most well known musicians. This month we turn the spotlight on Lisa! I asked her to tell the readers who the lady is behind the magazine article. “Hi Catriona! It’s so lovely to be on this side of the interview, thank you for speaking to me! I’m a born and bred Rockie woman from Tralee but branched out all the way to Cork to go to the Cork School of Music for my BMUS and during that and since then I’ve been teaching singing with Tralee Vocal Academy and singing for weddings, funerals and events which I adore and of course I get to write the music page for Connect Kerry magazine.” Speaking to Lisa her love and passion for music just exudes from her so well, she told us “I am a very lucky woman that my family are heavily involved in music, mainly traditional music and I have been surrounded and inspired by music all my life. I personally don’t remember a time where I didn’t sing but my family tell me the moment they knew they had to send me to learn was when I was 3 and stood up on a table at a wedding singing ‘you are my sunshine’ on loop until they had to drag me away! I began my solo vocal studies when I was 10 and the rest is history really! I have been so lucky to be leading lady in many musical theatre and operatic productions and performing with rock bands, work with fantastic artists and be featured on music singles including ‘embrace the world’ which is a charity single that is out this April in in aid of ‘Asiam’ Irelands autism charity which is very close to my heart as myself and my son are both on the autism spectrum. Singing is a fantastic escape from stress and really works out your brain and body and I’d highly recommend it to anyone with anxiety, adhd etc. everyone can sing and it’s all about training muscles just like any other physical activity.” As with every business, adaptations were needed to get through the pandemic, I asked Lisa if her business was affected much? She replied “I was extremely lucky with Tralee Vocal academy as online was a very easy option to move to and I adored meeting all students pets, siblings and getting tours of their singing spaces and it was a really fun change! Unfortunately the events were stopped and I really missed meeting and organising weddings and funerals with families, that was really tough especially for brides having to change so many times, or families not having music as part of a funeral to celebrate their loved ones life, my heart went out to them and the stress they were under. I saw friends of mine that were really struggling as they solely depended on performing and it was a very strange time for the arts even though most people relied on the arts to get them through the pandemic so I think there will be a renewed appreciation for artists and performers post pandemic.”

Lisa told us about the process of helping couples on their wedding day “It is an absolute honour to be helping a couple plan out their ceremony and reception music as it is such a personal choice and very emotional on the day. My favourite part is helping couples pick /include ‘THAT song’ as it is so important, wherever it is in the ceremony whether it be the entrance or recessional or communion, that song is the one that in years to come you hear and all the memories flood back, I get it a lot when arranging funerals where someone’s partner may have sadly passed and they go right back to ‘that song’ to represent their relationship so really the planning of that is so important especially as there are a lot of songs to choose for a religious ceremony especially and a lot of couples don’t realise that, as for civil ceremonies there is a lot of ‘free reign’ with them and can be so personal it’s always interesting to hear how the couple want their relationship represented.” Lisa gave some helpful advice for couples planning their big day! “Book well ahead of time at the moment! A lot of wedding vocalists and performers in general are booked due to rescheduling weddings from the pandemic or those who got engaged during the pandemic and are excited to get planning and booking! Ceremony and reception music can range in price depending on travel, range/ number of instrumentalists etc so it’s always good to have that budgeted in early too. As for song choices make a playlist wherever you play your music whether that be Spotify, YouTube etc and add to that as you hear ones you like or simply have a notebook to sit and write down songs with your partner.” Finally, I asked Lisa about her plans for 2022? “Hopefully lots more performing and being involved in peoples big day, I mentioned already that I’m involved in the ‘embrace the world’ single which also has artists such as Emma Langford, Caroline Kay, Molly Lynch and Moon looks on, to name a few, it was written be the incredibly talented Kevin Walsh who is autistic and I can’t wait for everyone to hear that. Lots of camps hopefully this Easter and summer for 6-18 year olds to really spark their creativity and confidence in performing and just keep taking it day by day and be extremely grateful for having the gift of singing and being a part of peoples wedding day, funeral or event and of course being Able to pass that onto others through teaching too.” @lisacurranvocals @traleevocalacademy @lisasrandomadventures Or email lisacurransoprano@gmail.com

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Celebrating Communions and Confirmations with Connect With the last 2 years having been dominated by Covid restrictions, it’s with a welcome sigh of relief that we now see a return to normality with family special occasions. One of the biggest highlights of any family calendar is a child’s Communion and Confirmation. From the moment the date is given it is full steam ahead with planning. From invites to outfits, dinner in or dinner out, it is almost as consuming as a wedding! Here at connect we have put together a quick guide to help make the planning a little easier.

Save the date Once the date is given, it is akin to the starting line of a sprint! Everyone wants their first choice in everything, prior to this moment, a decision should be made on if you want to go to a restaurant or book home catering. Home catering is becoming more and more popular. Companies such as Having the food delivered, cooked and ready to go is very convenient, allows for you to have more people attend the occasion in the comfort of your own home as opposed to a large bill in a restaurant. Another popular option is to buy in the food and prep it yourself. Huge savings can be made this way, with companies such as Terra Gourmet Catering, Monavally Tralee providing high quality produce delivered to your door to make the increasingly popular charcuterie boards, meat platters, anti pasti type layouts. With this said, the benefits of a restaurant must be given consideration. No cleaning up, no worrying if you have enough table ware and cutlery, cups/ glasses. You can enjoy the sitting back, relaxing and have everything done for you. Whatever you decide, booking early is vital.

Say Yes to the Dress Whether it’s a dress or a suit, dressing your child in a style that becomes them and reflects their personality is very important. There is no point in putting your child in an outfit that will make them uncomfortable for the day. With shops such as Mods & Minis, Jasmine, Diva’s & Dude’s and Suits Select to name a few, there is endless choice available, but again, the early bird catches the worm! Putting a deposit as early as possible will give you the best choice and variety as possible.

Have your cake and eat it Choosing a cake supplier is hugely important with so many varieties and talented cake makers around. Again, trust your instincts and go with what your child likes. Forget what is ‘En Trend’ and go with what you and your guests will actually eat. Look for 36

recommendations from family and friends for suppliers, ensure they are HSE certified like companies such as 'Heavenly Baked' , ‘Mom’s Porter Cake’ and ‘Ash Bakes Cakes’

Fun! Fun! Fun! Entertainment in some format is a must. Whether it’s a bouncy castle or live music, providing entertainment will keep you and your guests entertained. A bouncy castle will give endless hours of fun, but ensure you book one with a cover option in case of rain. Be sure to check for safety certification and that the supplier has public liability insurance. After installation, make sure to check it is secured well in case of winds or gusts. If you have booked a premises and have a large number in attendance a bit of live music in the form of even a one man band or DJ is always welcome by guests. Whatever you choose, be sure to enjoy the day!

Welcome to Connect Motoring, over the coming months we will be bringing you all things motoring, this issue we kick off with a bit of info on those dreaded Roundabouts where Tom tells us how to manoeuvre them correctly

Roundabouts -‘The Magic Circles’ by Tom Harrington LL B F Inst. MTD In Ireland, By-Law, S1.No. 21 of the Road Traffic General Bye-Laws 1964 states: A driver shall enter a roundabout by turning left. This may seems obvious to most drivers, but 64 people received penalty points for failing to enter a roundabout correctly i.e. turning right against the traffic flow. Fundamentally, roundabouts are circular one-way systems where traffic flows in a clock-wise direction. Roundabouts replaced traffic lights and cross roads and help traffic to mix and flow. They also help reduce pollution because there are fewer emissions than when stationary at traffic light junctions. They vary in shape and size from mini roundabouts to large gyratory and contra-flow roundabouts. The latter two are found mainly in the UK. Contra-flow roundabouts are also referred to as ‘magic’ roundabouts and are found in Swindon and Hemel Hempstead UK. The purpose of roundabouts is to reduce speed and allow traffic to flow and mix. Due to their various shapes and sizes, this article will deal only with a straightforward four exit roundabout. First, think of a roundabout as the face of a clock. Left exit is at 9 o’clock, Ahead exit is at 12 o’clock, right exit is at 3 o’clock and the full circle or U-turn is at 6 o’clock. When you intend to turn left, first exit (9 o’clock) check mirrors, signal left and approach in the left lane, if clear from the right continue and turn left. When going ahead, second exit (12 o’clock) check mirrors, normally stay in the left lane unless directed otherwise by road markings (arrows) and do NOT signal on entry, but signal left as you pass the exit before the one you wish to take. When turning right, third exit (3 o’clock) check mirrors, signal right on approach and stay in the right lane, then signal left as you pass the exit before the one you wish to take. Repeat for exit four (6 o’clock) doing the full circle or U-turn. Many drivers tend to stop when entering a roundabout even though it’s clear to proceed. Here, there is a danger of being shunted from behind as the following driver doesn’t expect you to stop. But beware of the fast vehicle coming from the right or the hidden vehicle coming from the opposite direction that may be obscured by bushes or other visual obstructions in the central island. Also, some drivers think that you should never signal when entering a roundabout while others think that you should - incorrect. It depends which way you are going. When entering a roundabout be particularly careful of other driver’s signals because they may be misleading. Treat all signals with a ‘pinch of salt’ as some signals can be ambiguous or misleading. Bear in mind that the only thing you can be absolutely sure of when you see a signal is – the bulb is working. Finally, remember that large vehicles such as busses and trucks may need more than one lane when entering or leaving a roundabout. So, keep your wits about you.

As we all gradually ease ourselves back to normality, there are signs everywhere that the restrictions we were living under are dissipating. Lockdowns are over, mask wearing is on the way out; restaurants, bars, theatres and social gatherings are, like the Spring flowers, awakening, flourishing and bringing warmth and colour to our lives. The Phoenix Women’s Centre is excited about the forthcoming events listed below which we hope you will enjoy.

80’s Disco

On Friday 11th March, 8.00p.m. we are having an 80’s Disco at Kerins O’Rahilly’s GAA Club, Strand Street Tralee. Tickets €10.00, on the door or in advance from the GAA club or the Phoenix Women’s Centre. If you want to show off your 80’s style and dance moves, this is the place to be on 11th March. All welcome!

Quizz

On 1st April, 8.00p.m. we are hosting a Quizz at Kerins O’Rahilly’s GAA Club. Teams of four contestants will compete. Entry for a team of 4 people is €20.00 Members of the winning team will receive prizes. There will also be a raffle. This is an opportunity to awaken the grey cells after their Covid hibernation. All welcome!

International Women’s Day

On March 8th, 10.00a.m. – 12.30p.m. there will be an event in St John’s Theatre, Listowel. The theme for IWD this year is ‘Break the Bias’. This event is a morning of song, music and poetry. There will be a participative discussion under this year’s theme, ‘BREAK THE BIAS’. This is a free event; refreshments will be provided. See our events page on our newly launched website for more details, our face book page or contact us directly. And last but not least…

AONTAS Star Awards

We are delighted to tell you that the Phoenix Womens Centre was one of 3 community groups in the country to be nominated for an AONTAS Star award in the category of ‘Adult Learning Initiatives that Support Health and Wellbeing’. We have received great support from the community and especially those who have participated in our programmes. Phoenix Women’s Centre, Market Place, Maine Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry. Tel 066 9130430 Email: info@phoenixwomenscentre.ie Website: phoenixwomenscentre.ie www.facebook.com/PhoenixWomensCentre 42

Colette O'Connor CEO of Tralee Chamber Alliance Colette O'Connor is CEO of Tralee Chamber Alliance, the largest business representative organisation in Kerry. Affiliated with Chambers Ireland, Tralee Chamber is a strong lobby group while working to enhance Tralee and North Kerry as a great place to live and work. The first woman to lead the Chamber, Colette brings with her over 20 years of experience in the hospitality and community sectors, working with people is her passion. She sits on the Board of Directors for the Kerry Tourism Industry Federation and is active across a number of other county projects. In 2017 she was a founding member of the Listowel Business & Community Alliance and is an established independent events and hospitality specialist."

Susan Quirke CrowleyMounthawk Montessori Mounthawk Montessori School Has once again Achieved All-Ireland AllStar Montessori School 2022 Of The YearAccreditation, In Recognition Of The Company’s Commitment To Its Community. Mounthawk Montessori Continues To Offer High Quality Care Since 1999 From Its State Of The Art Purpose Built Premises, On A Half Acre Site In Tralee. Its Post Graduate Diploma Led Team Offers A High Quality Programme Of Care That Will Enhance Every Child's Early Years Experiences And Development. Founded in 1999 , Mounthawk Montessori School & Busy Bees Nursery & Afterschool Club along with our sister service Maureen's Childcare , offer high quality Early Childhood Care and Education from our State of the Art , Purpose Built Centres in Tralee. Susan Quirke-Crowley accepted the Award stating that 'our service has grown from a humble sessional service catering for 10 children , started by my Mum , Maureen Quirke , friend , General Manager Helena Wallace Dowling & I , to centres catering for 120 children and their families. We owe our success to our wonderful teams, led by Centre Managers Liz Quirke & Katie O'Sullivan. Our motto is 'Quirke's for Quality ' and we strive for this ,in our family owned and operated services everyday.

Lesley Denehy - Hairworks It's an absolute pleasure to be writing this piece for Connect Kerry to celebrate woman in business and international woman's day 2022. Reflecting on the past few months, knowing the challenges businesses have faced, to now seeing businesses thrive and continue to grow is nothing but incredible. From a very young age I have always had a desire to own a hair and Beauty salon. My passion is to have a working environment that is fun and enjoyable for stylists while providing the best service to our clients. I have a powerful team by my side at HairWorks. Seeing the girls happy in their workplace, I am confident I'm going in the right direction in my career. We come together to grow HairWorks from strength to strength. I might be the salon owner but I certainly know I would not be where I am today with out a hardworking and talented team.

Ashmore Learning Solutions Ashmore Learning Solutions has evolved as a business from a passion for teaching and a love of education. This year owner Mairead Moriarty is delighted to celebrate 10 years in business. Mairead has told us that she now provides a selection of educational resources for a wide range of subjects on the school curriculum in English and Irish having started business with just 1 subject in 2012 As we emerge from the restrictions of Covid 19 ,Mairead has a vision for her business .That is to encourage schools to provide a print rich environment both inside and outside the classroom. A visually attractive display of Posters can stimulate students to learn while improving their Literacy and Numeracy skills which may have suffered during Covid. Mairead would like to encourage parents, teachers in schools to use Posters with Keywords as an aid to learning at all times. Finally the advice Mairead has for anyone who has a business idea is to follow their dreams and remember – “To be successful, you have to have your heart in your business and your business in your heart”. Mairead can be contacted at - ashmorelesrnsol@gmail.com Mobile no .0879929968 Website - www.ashmorelearningsolutions.com

In the past five years that I've owned HairWorks it has expanded from a hair salon to a hair and beauty salon offering men and woman a wide range of services. The salon has been renovated to give you the best experience and we have much more to come. Prior to HairWorks I was a cosmetic manager for over 10 years. I continue to share the knowledge that I've learned in skin care in make up with young girls teaching classes along side vicky o Sullivan on zoom classes through NEWKD an organisation to help young men and woman find employment in this field. We can now hold these courses in person and we have a plan in place for the next coming weeks. Each course includes hygiene knowledge, make up skills, advice on job interviews and to help with work experience or job applications. I hope to share as much knowledge as I can to young men or woman with the hope to help future entrepreneurs or employees. 1 St. Brendan’s Road, Tralee. Tel: 066 7127260 E: hairworkstralee1@gmail.com

Deirdre Burke deBúrca Designs De Burca Designs & Alterations is a Kerry based bespoke designs and alterations company. Its Creative Director and Founder, Deirdre Burke, is a fashion designer who has several years experience in the industry, having taken part is events such as the Rose of Tralee, Kerry Hospice Charity Fashion Show and others reaching as far away as Frankfurt. Deirdre studied fashion design and tailoring for five years in Mallow College of Design and Tailoring while studying for her Marketing Degree in the Institute of Technology Tralee. Alterations can be done to Women’s clothes including wedding dresses, as well as Men’s and Children's clothes. Bespoke pieces can be made for women in a contemporary, classic and chic style. She also created a line of handmade silk products such as silk scrunchies, eyemasks and pillowcases. DeBúrca Designs is truly an unique and inspiring Kerry and Irish Business.

www.deburcadesigns.ie @deburcadesigns Ph: 0863457499

Kerry Flyer celebrated 21 years in Business in November 2021 This thriving Social Enterprise has 2 purposes: · To provide accessible transport for the Community · To provide employment and training opportunities for the Community. You can see their brightly stickered buses traversing North and East Kerry every day of the week. Their fleet is fully accessible and they work with local people, local groups, Local Link and Bus Eireann to provide all types of transport. At the helm since 2008, is their CEO, Nicola Lawless. “It’s been my pleasure to work with Kerry Flyer CLG for as long as I have. We are community run and community led, responding to the needs of people living in North and East Kerry. Our voluntary board are made up of local community people and our aim is to provide an excellent bus service, whilst also providing employment for our staff, and training opportunities for the wider transport sector. Our brilliant bus drivers and office staff worked all throughout the Pandemic to ensure that people still got from A to B. Whilst the pandemic was very challenging, it also presented opportunities to reflect and review how our services were offered. Transport will always be a one on one service that can’t be offered virtually, but we have decided to broaden our transport training offerings, and we are excited that some of our training courses can now be provided online. This year, in addition to continuing to provide Driver CPC and specialist accessible training, we will also be offering ADR Training, Transport Safety Management Training, GDPR Training and safety and awareness for Bus Drivers Training, the latter two we will offer online which is really good news for drivers and transport managers alike”

Whilst accessible transport will always be the main focus of Kerry Flyer, their vast experience in delivery of safe, accessible services, has made them the wise choice for delivery of transport training. “I have seen many women in management within the passenger transport industry, but very few women drivers. I would love to see more women come on board as bus drivers. We ourselves are always looking for drivers of any gender. We offer many benefits, along with good pay rates (the living wage)” Nicola says. “At present we have one lovely lady driver – Claire – and our finance controller, Debbie, and our marketer, Anita, make up 4 of us ladies in total working in the company. We would love to see more women bus drivers coming onto the team in the future. It’s a good career option.” You can contact Kerry Flyer for transport or training at info@ kerryflyer.ie. You can ring them on 066 716 3170 or check out their social media pages on: Facebook: (4) Kerry Flyer | Facebook Linkedin: (72) Kerry Flyer | LinkedIn Instagram: Kerry Flyer | Transport (@kerryflyer) • Instagram photos and videos Tik Tok: KerryFlyer (@kerryflyer) TikTok | Watch KerryFlyer's Newest TikTok Videos

Paula Duggan Balance Nutrition Paula Duggan Nutritionist & founder of Paula Duggan Balance Nutrition. Paula is best known for her online healthy eating & weight loss programs; however, she also does corporate nutrition & healthy eating talks in schools. Paula lives in Dingle but has managed to take her business national through her online programs & talks.

I now exclusively work with people online. Why? Because it is more accessible, convenient and cost effective for everyone. I also believe it is a much better platform for engagement and implementing long-term change. I offer 10-week Healthy Eating & Weight Loss Programs, the 10-weeks allow time to learn, build new habits, make progress, change your mindset and take full advantage of me! I offer my clients daily support, tips, feedback & recipes as well as a recipe book to start. Although, the program is online, there is weekly accountability which most people really feel they need.

I studied Nutrition for 6 years in UCC (B.Sc., M.Sc.). In 2018, I decided to set up Paula Duggan Balance Nutrition as I really missed nutrition having worked in pharma for 10 years. I also believed I could help people. The more nonsense I heard being peddled about food & dieting, the more I wanted to try, to help women improve their relationship with food & figure it all out.

I haven’t looked back; I absolutely love it. I started out really passionate about nutrition but now, I have to say, I am also really passionate about coaching people.

I help women lose weight but it doesn’t stop there! I also focus on improving their relationship with food, cementing healthier habits and teaching lots about food & nutrition. The women I work with want to feel better, they want their energy back and they want some control back!

Web: www.balancenutrition.ie E: paula@balancenutrition.ie Ph: 087 961 5882 FB: pauladuggan_balancenutrition

Cllr. Deirdre Ferris - Sinn Fein In my day job, I am a local Councillor for Sinn Fein. But I am also a wife to Conor, mother to daughter Caoilfhionn (17), son Ainle (and owner of 2 spoiled dogs Holly and Freddie. I have been a Kerry County Councillor for the Tralee Municipal District since early 2020 when I replaced Pa Daly, following his election to the Dáil. I had, for the previous 20 years, actively worked in the background of local politics. Public speaking, representing the council on local management boards and, most importantly, being a champion for the people are the main aspects of my role on Kerry County Council. The last 2 years have been an education that no schooling could ever offer! Over the past two years I found myself spending much of my time researching. From understanding national legislation, to keeping up to date with changes to national guidelines, I am always researching and learning new things about how local government works, and sometimes doesn’t work. Being a champion for people is by far the most important role that I have. Working on behalf of constituents on issues such as housing, planning, enterprise, education, local health issues among many others. I also spend a lot of time acting as a liaison between local small businesses and the council. Helping people in whatever way I can is hugely rewarding and I have really enjoyed my work on the council so far.

When I get time in between work and family life, there’s nothing I like better than reading a good book. Reading helps me relax and take a small break from the stresses of everyday life.

De Danann Engineering trading as DDTTEL Ltd, is a relatively new business which was set up in March 2021 and is run by husband and wife team, Nicola & Gareth Lawless. DDTTEL is situated in Castleisland on the Limerick Road, in the same building that was once the famous Nelligans Bakery.

inspections, pre-test inspections and repairs, body work, rust repair, all types of preventative maintenance and mechanical repairs. We can also test and certify lifts (passenger or goods) and can provide, balance and 4 wheel alignment2. Our own knowledge and experience in the transport industry means we know from start to finish what it takes to keep your vehicle compliant, safe and economical” Despite being a start-up that opened in the height of one of the longest Covid 19 lockdowns in Europe, the enterprising couple are delighted with the progress so far, and have a steady stream of business and repeat clients. You can contact DDTTEL at dedananngroup@gmail.com or dedanannengineering@gmail.com You can ring them on 087 374 1888 or check out their social media pages on Facebook: (5) De Danann Engineering | Facebook

Gareth says “Although the business might be relatively new, we have both worked in the transport industry for years as transport managers, transport trainers, and in my own case, as a transport engineer. Opening our own Garage which focuses on mini and midi buses, light commercial vehicles, vans and camper vans made sense. Between ourselves and our colleagues who work with us, we have vast experience in what it takes to keep these types of vehicles on the road.” Nicola told us about their vision for DDTTEL. “We see the garage as a one stop shop for transport operators. We can do periodic 47

Helen O'Sullivan Murphy O'Sullivan’s Bakery

themselves. We hope that each and every business has a successful Summer season which will help bring Kerry back to good economic times.

On behalf of the team in O Sullivan’s Bakery we want to thank each and every customer - shops, families & households for their support throughout the past challenging two years.

We wish everyone good health and to all those who have been effected by COVID or other illnesses a swift recovery and our thoughts are with families who have lost loved ones. We hope the county of Kerry continues positively, supporting and prioritising safety for yourself, your families, friends and neighbours.

Like ourselves we have all adapted to our new norm and we have been extremely grateful that we continued to operate through these past year two years, especially thankful for the support from our customers who have all adapted their trading to ensure safety for all suppliers and customers to stores throughout the county.

Helen & All the Team in O' Sullivans Bakery ....From our family to yours.

We continue to provide a full range of products fresh each morning through the wonderful and dedicated team of bakers, slicers, and distributors. Our team of administrators are always here to answer any questions you may have and we always welcome suggestions. With your help and support, we hope to continue to fill the shelves of Kerry shops, supermarkets and cafes with fresh sliced pans, sodas, baps, rolls and our award winning bracks for many years to come. We look forward to welcoming old and new customers alike, over the coming months as places re-establish and reopen

Women Returners are Invaluable to Employers Are you an employer looking for great and reliable people to join your team? We may be able to help. Moving On is an innovative employment programme for women in Kerry, matching employers looking for staff with women who are looking for work. Moving On offers women customised training, support & links with employers. The Moving On programme is coordinated by Lisa Fingleton and Lisa O Flaherty. Both have extensive experience in recruitment across a range of sectors. Over 260 women have participated in the programme so far with most women accessing employment, self-employment or further training. Many participants are women returners, having taken some time out of the formal workplace to care for children or family members. According to Lisa Fingleton “Women are often concerned about the ‘gap’ on their CV but then they realise that they have actually been multitasking and developing a range of transferable skills that are critical for any employer. They are usually experts at logistics, planning, time management, budgeting and interpersonal communication and negotiation. They just need a confidence boost and some support” According to Lisa O Flaherty these skills are complemented by a flexible and customised training programme. “The pandemic has shown us how important it is to have strong digital skills in order to be able to adapt to a changing workplace and access remote working jobs. We work with the MTU, the KETB and a number of independent trainers to ensure that women’s digital and social media skills are up to date.” Throughout the year Moving On will be running a number of workshops for employers on digital skills and green jobs as well as participants. Stay up to date on our Instagram page @ movingonkerry and website www.movingon.ie or contact Lisa O Flaherty on 087 7647446 or lisaoflaherty@newkd.ie. Moving On is managed by NEWKD and is co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2022.

Linda O'Mahony Leadership360 When it comes to strong, inspirational women in business, few match that like Linda O’ Mahony, founder of Leadership 360. Never one to let circumstances dictate her path in life, Linda has overcome challenge after challenge to get where she is today. Linda became a single mom at the tender age of just 19. It did nothing to deter Linda’s ambitions in life despite the fact she silently battled a debilitating illness. Linda, for over 20 years, has suffered from chronic endometriosis. A condition that causes severe pain and discomfort within the body. Having already undertaken 5 surgeries to try and ease the symptoms, Linda travelled to Birmingham prior to the start of the pandemic for surgery number 6. Linda told us “I had the surgery and had a great recovery but then the start of the pandemic hit and I lost all my business in 24 hours. Within 2 months of that, my endometriosis accelerated and worsened, fortunately my doctor found a specialist surgeon in Dublin and on his advice at just aged 46 I underwent extensive surgery in the form of a hysterectomy. Since then my health has never been better thankfully!” With the challenges that faced Linda’s business, in 24 hours she seen her business disappear with email after email but she turned the negative into a positive and brought her passion and expertise to form an online business. The success has been so great that from her humble office in Killarney, Linda is working with multinational corporations on a daily basis and is highly regarded among such as one of the best in her field. Delivering bespoke high performance leadership programs and executive coaching with companies such as Analog Devices based in Limerick but also with their companies in France, Germany, UK and America, Abbott, FBD, The Mindful Leader Academy, RB Singapore, Galway Executive Skillnet, Itag Skillnet and MTU. Other programs delivered by Linda include a Graduate Professional Skills Program, High Impact Communication Skills, High Impact Professional Presentation Skills and Conflict to Collaboration Programs. Linda is passionate in life with working with people to help them realise their full potential. Linda told us “When people leave my programme saying, actually I feel better about myself, I feel less stressed and I feel like I’m better than I thought I was. To me, that is everything in life achieved.” Through her Programs and Leadership Coaching Linda supports clients to bring into awareness learned behaviours that derail clients from being as effective as they could be. Together they identify old beliefs and patterns of behaviour and overcome internal and external challenges to ignite and unleash the best version of them at home and work. Linda is passionate about understanding organisational and people cultures and behaviours which lead to her studying Transactional Analysis, Neuro Linguistic Programming and Organisational Culture Transformation. She works with Leadership Teams to create high performing and innovative cultures with a core focus on its people achieving personal and team excellence in performance, business success and career development. Linda brings a unique blend of honesty, experience and infectious passion to everything she does. She has the ability to unlock, unleash and connect people and teams in a truly powerful manner. Linda is also guest lecturer and keynote speaker at events. She is passionate and experienced in delivering talks that inspire, educate and ignite action in the audience to support them in leading self, leading others and leading organisations.

LEADERSHIP

Contact Linda on Email: linda@leadership360.ie Mobile: (0)353 87 8364412 Web : www.leadership360.ie

Fiona Callan - Coaching To Be...

Coaching to be... Get to where you want to be in life, work or business I am a personal and professional Life Coach and I work with people so they can discover their own powerful abilities to make the changes they want in their life. For many years I worked in jobs that centred on the development of individuals, communities or organisations. I experienced how everyone has ‘stuff’ going on throughout their life and while they are busy managing or juggling their life and work or they may be in the habit of always putting other people first, they tend to forget about themselves in the middle of all that is going on. This can have a compounding effect on the individual and result in a confusion of unhelpful thoughts, emotions and habits.

In 2019 I started Coaching to be… based on my belief that everyone has so many strengths and capabilities and they sometimes forget they have them or they haven’t yet realised they exist. I provide a space for people to get to know themselves better. A space to bring clarity to what is going on around them, reflect on what they really want and make their own choices about how they are going to achieve it. Real change always starts with the person. After the use of Zoom to deliver services throughout the past 2 years, I am delighted to be once again working with people face to face through 1 to 1 coaching or through group coaching, training and workshops. I am a member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Fiona Callan Personal & Professional Life Coach Trainer/Mentor/Facilitator Tel: 087 9793782 Email: info@coachingtobe.ie

Mary O'Donnell Beauty Mary Spent 17 successful years in Beauty & Fitness Matters -- her own business. After taking a break to concentrate on her four children, Mary retunred to her roots in 2010 but this time she turned to media. Having been regular contributor to Radio Kerry, her local radio station, over the years, she approached General manager Fiona Stack about the possibility of including a Beauty Feature on the schedule. And so The Beauty Spot was born, a 30 minute feature broadcast once a month covering one or more topics per month. As well as an experienced broadcast and newspaper contributor Mary is now a much sought after host of beauty events in the county as well as being invited to speak to a selection of groups such as Probus, ICA and Youth Groups and secondary schools . Mary was approached by R.T.E to contribute as a beauty expert and Has done slots for virgin media and TG4. Mary was delighted to be part of New frontiers where she developed a silk beauty pillow case which sells In Kilkenny Design . Mary has over 100,000 followers on social media , where she promotes new products and brands and enjoy regular lives with international brands. During lockdown Mary qualified as an aesthetic practitioner and works with the Bon Secours as a brand representative . Mary is looking forward to events returning and getting back on stage . Web: www.modb.ie Ph: 086 239 9802 E: maryodonnellbeauty@gmail.com 50

VISIT OUR

KERRY OFFICE

JENNIFER DOWNING Partner | Head of Property

e: Jennifer.Downing@CDSLaw.ie

A proud native of Kenmare, Jennifer prioritises efficient, personal and clientdriven engagement to manage every aspect of the legal process for her clients. Recently appointed as Partner with CDS Law & Tax LLP, Jennifer is primarily responsible for working with commercial clients, advising them on complex property transactions. As Head of Property with the firm for over six years, Jennifer advises on the acquisition and disposal of commercial property along with all aspects of financing and development of commercial property. She enjoys working with clients of CDS Law & Tax LLP nationwide from both the Cork and Tralee offices. CDS Law & Tax LLP specialises in taxation, mergers, acquisitions, corporate structuring, and property with the Kerry office located at 4 Denny Street, Tralee.

JULIANNE SPRING HEAVEY Chartered Tax Advisor

e: Julianne.SpringHeavey@CDSLaw.ie

There’s absolutely no need to go outside Kerry for highly professional legal and tax advice when it’s all under the one roof here at CDS Law & Tax. It’s so much easier to achieve a worklife balance here in the Kingdom. Julianne Spring Heavey never thought she’d move home to Kerry and now that she has, she never wants to live anywhere else. Julianne is a Chartered Tax Advisor at CDS Law & Tax LLP. She previously qualified as a solicitor and a chartered accountant.

4 Denny Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry

 066 716 9033 www.CDSLaw.ie

Welcome to Flowers by Caroline Hi everyone

I do flowers for occasions including: • Weddings • Funerals

As a home based business I offer affordable prices and devote my attention to my work creating the perfect flowers for any occasion. FREE LOCAL DELIVERY

I ‘ f you would like a consultation for your wedding call us today’ We care for your occasion and we will create the perfect bouquet for you.

Maria Galvin Galvin Optometrists Maria, can you tell our reader’s a bit about your background please? I initially qualified from Bradford University in 2004 and went on to work in various high street stores along with independent practices throughout the UK. I returned home from the UK in 2009 and worked at a local optometrist practice in Killarney but I then noticed there was a gap in the market in the south west for an independent optometrists and looked into opening my own practice. I opened the doors of Galvin Optometrists in 2011. I operate my business with an experienced, highly qualified team of people who provide an excellent service to all our clients.

What are you most proud of in your business style?

I pride myself on offering my clientele the personal service and personal touch. We are local and a very family orientated optometrists. We see people young and old coming through our doors. We see the same faces and for us the repeat business is a good indicator of our success. We dedicate as much time as is necessary to each and every client and we try our utmost to meet their individual needs.

Have you plans to the develop the business in the future? We moved premises in May 2018 - while still on Main street we now operate from number 86. I am the owner of the building which is a great advancement as it is more spacious. We plan to setup a new clinic room in the near future to cater for our increased patient volumes. I am always looking into the latest optometry equipment - The world of ophthalmology is ever changing and evolving. It is important to me that my practice is at the forefront of technology advancement and that we provide state of the art equipment and products to our valued clients.

What was your experience of starting your own business like?

When I first opened my doors it was just a two member team, it was difficult and not without its challenges. Nobody knew us or who we were, we had to build up our client base from scratch. Luckily for me, the people of Castleisland and beyond were amazing. They welcomed us and made our business feel at home. They were fabulous in their support for us from the outset. Absolutely without doubt, in the very beginning there was some challenging days - I’m happy to say though, we are now a firmly established business providing a comprehensive service to our valued clients in Castleisland and surrounding areas.

We have just started to come out of a pandemic that affected every business, how did you manage with yours?

It was very challenging for us as a business. We had to deal with staffing issues as well as the logistics of being closed. However we were in essence, one of the luckier companies. We were closed for just 6 weeks but after that period we were deemed an essential service and thankfully we weren’t subjected to any more closures. The pandemic did pose a strain on our business but thankfully with system changes we managed to continue providing a service to the locality. I’m thankful that I have such a great team at Galvin Optometrists, everyone just knuckled down and adapted a positive approach to the Government guidelines and procedures and we got through it together.

Finally, how do you feel with 2022 and what it holds for Galvin Optometrists?

I am excited for the year ahead. I want to continue to set the highest standards with the service we provide for our clients. I feel extremely grateful to be part of such a lovely vibrant town that is expanding rapidly. Castleisland is just a lovely place to be established in business and there are positive signs of future growth and prosperity in the town. I am excited for the year ahead. I am a busy mom of 4 but now have more time to devote to the business. I want to continue to set the highest standards For more information contact Main Street Castleisland Ph: 0667143584 or email info@galvinoptometrists.com 53

We are delighted to have been nominated as finalists in a number of categories in the Connect Kerry Hair & Beauty Awards. Best of luck to all of the nominees from all of the team at Angsana Spa at The Brehon

A day at The Brehon & Angsana Spa is a day off from the hustle and bustle of life; a sanctuary for the inner self. Exclusively offering Angsana Spa and La Sultane de Saba treatments and products, in Europe's flagship Angsana Spa. Check our exclusive offers online at www.thebrehon.com

www.thebrehon.com | angsanaspa@thebrehon.com

Niamh Dwyer - My Career Plan My Career Plan, founded by Niamh Dwyer, is a career guidance service which caters for 2nd and 3rd level students and adults who are making important career decisions. Niamh also provides advice to parents who want to support their son or daughter through the process. She offers one-to-one consultations that are tailored to clients’ needs. Her personalised approach ensures that she works closely with each client to ease the stress around making career decisions. By doing this Niamh helps individuals to achieve clarity, encourages them to unlock their career potential and implement a career plan that will work for them. Services for students include advice on subject choice for senior cycle and career planning in TY, 5th year and 6th year. Sessions with college students include guidance on changing courses, exploring postgraduate options, CV review and interview preparation. Niamh works with adult clients which involves career review & decision-making sessions, CV review, interview preparation as well as guidance on upskilling, retraining and returning to education. Niamh is passionate about helping people to unlock their potential, whether they are planning the next step in their education or seeking to progress or change direction in their career. For further details and to book an individual consultation with Niamh see: Web: www.mycareerplan.ie E-Mail: info@mycareerplan Socials : @mycareerplan on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter www.linkedin.com/in/niamhdwyer Ph: 087-9801105

Orla Diffily Upfront Model Management Orla Diffily is the owner of one of Ireland’s most successful fashion & commercial agencies Upfront Model Management. In addition to representing top model and acting talents for campaigns nationwide and abroad, the Agency also produces fashion and lifestyle events and manages PR for selected clients including the Listowel Racing Festival.

Angela O'Mahony Shore Beauty Hi, my name is Angela and my beauty career began over 20 years ago. I am delighted to have realized my dream of opening my own salon Shore Beauty in Ballyheigue and since last July I am now serving my existing clients as well as my local and surrounding communities.

During my career, I have had the privilege of working with some of the top brands in the beauty industry. Through committed regular upskilling, I am in a position to offer some of the most up to date and advanced technologies within the beauty and For the past 8 years, Orla is a fashion contributor on Ireland’s skincare industry. Nothing gives me more pleasure than to see top afternoon show - RTE Today showcasing Irish brands, my clients leaving my salon designers and boutiques. She has also styled many of Ireland’s looking happy and feeling as best loved celebrities including Daniel O Donnell, Kathryn Thomas, Sinead Kennedy, Storm Keating, Ciara Kelly and Miriam if they have been transformed. I pride myself on providing O Callaghan. each client with a professional, She has won numerous industry Awards including the Connect personal and relaxing experience.I Magazine Media Support Award; the House of EU Award (.eu Web Awards) and Mercedes Benz Fashion Award. Web: www.shorebeauty.ie Instagram : @orladiffily Ph : 085 263 1729 www.orladiffily.eu Email: angela@shorebeauty.ie www.upfrontmodelmanagement.com M. + 353 86 8399115 56

Eileen Finucane – Kitty O’ Se’s Dining in Kitty O’ Se’s is all about the customer experience. From the moment you walk in the door, you will be greeted with warmth and a friendly welcoming smile. Once seated, they will leave you with their extensive menu to browse but are always delighted to recommend some of their favourite signature dishes. The guests satisfaction and overall dining experience is what matters the most to Eileen and her team, they will do everything to ensure that everyone leaving the restaurant is already planning their next visit! Because of this pride in customer excellence, Kitty O’ Se’s was the winner of Best Newcomer in the Hospitality Awards 2019, an accolade they are immensely proud of. The restaurant itself has been designed with an intimately warm and chic interior. Set with blue and green tones, evoking thoughts of afternoons spent lazing by the ocean eating the freshest produce. Eileen prides herself on providing just that, the freshest produce that Kerry has to offer, from sea to land, the turnover time ensures the quality is of the very best. Eileen and her team work very closely with local suppliers of both fish and meat, handpicking the very best on offer. Those that are familiar with Kitty O’ Se’s will of course know of the infamous seafood tower. Split with a hot and cold level, it is a feast for the eyes and a treat for the tastebuds! The hot level contains a ½ lobster, crab claws, mussels, garlic prawns, calamari and fresh fish goujon’s. If this wasn’t enough, the cold level is full of fresh oysters, smoked salmon, poached salmon, prawns Marie Rose and tossed leaves. The signature flavour in kitty O’ Se’s is without doubt the fish and chips coated in Kitty’s top secret beer batter which is so light, crisp and utterly mouth-watering with every bite. You can choose between cod, hake or haddock. Alongside these you will find firm favourites crab claws, mussels and prawns. Now for those that are not fond of seafood but you still want to keep your date happy, there is an extensive menu of chicken dishes and speciality steaks. A new favourite is our tomahawk steak which is served on the bone for that added flavour! All our meat is sourced from a local butcher who is part of the tender heifer programme, ensuring we serve only the very best beef that Kerry has to offer. All of our desserts are homemade and include our customer favourites, baileys and malteser cheesecake, Kitty’s rhubarb crumble to name a few! Proprietor of Kitty O’ Se’s, Eileen Finucane told us “It is so great to be back in business. We have been constantly busy since we reopened our door’s last June. I’m a firm believer in that the only way is forward. Kitty O’ Se’s is my business which I am so proud of and the team that I have around me, it wouldn’t be the business it is without them all. I believe I was born to serve, I thrive on it and it brings me immense joy seeing people come in as customers and leave as new friends. I feel privileged when people choose my restaurant to hold birthdays, anniversaries and any other occasion with our team here. We are open 7 days a week so pick up the phone and book a table, we cannot wait to serve you!”

For more information please contact on new email of : kittyoses@gmail.com or phone (064) 663 9471 57

Fiontar i gCiarraí MARCH 2022

A FOUR WEEK SPOTLIGHT ON ENTERPRISE ACTIVITIES IN KERRY SPOTSHOLAS CEITHRE SEACHTAINE AR GHNÍOMHAÍOCHTAÍ FIONTRAÍOCHTA I GCIARRAÍ • Thinking of starting a business? An bhfuil tú ag smaoineamh ar ghnó a thosnú? • Want to grow your existing business? Ar mhaith leat do ghnó a fhás agus a fhorbairt? FOR MORE INFORMATION AND BOOKING DETAILS VISIT WWW.KMOE.IE

• Need to plan for the next generation? Riachtanas agat ó thaobh plean a dhéanamh don chéad ghlúin eile? • How to fund your business journey? Conas d’aistear gnó a mhaoiniú?

GROWING ENTERPRISE IN KERRY

FÁS NA FIONTRAÍOCHTA I GCIARRAÍ

Now in its 9th year, Kerry Month of Enterprise (KMOE) is a month-long celebration of Enterprise activities that take place across County Kerry throughout the year. A series of events organised during the month of March gives budding entrepreneurs and established businesses an opportunity to network and discover the resources available to them in growing and sustaining a business in Kerry.

Tá Fás na Fiontraíochta i gCiarraí ar an bhfód anois le naoi mbliana anuas, ceiliúradh míosa d’imeachtaí fiontraíochta a bhíonn ar siúl i rith na bliana ar fud Contae Chiarraí. Eagraítear sraith d’imeachtaí i rith mí Márta a thugann seans do chomhlachtaí reatha agus d’ fhiontair nua ceangail a dhéanamh agus tacaíochtaí atá ar fáil dóibh, maidir le gnólachtaí a fhás agus a chothú i gCiarraí, a aimsiú.

Inter-agency cooperation and coordination is strong in Kerry, creating a focused enterprise development strategy dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs. Through these collaborative organisations, up and coming entrepreneurs can avail of mentoring, workshops networking, prototyping, market research and funding supports.

Tá comhoibriú agus comhordú idirghníomhaireachta anláidir i gCiarraí agus mar thoradh ar sin, cruthaíodh straitéis forbartha fiontraíochta atá tiomnaithe do thacaíocht a thabhairt d’fhiontraithe. Tríd na heagraíochtaí comhoibríocha seo, tugtar deis d’fhiontraithe nua úsáid a bhaint as tacaíochtaí difriúla atá ar fáil, mar shampla meantóireacht, ceardlainn, taighde margaíochta agus tacaíochtaí airgeadais.

Kerry Month of Enterprise is led by Munster Technological University, Kerry County Council, Kerry Local Enterprise Office, Enterprise Ireland, Udarás na Gaeltachta, North, East & West Kerry Development (NEWKD), South Kerry Partnership Development (SKDP), IRD Duhallow, and IDA Ireland. In addition, events and supports are provided by industry partners and representative groups.

Tá Fás na Fiontraíochta i gCiarraí á réachtáil faoi cheannaireacht Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta na Mumhan, Comhairle Chontae Chiarraí, Oifig Fiontair Áitiúil Chiarraí, Fiontraíocht Éireann, Údarás na Gaeltachta, NEWKD, Páirtnéireacht Forbartha Chiarraí Theas Teo. (SKDP), IRD Duhallow, and IDA Ireland. Chomh maith leis sin, cuireann páirtnéirí tionscail agus grúpaí ionadaíocha imeachtaí agus tacaíochtaí ar fáil.

Kerry Month of Enterprise is kindly supported by media partners: Faigheann Fás na Fiontraíochta i gCiarraí tacaíocht ó pháirtnéirí meán:

THINKING OF STARTING A BUSINESS OR NEED SOME BUSINESS SUPPORT? AN BHFUIL SÉ AR INTINN AGAT DO GHNÓ FÉIN A THOSNÚ NÓ AN BHFUIL TACAÍOCHTAÍ GNÓ AG TEASTÁIL UAIT? Munster Technological University

www.mtu.ie

Kerry County Council

www.kerrycoco.ie

Kerry Local Enterprise Office

www.localenterprise.ie/kerry

Enterprise Ireland

www.enterprise-ireland.com

Udarás na Gaeltachta

www.udaras.ie

South Kerry Development Partnership (SKDP)

www.southkerry.ie

North, East & West Kerry Development (NEWKD)

www.newkd.ie

IRD Duhallow

www.irdduhallow.com

IDA Ireland

www.idaireland.com

Whether you're starting your wedding journey ... or putting the finishing touches to your Big Day

join us at the Kerry Wedding Show

Sunday 20th march 2022

a n e r A C E N I le g Glenea Killarney @kerryweddingshow

Visitor Tickets €10 + booking fee available online

www.eventbrite.ie/e/kerry-wedding-show-2022 60

Presented by Radio Kerry Events