Connect Lifestyle Magazine August 2021

The lifestyle magazine for Kerry

Made in Kerry, for Kerry

FRLEEAESE

P E ME TAK ST 2021

U AUG

Celia Holman Lee

“I’m sitting in the high grass waiting to pounce back”

Don O’Neill

...talks career, writing his autobiography & finding joy in life again…

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EDITOR'S NOTE Hi everyone

Its August and once again we have no Roses, no Puck goat, and all the other many mini festivals that usually happen over the month of August are once again on hold, but indoor dining has resumed, there is more movement and hopefully we are regaining some small piece of normality.

We have some great interviews for you, Marisa has been busy chatting to Don O Neill on his autobiography, life after covid and his new book, she also chats to Fashion Icon Celia Holman Lee again reflecting on what the last 18 months has thrown to us.

We look at different options for those getting married and also we have some news from our Education providers. Some experts give us their thoughts- Mairead from Achieve advises on FAT LOSS made simple, Paula from Balance Nutrition talks us through healthy lunchbox choices, and Roger Harty gives us some great advice on Eyecare We have lots of wedding thoughts and tips and some weddings that happened during the last few weeks, and we look forward to bringing more weddings in the future issues as they start to resume around the county again.

In the meantime enjoy the last few weeks before the kids head back to school.

Support local and stay safe.

Till next month

MENOPAUSAL SUPPORT As women approach their 40’s and 50’s learning about perimenopause or menopause, and how to embrace this new phase of life is key to enjoying what the Chinese call “second spring” for many women. Eighty percent of women get through the menopause in approximately four years, but it can last longer for some. The severity of symptoms can also vary for each woman, so with this in mind, it is vital to have information on symptoms and the various ways to manage them.

Some of the more common symptoms may include: • Hot flushes/night sweats • Poor sleeping patterns • Low mood and energy levels • Hair and skin may become dry and dull.

• Aches and pains.

In recent years some excellent natural remedies have become available to help support women through the different stages of hormonal changes.

Some of these include: :Vogel menoforce :Irish botanica menoflash :Menomin :Wild nutrition menopause complete :Sea buckthorn (omega 7) :Evening primrose oil :Red clover

Mags xx

As always, we are happy to advise you on which remedy will suit your specific needs best, just call instore for a chat with one of our health consultants. We can also talk you through some changes you can make to your daily diet which may also to help alleviate the symptoms of hormonal changes.

Cover photo by: Ciara o Donnell photography.

Location: Ballyheigue

Until next time, stay healthy.

Deirdre

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

Don O’Neill …talks

career career, writing his autobiography & finding joy in life again…

By Marisa Reidy

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NYONE who has the pleasure of knowing designer extraordinaire, Don O’Neill, knows that he is one of the kindest, warmest and most loving gentlemen you’re ever likely to meet.

His smile is infectious, his heart is bursting with love and appreciation for everything life has given him, and now that he is enjoying a well-earned break at home in his beloved Ballyheigue, he admits that he is more content now than he has been in quite some time.

Don’s stellar career as designer to the stars took a drastic turn during Covid19, when THEIA - the fashion label he founded over 10 years ago - announced a massive restructure. The shock shake-up meant that Don - the label’s creative director - and Theia’s entire team would be let go from the brand. For Don’s fans, the news was devastating, but amazingly Don himself tells CONNECT that the company restructure gave him the break he needed and time to re-think his career. His work life had become totally overwhelming, he says, desperately trying to keep up with never-ending pressure. “I have to say, work was becoming very stressful, and I was under more and more pressure to produce multiple collections and it was taking a lot out of me. I felt I was on a hamster wheel that was spinning out of control, to the point where I almost couldn’t keep up with it and I knew something needed to change,” he reveals.

“Although I was getting more staff, and things should have been getting easier, it ended up that there were too many people crowded into the design studio, too many distractions, and it was so hard for me to focus. It just got to the stage where it was becoming too much. “I was doing my best, 4

but it was overwhelming.

I needed a break, but I didn’t want to leave my baby and I didn’t want to abandon my staff, because I was THEIA and THEIA was me. So, I just kept my head down, kept on the hamster wheel, spinning and spinning, with no idea how this was going to resolve itself.”

And then Covid hit - and without a minute’s reflection, everything stopped, as the company was put on a 3-month furlough. Don admits that it was just what he needed to steady the ship. “It was like someone put a stick in the wheel and it came to a grounding halt – and, all of a sudden, I was given the opportunity to step back and take that break that I had really, really needed. Little did he know then, however, that that ‘break’ would become permanent.

“After a few months, I was supposed to be going back to work, but things in the eveningwear industry in America had changed and things within the company had also changed, and basically they decided that they didn’t want THEIA back the way it was before - even though we’d been a top performing company, we had just had our best show ever, and orders were through the roof. Management had a new vision for the brand.”

Don admits that while the shock announcement was ‘very disheartening’ - having built up such an incredible brand - the few months away from designing had made him question what would THEIA’s future be.

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One thing Don stresses is that his departure from THEIA is not a ‘sad’ story. He cherishes his time there and will forever treasure the memories and opportunities it afforded him.

“There is no sadness. It was a magical ride, for which I will be forever grateful” he insists, his smile beaming. “There were so many surreal moments and the best way I can describe it is like one big, fabulous dream. I am so lucky and so blessed.

There were so many amazing highlights,” And dressing Oprah Winfrey for the Oscars will always be right up there, he says,

“At the time it was very disheartening, but actually I had been preparing for it for the three months during furlough thanks to my husband Pascal, who is super organised and told me I could use this opportunity to tidy up the piles of magazines and newspaper clippings I had collected over the past 30 years,” Don explains.

“People laugh that I always still talk about Oprah, like ‘did you ever dress anyone else?’ but she is still one of the most influential women on earth and wears evening dresses designed by the most famous designers in the world, yet she chose to wear a dress by Don O’Neill from Ballyheigue to the Oscars - knowing the eyes of the world would be upon her, at what was possibly her most prestigious, high visibility moment ever.

She knew how important that night was, and she chose my dress,” he says, justifiably beaming.

“As I was going through it all, I felt like I was completing a cycle. I had collected everything from college, my years in London, Paris and New York, and of course the 10 years of THEIA, which was utterly amazing, it felt like this story had been written and something new was about to happen.

“I also take huge pride in the amount of charity events we were associated with and that we inspired so many people to come and donate so generously. By designing dresses, we were able to impact the lives of so many people in need, and that was truly amazing.”

Don admits that he did question his own identity after leaving THEIA. Amazingly, despite his incredible success, he worried if people would still want to be associated with him – or even love him – when he no longer came with ‘the package.’

Stepping back from THEIA also allowed Don the time to appreciate joy in life again, freed from the stress, and that is something he is hugely grateful for.

“Looking back, I think I took things for granted and, at the end, when the dark clouds are weighing down upon me and I felt “I have to admit after the initial shock there overwhelmed and lost and confused, I lost the ability to a lot of soul-searching, and that was see joy and happiness in every day,” Don admits.

“I am confident that hard. I realised that I had allowed THEIA to identify who I was. I this life experience of “We had our happy home life, thanks in a very started to think: ‘Who am I without mine has value and I large part to Pascal, the love of my life who THEIA?’ Everybody loved Don is my rock, but work weighed heavily on me, have value and that O’Neill because he made beautiful and the joy had been taken out of it. I learned, dresses and he took care of people I am loved and I will through Covid, that I had gotten myself into and travelled to all these events, but I a tailspin and I didn’t allow myself to focus on the survive.” wondered if the only reason people loved Don O’Neill was because of the whole package – that THEIA was why they were so fond of me. So, I felt for quite a while that I didn’t have an identity. After 10 years of being the brand and being important to people because of the brand, suddenly I wondered if anyone would be interested in me anymore or if people would just walk away and move on to the next person who had something to give.”

Thankfully, Don did overcome those deeply anxious thoughts and realised his worth, beyond THEIA. “Thankfully, through a lot of soul searching and meditating I came to realise that maybe I’m not so bad all by myself and that there’s a lot of value in me without the brand,” he says, as humbly as you’d expect. “I am confident that this life experience of mine has value and I have value and that I am loved and I will survive.”

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positive aspects of each and everyday. I should have had a better outlook, while reflecting on what I had achieved.”

Not being able to come home to his family for over 18 months was horrendously tough on Don – a man for whom family is everything! He did, however, keep in contact with his dad, sister, brother and extended family online – as did his husband Pascal with his family in France and his mom in Guadalupe.

“It was scary and so tough not being able to come home, but we had a ritual of calling home every morning, lunchtime and evening. We were all worried about each other, but we were in touch every day and seeing everyone made the time fly. We knew everyone was safe and there was a camaraderie and fun everyday, which was amazing,” Don explains.

“As much as we missed everyone, I didn’t feel comfortable coming home to Ireland. God forbid I brought Covid home to dad or Pat, carelessly. Even at Christmas, we were dying to come home, but the idea of bringing the disease home was something not worth risking. So, it was really tough.”

But the much-awaited reunion did happen in June, when Don finally got to set foot in his beloved Ballyheigue – with Pascal following him in mid-July.

“I’ll never forget that day. I pulled up in front of our house and Dad and Pat were out at the front door waiting. Then our dog, Apollo, bounded out the door to me with his paws up on my shoulders kissing and licking my face which even took Dad and Pat by complete surprise. It was very emotional to be able to hug Dad and Pat and was so surreal to be back at home after so long. It was unreal.”

“I’ve been writing for a long time, and there was a period of about 14 years when Pascal couldn’t leave the US because of issues with his Visa, so I started to write a Christmas letter each year because my family in Ireland didn’t know him very well and I wanted people to know him and know us and our life. That letter could be anywhere from 20-30 pages long, and it became more and more popular with friends, and many commented that someday this will be a book. Lots of people said to me that if I ever stopped designing, I’d make a great writer - so it’s finally happening.

“I’ve done so many interviews and I know I talk for hours, so huge chunks were always taken out. But I always wanted to tell the full story without anything being edited out - and there are way too many stories for anyone to ever tell in one article anyway.

“I wanted the opportunity to write them all down. So much has happened - from London to Paris, before even moving to New York- and I want to tell that story. I’m already 350 pages into the book and I’ve just arrived in New York,” he laughs.

“Also, a lot of people find my story inspiring and up-lifting and the book is positive and has a light energy to it that I think people will find inspiring, entertaining and fun. It’s a story of somebody trying to reach their goals and make their dreams come true and the path I took. I didn’t come from money. I couldn’t buy my way into anything and didn’t have a rich uncle in London or rich aunt in Paris to set things up for me. I was really just grafting like so many people have to. That’s what I did, and a lot of people will identify with that and think: If he can do it, I can do it.”

While Don’s Instagram and Facebook pages will attest, he has been spending lots of time touring our beautiful county while home, but the key project on the cards while here is to complete his autobiography. The project began in New York during lockdown and is something that Don is hugely excited about.

“I’m here until September to write my book,” he says, smiling, before admitting that he’s been a bit side-tracked with the sheer joy of being with friends and family again. “But all in good time.

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Don says, however, that he has not found an agent or publisher just yet, insisting that it will happen when the time is right.

“For years, as a designer, I worked and designed to satisfy the market, so now I want to write my book and tell my story, my way. Hopefully, that will be good enough and it won’t have to be moulded into something more commercial,” he says.

“I feel right now that I am where I’m supposed to be. I needed a break from New York and I think it’s very healing to be here at home, where all of the right energy is around me. I feel like

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I need this period of space to breath. I need it for my psyche and my wellbeing. My story is in my head, so it’s now a matter of sitting down and continuing to write it, on a timely basis.”

Asked finally if he worries about what the future holds – and if he sees a life here in Ireland or in New York - Don is taking it one day at a time. The stress and anxiety isn’t there anymore, and that’s the most important thing right now.

“I don’t know what’s coming next, but I know I’m not worried,” he says. “Everyone asks if I’ll design again and, while it’s something I love to do, and can easily see myself doing again, it would have to be in an environment that is relaxed and stress-free and where the love and the joy can just flow back into it.”

Returning to New York is still on the cards for now, and what happens after that is the exciting bit!

“Pascal and I have built a wonderful life in New York over 28 years and we don’t feel ready to give that up right now. New York is an amazing city with wonderful opportunities to do so many things, but I think we’ll go where the flow takes us,” Don says.

“I just know that something great is coming - I just don’t know what it is yet.”

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Wedding Hair Tips by Brush n Blush •

Refrence Pictures - Before your trial start a mood board on Pinterest or cut

picture out of magazines with hair styles you like. Remember to have images from the front and back and preferably with the same hair colour as your own.

•1 Month to the Day - book your trial for at least a month before.

Bring the pictures you have collected along with any hair extensions, accessories or veil.

• Wedding Theme - If you have a themed wedding it can be nice to

carry this through to the hair style eg, vintage, modern, boho.

•Be Realistic - if you have fine/medium/short hair consider extensions. If your hair doesn’t hold a curl or goes flat consider and updo. Think about the season/weather, wind/humidity.

•2 Weeks Before - your final colour/cut/extensions appointment before the wedding. 2 weeks gives your hair plenty time to settle before the day and is still close enough to be perfectly fresh.

•Wedding day - if you haven’t washed and blow dried your hair the night before do it the morning of. I would recommend booking in for a wash & blow dry the evening before. Don’t wear anything that you have to take off over your head. Lastly relax, enjoy the day and trust that you are in good hands.

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A wedding is one of the biggest days of any girls life and you can be assured that the creative team at Brush ‘N’ Blush are the right choice for your special day.

With wedding hair accolades such as: • The Irish Wedding Awards, Wedding hair & beauty salon of the year Munster 2017 & 2018 • Connect Kerry, Wedding & Occasion hair specialist of the year 2018 • The Irish hair and beauty awards, Bridal Studio of the year 2018 • Brides of Kerry, Wedding hair & beauty salon 2018 & 2019 Our experienced girls have had advanced bridal training specialising in exquisite vintage and modern upstyles and downstyles.

A private setting in our salon or convenient mobile options available where your stylist will come to your house In the morning and stay with you until you are ready to leave for any final touch ups.

Day 2 add on packages available.

We would like to welcome Breda to the team at Brush n Blush

Tel: (066) 711 9440 E: brushnblush66@yahoo.com Web: http://www.brushnblush.me/ brush_n_blushh BrushnBlush1

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s g n i d d e W l a e R e l p o e P Real

Lisa Brennan & Danny Fiske

After postponing twice due to Covid 19, we were so happy to finally get married on our third date, June 24th 2021.

Our ceremony took place in St. Brendan’s Church, Ardfert, and we had our reception at Ballyroe Heights Hotel with 25 guests. We had the most perfect day!

Planning a wedding from the UK was never going to be easy, but all of our suppliers and vendors were fantastic to deal with. I had always dreamt of getting married at home in Kerry, and Danny loves the Kingdom too, so getting married in Ireland was a no-brainer.

Changing our wedding plans dramatically, not once but twice, was definitely stressful but Patrick, Mike and the team at Ballyroe Heights Hotel could not have been more accommodating. Nothing was an issue and they reassured us every step up the way.

Our photographer Ciara O’ Donnell from Ballyheigue was incredible. She had such a calm, organised presence and we couldn’t recommend her highly enough.

Maura’s Cottage Flowers produced the most beautiful flowers we have ever seen; from bouquets to table pieces - we loved everything!

Mario Vaitkus was our videographer and he was lots of fun to have around. He is extremely talented and is also a well-established photographer.

We have just received the finished videos this week and were so impressed with the finished product.

Maeve Carey (Make up by Maeve) is a brilliant make up artist and made the bridal party feel gorgeous alongside hairdresser Noelle Casey (Vogue, Tralee).

My hair and makeup stayed perfect all day long, as did my bridesmaids’ in spite of the elements!

Our church music was simply stunning by Noelle Barrett-Neziri, Noel McAuliffe and Leonard Casey. Noelle is a very good family friend so it was very special having her impress our guests with her beautiful voice.

Our cake was made by a good friend, Lorraine Counihan who was unfortunately unable to make the day due to restrictions and a very small guest list. We bought our rings about 18 months ago from a shop in Norwich where we live.

The staff at Finesse bridal shop in Listowel were so lovely and helpful to deal with when we started shopping for a wedding dress, but I found ‘the one’ in Aibheil of Adare.

All of our vendors were so professional and made us feel very special and went that extra mile to make our day happen finally!

We really had the most relaxed, magical day and we wish we could turn back time and live it all over again!

Although Covid-19 did force us to make some difficult decisions, we would 100% encourage couples to go ahead with their special day, no matter what the numbers are. Looking back, we loved having a small wedding. It was so intimate, stress-free and we had so much fun.

Lisa & Danny

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Ask the Expert How to get that Bridal Glow for the big day!

All brides want that natural glow the day of their wedding, we want the makeup to look flawless and to feel a million dollars. But how do we achieve this?

A few key factors to consider when it comes to getting your skin to where you want it to be on the big day:

Homecare: depending on your skin type and skin concerns a few ingredients to aim for in your routine would be retinols, AHA’s, vitamin C, and hyaluronic. Your homecare is responsible for 80% of your skins health so homecare is key.

It doesn’t have to be fussy or time consuming but its pointless having in salon treatments without a decent homecare routine.

• Homecare • In-salon treatments • Diet and • Lifestyle I would recommend starting your skin journey as soon as you get engaged. The more time you have to achieve your desired results the better so aim for 6-12 months before the big day. A healthy skin cycle happens every 28 days, so we need to have as many skin cycles as possible to get our skin where it needs to be.

In-salon treatments: Treatments such as facials, peels, IPL, microneedling are all excellent for bringing your skin to the next level but some are time sensitive so its important to have a plan in place.

The first thing to do is book a skin consultation with an experienced skin specialist. They will help you put a plan in place for homecare and in salon treatments.

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. IPL (Intense pulse light)

If you suffer with broken capillaries, acne scars, pigmentation or you just want to brighten and rejuvenate the skin this treatment has amazing fast results. IPL requires 4-6 sessions and is not advised if you have a natural tan so aim for autumn winter for this.

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. Microneedling

This is a favourite of mine. Its fantastic for stimulating collagen production, diminishing the appearance of acne scars, and wrinkles. It will smooth out rough texture and reduces superficial pigmentation. This is a treatment you would need to start months in advance of the wedding. We would often recommend 4-6 sessions. (1 session a month)

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. Chemical Peels

Peels are excellent to help to improve the texture of the skin, improve skin tone, improve hydration, balance oil production, reduce pigmentation, helps control break outs and just helps bring the skin into a healthier state. A bride could do a peel as close as 2 weeks before the wedding depending on homecare and previous salon treatments. I would generally recommend a course of peels. 1 every 2 weeks for 6-8 weeks.

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. Facials

A facial could be preformed a week before the wedding to brighten and hydrate the skin for the big day. Then 2/3 days before the wedding I would recommend a light exfoliation with AHA’s to suit your skin type and skin concern. I would also urge brides to use hyaluronic the day before and the day of the wedding to help hydrate and plump the skin.

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.

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Diet and Lifestyle Drink plenty of water and have as balanced a diet as you can.

Try to avoid sugar in your diet as much as possible. Sugar will cause inflammation from within so if you are prone to acne, rosacea, psoriasis, eczema, or any other inflammatory skin condition, sugar can be a massive trigger, so look out for those hidden sugars.

What NOT to do coming up to the Stay out of the sun!!! especially coming up to the wedding, you don’t want to be sunburnt or peeling on the day of the wedding. wedding!!!!!!!

Get your beauty sleep!

I would strongly advice to avoid introducing active ingredients 4-6 weeks before the wedding.

Don’t start using any new products in the weeks leading up to the wedding.

And finally enjoy and have fun. For any brides getting married this year it hasn’t been the easiest I’m sure, so be kind to yourselves and enjoy the big day

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

Hello Connect Readers, Hope ye all managed to enjoy our beautiful and so rare weather . It never ceases to amaze me how a blast of sunshine really changes peoples moods and what is even more incredible whatever problems we have seem to disappear , its as if the sun has the magic to shrink all negative thoughts . I have often heard it said that “going to a wedding is the making of another”, and this statement fills me with joy because that is obviously the reason I am still single ....... I haven’t been asked to enough weddings. Over the last few weeks I have had the pleasure of accessorising lots of moms of brides, moms of grooms, bridesmaids and brides with masks for their big day. This I feel is a good thing as it means that we women are getting a bit more choosey with the mask we are wearing as it has become “the new accessory” . Although the numbers allowed to weddings is still quite small I have noticed that the standard of outfits if any has risen I feel that people are making a huge effort with what they wear and how they accessorize them , bag, wrap, fascinator and the mask and I am delighted to say we have lots of varieties of all of those.

I can’t repeat enough to anyone that has an event coming up and is stressing about how to match it up , bring in some part of outfit or a piece of material similar colour and we will get you sorted. We are on Facebook, Instagram and online at thatsperfect.ie and are only too happy to help you.

Before I sign off I would like to thank all our very loyal customers who have been just the very best to us since this time last year without whom That’s Perfect would not be so perfect.

Keep safe, be kind and smile Carmel xxx 20

If you need any mask do not hesitate to drop in or contact me on 087 6675926 or on our Facebook page.

Tips on Choosing the Perfect Wedding Suit • When picking out your suit for the big day you should be shopping anywhere from 3-6 months before the wedding. This gives ample time for your groomsmen, father of the bride/ father of the groom and other members of your wedding party time to get measured also.

• Give yourself some time in the shop you visit. Try more that 1 suit! Make sure it’s comfortable as you will be wearing it for the day.

• There are lots of different options to differentiate the groom from his groomsmen. Different colour ties work, different style waistcoats are also an option. Change one of these two and keep the lads in the same suits. It look good in photos.

• Choose a suit with some quality.

A decent suit will cost between €300- €550 and is well worth spending some extra money on. A cheap suit will look cheap and wrinkle easy. This is especially noticeable when a groom will be sitting and getting in and out of a car for the wedding day.

• Make sure that all the lads in the wedding party wear similar colour shoes. If the groom chooses a brown shoe, make sure the rest of the lads have the same if not something very similar. If the groom chooses a black shoe, make sure the rest of the lads have the same colour shoe. It doesn’t look the best if some of the lads start mixing colour shoes on the day.

• Suits can be spruced up quite a bit with accessories. Cuff links, tie pins, hankies matching ties and belts all work to accessories the suits. However one or two above will work and looks the best, not all of the above.

• Arrange to collect the suits for everyone 5-7 days before the wedding day. This gives the lads time to try each outfit on and time to change something if it doesn’t fit. Ideally the shop should have you in to try the suits for a second time, and if something doesn’t fit you can change it their and then at the shop.

• Ask your shop for a deal on your suits. If your buying 4/5 suits usually a discount will be provided. Formal wear shops usually sell and rent wedding suits so maybe a mix of both can save a few euros.

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Planning the Ceremony contact details for your local Registrar are also available from your Local Health Office in the HSE. www2.hse.ie/services/ births-deaths-and-marriages will guide you through it all.

1. Religious Ceremonies

may be required to supply a marriage release form/letter of freedom from your own parish and/or parents, and/ or other paperwork including baptism/ confirmation certs. Speak directly with your priest who will inform you of any additional paperwork needed. Guidelines: Your choice of music and readings will all have to be in accordance with the church rules.

'Church' ceremonies

Spiritual Ceremony

Types of wedding ceremonies in Ireland

Since qualifying as an Independent Celebrant earlier this year, I have found many couples are quite confused with regards to the ceremony part of the wedding. With all the different options that have emerged over the years regarding getting married we want to highlight the differences in the options available, One thing that has not changed and that is to get legally married in Ireland you need to have a Marriage Registration Form or cert, which you can get from any registry office. To get your marriage cert, you must make an appointment to inform a registry office of your intent to marry in person, and this appointment needs to have taken place at least three months before the wedding.

This applies to all marriages, whether solemnized by an official state registrar or according to religious or secular rites and ceremonies. You should try to arrange the appointment well in advance of your wedding date, and both parties need to be present at the meeting.

When you make the appointment with the Registrar, you will be informed what information and documents you need to bring with you but generally you need: your passport; your long form birth cert (original and photocopy); proof of address; if divorced, your final divorce decree(s); if civil partnership dissolved, final decree of dissolution(s); if widowed, deceased spouse's death cert.

Where to apply: You can book a notification appointment with a Registrar over the phone or

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To get married in a church or religious ceremony in Ireland, you must first start by contacting the church in which you intend to marry and meet with the proposed celebrant. It may be possible to have your local priest perform your ceremony if the church you've chosen isn't his/her own parish, however this should be discussed directly, and will often require an extra donation towards travel etc. and may require an extra donation to the hired church.

What to know: Cost: Standard €200 for Marriage Registration form. Some churches may suggest a donation for weddings held which can be in the region of €200-€250 for one's local parish, or up to €400 for a non-local parish. Suggested donations/ costs vary and should be discussed with the church prior to arrangements. Some priests require couples to undertake a pre-marriage course prior to the wedding.

Pre-marriage course costs vary, and the most popular of them, Accord, charges anywhere from €120 to €200 for their pre-marriage course, depending on the Centre. Other pre-marriage courses are available, follow the guidance of your celebrant.

Paperwork: Many parishes expect couples to attend premarriage counselling ahead of their wedding although the requirement is generally up to the priest performing the wedding. If you are not part of the parish you intend to marry in, you

Spiritual ceremonies are another type of ceremony that fall under the religious category. They are non-denominational, legally binding ceremonies and are carried out by Solemnizers. In a spiritual ceremony, the couple decides what is spiritual to them. Music and readings can have a religious or secular tone or a mixture of both, and deceased relatives and/or friends can be remembered in blessings or reflections or usually with the lighting of candles. Spiritual ceremonies can be carried out seven days a week and can include outdoor ceremonies. Within a spiritual ceremony, couples say vows colloquially known as the 'I do' vows, and it will be asked if there is any lawful impediment to the marriage. Beyond that, couples are free to include what they wish. Symbolic ceremonies can take place as part of the spiritual ceremony, these can include (but are not limited to) hand fasting, unity candles, a wine box ceremony, a love letter ceremony, or sand ceremony.

What to know Cost: Standard €200 for Marriage Registration form, fees depend on location and travel, however a guideline is €450 plus travel costs.

Additional paperwork: None.

Guidelines: Spiritual ceremonies can include a religious or secular tone or both and other symbolic ceremonies can be included.

Secular Ceremonies Humanist Ceremony Humanist ceremonies fall under the 'secular' category for ceremonies and shouldn't be confused with either civil or spiritual ceremonies. Humanist ceremonies are legally recognized in Ireland if they are carried out by registered humanist solemnizers from the Humanist Association of Ireland (HAI). A humanist wedding ceremony is typically made up of an introduction (with a traditional entrance if you wish), words on love and marriage, music, readings, a symbolic ritual or two, vows, marriage declaration, exchange of rings, signing of the register and closing words.

What to know Cost: Standard €200 for Marriage Registration form. Humanist solemnizers generally cost from €450 - €650, paperwork: None Guidelines: Humanist solemnizers can book out a year in advance of a wedding, so it's important to contact them with details and dates as soon as you know if this is the type of ceremony for you.

Civil Ceremony Civil ceremonies are legally binding secular ceremonies carried out by a registrar. If you wish to marry in a civil ceremony, you should approach the Registrar of Civil Marriages for the district in which you intend to marry for information on how to proceed. There is no requirement to live in the district where you want to get married.

Civil ceremonies can take place in a registry office, or registrars can travel to perform civil ceremonies in an approved room or venue.

If you want to get married in a venue other than a civil registration service, contact the civil registration service in

that area. Many hotels and venues have rooms that have been approved for civil ceremonies, simply ask the venue when you are booking.

If the venue or room you wish to marry in has not been officially approved, contact the local registrar as they might need to inspect the venue.

Registry office ceremonies can only take place during office opening hours, Monday - Friday.

What to know Cost: Standard €200 for Marriage Registration form. An additional fee is charged for holding a civil ceremony in a venue other than a civil registration service. Also bear in mind that venues may charge extra for room hire for civil ceremonies. Additional paperwork: No other paperwork. Guidelines: Civil ceremony registrars can book out way in advance so be sure to give plenty of notice, especially if you plan to wed in a venue that's not the registry office, and your wedding date is in the popular summer months. A civil wedding ceremony cannot contain any words or lyrics deemed in any way religious, and couples are required to accept each other as husband/wife/spouse in accordance with Irish law. There can be registrar.

Professional celebrants If you opt to get married in a private registry office, but would like to have a ceremony that includes your guests on another day (for example, you got legally married, as witnessed by two people and a registrar on a Monday afternoon in a registry office in Killarney, but want to have a traditional 'wedding' in a hotel on a Saturday with all your friends and family), you can still carry out a simple blessing whereby the content of the 'ceremony' is completely up to you, and can be performed by a professional celebrant.

This 'ceremony' will not be legally binding as you are already married (and have had your marriage cert signed by an official registrar) but can be a good option for those who wish to include a ceremony type feature in their wedding celebrations. This is a wonderful option for a couple as they can choose their own format, music, readings, and include anything else they wish.

Professional celebrants are a popular option for couples who do not want to marry under any religion, and many celebrants are self-employed and work with the couple to ensure their celebration is carried out professionally, but with a personal touch.

What to know Cost: Standard €200 for Marriage Registration form. This cost includes the legal signing of your wedding too. Professional celebrants’ costs vary most celebrants charge from 300-500 depending on different requirements for the wedding ceremony. Additional paperwork: None. Marriage form/license must be signed by official before or after to make marriage legal Guidelines: None.

That’s just a guideline of the options available to help you make your choices.

Whatever you choose to make sure it’s for you and you enjoy your day as this is the most important day of your life when you say ‘I DO’ to your very best friend and you begin the journey of two becoming one.

For any further queries contact: Married By Mags 086 2408237.

23

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

What to ask your wedding makeup artist

It may be a little different from other years but it's great to see weddings making a come back. If you're getting married this year or next and you are deciding on your makeup artist then here are some questions you most definitely need to be asking...

generally because a good makeup artist will have a sperate kit for Bridal looks. Some makeup artists will also have a travel fee built into their pricing or they may list this as a seperate price for you.

Can I see your previous work?

Are you available on my wedding day?

You will get a good feel for what a makeup artist can do by asking to see It seems like a simple one but this their previous bride and work. Another needs to be your fist question, there's great tip is to ask if they have reviews nothing worse than having your heart from previous brides. I have a weddings set on something to only find out it's online account with reviews from not available. previous brides and I know it can give great comfort to future brides to see those 5* reviews How much do you Charge?

It's important to have you budget in mind when looking for your wedding makeup artist. Most makeup artists would have a higher charge for a Bride and a bridal party, this is

Can we arrange a trial?

While you can generally get a good idea of what a makeup artist can do from photos I would still suggest a trial. The trial is as much for you as it

As it is for your makeup artist.

We always like to be prepared but having a plan for application on the morning of the wedding speeds up application and keeps everyone cool, calm and collected. It also gives you the opportunity to see how well your makeup lasts.

How to pick your wedding lipstick?

For your wedding you need to find a lipstick which is in keeping with your bridal makeup as well as your personal style and wedding theme; if you don't wear red lipstick, don't start on your wedding day. It is important to be true to your self and choose a shade which enhances your natural beauty

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1 lash lift & tint every 3 months. Friends and family discount valid on Tue-wed- thur for Hair services only. Other 24 Terms and Conditions apply. Enquire today for full details - 066 712 1578 or info@paradisehairandbeauty.ie

Whether you’re dreaming of a knees up at home, or eloping overseas, we can help you finance your big day with ease Contact your LOCAL Credit Union or apply online www.creditunion.ie Loans are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. If you do not meet the repayments on your loan, your account will go into arrears. This may affect your credit rating which may limit your ability to access credit in the future. Credit unions in the Republic of Ireland are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

IMAGINE MORE

25

Wedding Fragrances for Brides

Choosing a wedding perfume is as important as picking your bridal beauty products like cosmetics. Since your wedding day is the most exciting event of your life, it is very important to choose your wedding perfume carefully according to your own personal taste. Always pick a scent that makes you feel happy when you wear it. Having said that, it is very difficult to choose only one scent from all the brands and scents out there. Here are my favourite perfumes that I would recommend to try out for brides-to-be.

• Flower Bomb by Viktor & Rolf This fragrance is very addictive and a romantic feminine fragrance for women.

Here are the ingredients: Tea, Bergamot, Freesia, Centifolia Rose, Cattleya Orchid, Sambac Jasmine, India Osmanthus, Amber and Patchouli.

• Good Girl by Carolina Herrera Is a powerful, daring, sensual and addictive fragrance for women. The ingredients are: Jasmine Sambac, Tuberose, Velvet Almond with the base note of Roasted Tonka Beans, Cocoa and Coffee Beans. It is a fabulous, modern yet sophisticated fragrance.

• Chloe Nomade It is a floral chypre fragrance for women which captures beauty of the world. It is a mixture of Freesia Flower, Cherry Plum and Oakmoss. I love this perfume & longevity is guaranteed.

• L'interdit by Givenchy A forbidden union of White Flower and Dark Accord. It is an airy and captivating fragrance for women. A must try!

• YSL Libre Intense This perfume is absolutely gorgeous and you would love it from the first spray. It has a top note of French Lavender with Moroccan Orange Blossom twisted with Tonka Beans to give it a spicy and smoky note. It is a luxurious, creamy, melting, floral scent for women.

At the end of the day, every bride's dream is to look absolutely stunning and smell heavenly walking down the aisle. The perfume that you choose to wear on your wedding day will always remind you of this truly special occasion, so choose wisely!

By: Betesaida Hailegeorgis Fragrance Specialist, Fragrance Manager at CH Tralee Connect Kerry Hair & Beauty Award Winner 2018 26

FAT LOSS made simple

Some simple tips for fat loss that everyone- yes everyone can do.

These small adjustments will start you well on your way.

- Move more / Eat less calories - Eat everything from a plate or bowl. ( this will.help you be accountable avoid picking or eating idle calories) - Be wise on portion size - Eat slowly - More protein- less carb - Bulk up your plate with very low calorie salad and vegetables- ( lettuce, spinach, broccoli, mushroom, carrot, turnip, cabbage, tomatoes, onion, peppers, cucumber, aubergine, turnip, cabbages, etc - If you dont buy it, it's less likely you'll eat it. Avoid buying cakes , biscuits etc Have plenty of low calorie healthy snacks at the ready. Fruit , yogurts, etc - Abide by to 80/20 rule. Aim to be good , eat well and be accountable 80 % of the time. Relax and enjoy a treat 20% of the time - Drink a min of 2 Litres of water per day

- Aim to sleep 8 hours per night - Move more - min 10,000 steps per day - If you work at a desk try stand for a while , or get up and walk every 30 mins - Dont try find the closest car parking space..

Park a little further back and the extra steps will add up - Play with the kids they will enjoy it too and remember kids follow our example. If they see you being active and eating healthy it will be hugely beneficial to them too.

- Strength or resistance train - its proven to be the most effective way to loose fat.

- Get out in the fresh air - Enjoy the process

We offer affordable options for all your fitness needs.

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Monavalley Tralee 085 2689880

@Achievefitnessirl 27

Celia Holman Lee

“I’m sitting in the high grass waiting to pounce back”

By Marisa Reidy SHE’S smart, beautiful, vivacious and fabulously friendly – but one overwhelming trait that immediately strikes you when chatting with Celia Holman Lee is her fight!

She may be 70 years old, but the Limerick model agency owner has absolutely no intention of slowing down, telling CONNECT that she cannot wait to get back to work as soon as restrictions allow.

The stunning grandmother-of-five describes her work as the ‘love of her life’ and while her business has suffered hugely through the Covid19 pandemic, she is as eager to get back to it as she ever was.

The very suggestion of retirement is immediately laughed off.

“Not a bloody hope,” she says, emphatically!

The story of Celia’s journey into modelling is well known by now. A chance encounter with a model agent on the streets of Limerick at the age of just 15 was the beginning of what would become a spectacular career in the industry.

“I was a young one in Limerick just looking at models, bearing in mind this was well over 50 years ago,” Celia recalls. “It was an elitist industry back then, and I’ll go to my grave on that one, so I used to look at the models of the time but never, ever think I could do that, coming from a working class background.

“But one day, a lady stopped me on the street and asked me if I’d be 28

interested in modelling and I just couldn’t believe what was going on. It was phenomenal. That lady was called Ann Moloney and she was starting up her own modelling agency, so it all went from there.”

Celia took part in her first fashion show at just 15 years of age in what is now the Penney’s store on Limerick’s O’Connell Street. From there her career simply took off.

“After that show I ended up in the Evening Herald and I remember there was an old photographer called Michael Finn, who would go round on his bike with an old camera and, God, he made everyone look dreamy.

“I just started modelling from there and over the years I was up and down the country, going to shows in Dublin, to every fashion show really. I was in the Limerick Leader all the time [and I do all their fashion stuff now] so I became a bit of a local celebrity really.”

As the years went on, Celia was becoming a very well-known face in the industry, but despite the lure of further career opportunities further afield, she admits that leaving her home city was never an option.

“Of course, I could have pursued a career in Dublin, but I never wanted to leave Limerick. There was no decision to make as far as I was concerned,” Celia tells Connect. “I was an only girl and was always close to my mother, so I never thought about it. Plus, I had met my husband Ger Lee at that stage so I was happy.”

to never give up is something that was instilled in her from a young age, she says.

“When I was growing up, a badge of honour was that you were a great worker. I came from a working-class background, but once you were a hard worker, you were great, and I guess that was always so important to me and still is.”

And it was this mentality that helped Celia get through the pandemic, telling Connect that while it was devastating for her business, she feels luckier than most:

As her reputation grew over the years, more and more clothing stores were asking Celia to coordinate fashion events for them and she found herself sourcing models and teaching them some tricks of the trade. Quite quickly the Celia Holman Lee Model Agency was formed. Celia was just 22 at the time.

Almost 50 years later, the now familyrun Holman Lee Agency continues to blossom, and Celia is understandably very proud of its success.

“I’m hugely proud of it and I say it out loud and with pride that I have worked hard and the agency has worked hard and will work again after this pandemic,” she says.

Like so many businesses, however, the modelling, beauty and fashion industry has been horrendously damaged by the pandemic. But true to form, Celia is ready to fight back!

“God, this pandemic! It’s like we’re going over a cliff, but we’re still hanging on.

From a financial point of view, it’s been a disaster, but there is so much more to it than just that. It’s the meeting and talking to the people and being part of their lives and vice versa. And the stores and shops and all those people. It has been devastating, but in that situation, you have to get out there and fight back.

I could have dropped over the cliff very easily, but I kept my head and fought back….and will continue to fight back.”

Celia’s fighting spirit and determination

“I am strong,” she says. “If I have lasted in a business this long, I have to be. But, with my hand on my heart, if this had happened 20 or 25 years ago, I may not be telling you the same story. Back then, we both worked in the fashion industry, we had two young kids, a mortgage and two cars. The industry we are in has been wiped out and I know there are people out there who this is happening to right now. Restaurants, hairdressers, salons, events – the losses have been extraordinary. Lots of people are in that position and my heart is out to them. So, we are very lucky that we’re in a position after 50 years - thank you Jesus – that our home and cars are our own.”

If there was one positive that Celia took from the pandemic, it was that it allowed her more time to spend with her five grandchildren – and she loved it!

“We had such a great time with the five grandchildren because we were around a lot more, and that was fabulous.

But other than that, it’s difficult to find anything positive from this awful pandemic, isn’t it? That was only one side of me though, and while it was wonderful, the other side was pining

for my business that I love and there was no sign of it coming back. Now though, I watch the world and look at what’s going on and feel more confident that we will be back. We are controlling it, I hope. The vaccinations are going to help us live through this without getting ill and that makes me feel better. We’ve got to get out there and get our lives and our sanity back, especially those of us who went over the cliff.”

At 70 yeas of age, Celia Holman Lee is looking sensational. So, of course, we had to ask how she does it?

“I was never mad into fitness because my generation just didn’t know that at all.

If you were putting on weight you just shoved the table back,” she laughs. “But it’s a new world now. So, while I’m not hugely into fitness, I love to walk. I’m not one who wants to go sit in the sunshine.

In fact, I think I’d have a breakdown. I’m just not like that.

“My diet is also very good and I eat as healthily as possible. Ger had a bypass 22 years ago and I’ll always remember his doctor said: ‘eat what you like but eat no sauces and watch the drink’ and I’ll always remember that. So, we don’t take sauces and we eat as healthily as we can. I like my chocolate and cake and chips, but at a limit, and still eat plenty of brown bread and sourdough, and I love my butter, new potatoes and full fat milk. The truth is that I’m not a bit adventurous with food and I just eat as healthily as I possibly can.”

Of course, we could not let our chat end without asking Celia about the Rose of Tralee fashion show, which she has co-ordinated for more years than she can even remember! Seeing the festival cancelled two years in a row caused Celia 29

huge sadness, as it has been part and parcel for her life for so long.

“Oh my God, I miss it so much. The Rose of Tralee committee are like family to me and it’s just so sad for them all,” she said.

“The fashion show has been going on for as long as the Rose itself and every year we love coming down and trying to do something different. When I see the crowds gathering at 7pm, the queues outside, the ladies looking like film stars dressed to the nines, and you can hear the buzz getting louder and louder as the crowd sit down – it’s magical.

“The atmosphere gets going and then we go on the ramp and we give it everything year after year. Then afterwards - the buzz and the people around. The craic and the ladies appreciating everything. It’s truly incredible.”

In fact Celia is a huge fan of the festival as a whole, and spends the best part of a week in Tralee every August to savour it all.

“I just love it. It has got bigger and bigger each year and has so much to offer.

We’d go down on the Friday night to the Rose Ball and that’s when we’d meet

everyone again and we’d be hugging each other. Then Saturday we’d drive around Tralee or back to Dingle or walk the canal to the windmill. That night we go off out to Fenit to one of the fabulous restaurants there. There is so much to enjoy - the parade and fashion show, the Roses going on stage the night of the fashion show – wonderful, young, intelligent, fabulous women. And of course the gorgeous escorts. We’d made a week’s holiday out of it. The festival has reinvented itself to a new generation and I know that because I’ve seen it grow and grow. God, I miss it so, so much - but it will be back. It’s one of the greatest festivals in the world.”

Asked what’s next in her story, a defiant Celia tells Connect that she is ready, willing and waiting to get back to work.

“I’m just sitting in the high grass wating to pounce back,” she jokes. “I may not be able to pounce as high as I used to, but I’ll certainly give it everything. I have great energy and as long as that stays with me, I’ll keep going. I want to keep working.

It’s so important. And I say that to every woman out there. Keep active and especially the mind – because the mind is everything.!

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31

Ask the Pharmacist After what seems like a seven year wait, summer is finally here. We hope that you all are enjoying the beautiful weather and making the most of it. It is officially the year of the staycation. So where once we had notions of holidaying in Marbella and Capri, this year, Moyvane and Cahirciveen are where it’s at. In this second edition of our Ask the Pharmacist column, Mounthawk Allcare Pharmacy’s fabulous pharmacist Maria O’Meara is here to explain how to stay safe in the summer weather.

“Whether you are travelling away or staying at home, there are some essentials that we should all keep in our medicine cabinet at home to stay safe in the summer months.

Principal among them would be a good factor suncream. When choosing your suncream, always look at the star rating (protects against UVA radiation) and the SPF factor (protects against UVB radiation). These are both displayed prominently on the front of suncreams and the higher the value the better. There are a huge range of suncare products available these days including Nivea, Ambre Solaire, P20 as well as more specialised ones from La Roche Posay that are formulated for those with sensitive skin. If you have any questions about which product is suitable for you and your family, pop into store where we will be happy to help you pick the right product. Remember to limit your time in the sun during the day, especially in the mid afternoon when the sun intensity is at it’s highest. If the unspeakable should happen and you find yourself developing a pink hue, be sure to apply plenty of aftersun to limit the skin damage and take some anti-inflammatories to control the pain. Do not neglect to protect your eyes as well-slip on a pair of polarised sunglasses as well as a hat when outdoors for maximum protection.

Unfortunately, the good weather also brings out a lot of bugs as well and we see a lot of people presenting with nasty insect bites this time of year. There are two ways to combat this. The first one consists of investing in a good quality fly swatter and practicing your ninja skills when outdoors in swatting those biting insects 32

away. However, this can sometimes attract strange looks from passing strangers as well as expends a lot of energy so we do not advocate this option. The easier option is to apply some insect repellent which should help keep biting insects as bay.

Should you get bitten, applying some antihistamine cream or a mild steroid to the bite will usually minimise any distress. If in doubt, contact your pharmacy team who will decide on the best course of action.

An upset tummy is common at this time of year with many of us eating out at barbeques etc. If this happens make sure to stay hydrated with oral rehydration sachets. These come in a variety of flavours and are an invaluable part of your medicine box.

Motilium tablets can help to keep nausea at bay and Buscopan tablets work wonders for stomach cramps.

Whatever you get up to this month, the team here at Mounthawk Allcare pharmacy hope you enjoy it and that the fine weather will continue for this month”

Message from owners Patrick Harmon and Shane O Neill: This month marks the one year anniversary of us taking over this pharmacy and we are beyond humbled at the warm welcome that we have received from the local area. Our customers mean everything to us and we are so thankful for your continued support in these difficult times. So whether you need some advice or just a friendly chat, we are always here to serve our local community as best we can. So thank you again for a great first year and here’s to many more.

We will be running a competition to win a beautiful hamper to celebrate our one year anniversary this month so pop into store to stick your name down to be in with a chance to win.

If you need any advice feel free to contact All Care Pharmacy Mounthawk on : E: mounthawk@allcarepharmacy.ie | Ph: (066) 712 8989

mounthawkallcarepharmacy

Back to School!

FOR YOUR EYE CARE WE CARE

We have to change with the times but as Bob Dylan said, ‘For the times, they are a-changin’ Back to school has a completely new meaning for many pupils because of the introduction of computers, iPads, laptops, whiteboards and smartphones as a means of home communication and online learning.

Never before has there been such a demand on the eyesight and vision of pupils, parents and teachers due to this increase on online learning.

This in turn creates a huge demand for the services of your local Optometrist who can in turn offer huge relief to the inevitable eyestrain your child may suffer. This help can be provided with appropriate examinations and analysis, together with the latest blue-filter controlled lenses such as Essilor’s latest version – Crizal Prevencia. Poor vision not only affects a child's eyesight, it can also affect his/her health, school progress and societal integration.

In fact, 80% of what children learn is acquired through visual processing. The risk of a child failing one grad is more than 3 times higher for children who have worse than 20/20 vision. Children's eyes are also more susceptible to UV damage with 80% of all UV exposure occurring before the age of 18.

Why Children’s Eye Examination is Vital!

There is an old saying that goes like this, “A stitch in time, saves nine” – in a nutshell what this means is to get in there early and do something about it before the damage is done.

Never has a saying been mor appropriate to use than in the case of getting your child’s eyes tested at an early stage.

You see, the back inside layer of the eye, which is called the Retina, is just like the film of a camera (before the introduction of digital cameras). If the film is damaged in any way, then no matter how good the camera is, the picture will be no good.

In a similar way the Retina is just as sensitive and requires proper stimulation from light from an early age in order to develop properly. The Retina of a child will develop from birth and if there are any issues, they will need to be addressed between the ages of two and seven years of age, if the vision is to have any chance of improving.

The Retina which is the film-like sensitive layer of the eye is similar to the outside layer of an onion. It is only about 0.2 of a millimetre in thickness and very fragile. The most important part of the Retina is called the Macula, where practically all our central vision comes from. It is essential that this area (the Macula) is stimulated by light for the proper development of the Retinal Cells and should early intervention not happen it is practically impossible to rectify at a later stage.

So, to keep it simple – Get your child’s eyes examined at an early stage, for “A stich in time, saves nine!”

33

Couch Reel-ins Looking for something to watch check out our top entertainment picks this month

Sophie: A Murder in West Cork

A look at the life of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, and an investigation into her death in 1996. The murder, which became a national obsession in Ireland and France, has been surrounded by controversy from the outset, leaving a prime suspect who was never tried in Ireland but who has been found guilty in the court of public opinion.

Blood Red Sky

A group or terrorist hijack an overnight transatlatic flight, a mysteriously ill women must unleash a monstrous secret to protect her young son.

The Current War

Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse -- the greatest inventors of the industrial age -- engage in a battle of technology and ideas that will determine whose electrical system will power the new century. Backed by J.P. Morgan, Edison dazzles the world by lighting Manhattan.

But Westinghouse, aided by Nikola Tesla, sees fatal flaws in Edison's direct current design.

Westinghouse and Tesla bet everything on risky and dangerous alternating current.

Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood

Rick, a washed-out actor, and Cliff, his stunt double, struggle to recapture fame and success in 1960s Los Angeles. Meanwhile, living next door to Rick is Sharon Tate and her husband Roman Polanski.

Chernobyl 1986

After reuniting with a lost love, firefighter Alexey retires to begin a new life - but the Chernobyl disaster suddenly plunges him back in to danger

34

Music in the Kingdom Live Music is the energy of an irish soul

By Lisa Curran

Live music is something we as irish people have always had, maybe it’s the 4 buskers you pass from the car to the shop, the lad on a guitar in the corner of the place you stop with a friend for coffee or a drink, the band at that event you went to that made your very quiet uncle get up and do the best elvis impression you’ve ever seen or indeed the trad into the wee hours of the morning where the birds seem to start to harmonise with a mandolin as the sun creeps in through the windows…….

But it’s vanished.

What’s the saying? ‘You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone’? Over the heatwave in the beer gardens at half capacity or strolling through town it’s just not the same! It’s not an irish summer without the spontaneous talent sprouting up, the band in the beer garden taking the most bonkers requests from Galway girl to wonderwall or hearing the karaoke queens that are now silenced.

Musicians have not been allowed to share their joy, talent and enthusiasm with us in over 17 months, that means that families have had to scrape to get by even more (because trust me, no one goes into the music business to be rich or have a steady income, it’s for the pure love and are those are happy to get by) the years and investment put into studying their craft and constantly upskilling have been deemed unimportant(usually musicians start at perhaps 4 and lessons can go from €500- €700 per year x however many years, as well gear, advertising, growing a following via word of mouth… I could go on but you get the gist) and they’ve been actively bullied into ‘doing something normal’….. nothing is normal about no live music, I think we all realise that now.

I asked some local publicans, music lovers and musicians about how they’re feeling at the moment and what we as music lovers can do to help with this and got some extremely heartfelt responses that I think will resonate with you all whether there’s a ‘note in your head’ or not.

‘Live music to Kerry is like the Sun to a blooming Rose . Without it we wither’ were the words from Derek Carroll who is manager of the Imperial Hotel, Derek gave a platform to a number of young local musicians in the summer of 2019 to come, earn money and showcase their talent all whilst entertaining evening guests int he hotel, this was a huge success and was a great boost for the younger artists in our town.

it be a beer garden or a 500 person function. Drummer Ivan O’Connor had these heartfelt words for you all ‘Live music is the soundtrack of our community. For guests or a listening audience in attendance, the worries of the week at work seemingly vanish for an hour or two and the anxieties running through the mind from the daily grind are replaced with familiar lyrics that lighten the complexion of your day. For the musician, it’s the ultimate escapism to perform and feel that reciprocated joy together with your listeners.

Now, more than ever, we need that soundtrack back. For audiences and musicians in Kerry, it represents so much more than it did before. The first chords struck around the county soon in unison will be those of a shared joy that everything is going to be okay, once more’ Their bassist, Joe O’Shea who comes from a family that has music simply engraved in their souls said ‘Kerry is full of talented musicians that are being forced to find income elsewhere after 17 months of not being allowed to work. If Live music doesn't return soon there will be no musicians left to play your Weddings, Birthdays, Funerals. Please ask your local TD today as to when Live music will be allowed to return.’

Music is part of life, from the young talents who want to go on stage and sing the alphabet and few rhymes they have worked so hard to remember the words and moves to to the more experienced veterans such as my own Grandfather, Jim O’Sullivan, was as good as part of the furniture with his mandolin and accordion in the Brogue until lockdown happened, and the excitement I see in his face when he hears live music is infectious and all he wants to do is go for a tune, and at his age who are we to deny that pleasure?

Yes we must all be safe, yes music may have us leaping and diving like some red bull cliff divers sometimes but…. We can be trusted and responsible, we’ve proven it time and time again at this point.

So what can YOU do? What can WE do? It was absolutely fabulous to see the band ‘midnight cafe’ doing a quick tour around some estates thanks to Miah Lynch all in aid of ‘Kerry mental health’ recently, maybe it’s something we could start with?

Please contact your local TD/publican/venue if you have any ideas and let’s all sing and dance together again like us irish are known for.

I will leave you with the words of a local music fan, John Devine ‘Its something even if you dont realise its there at the time but without it something is missing that you just quite can't put your finger on’.

The band ‘Renovator’ are renowned all over kerry for their uplifting shows that get everyone on the dancefloor whether

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Fundraising Campaign for 4-year-old Kerry girl with rare genetic condition The Help Rose Bloom Fundraising Campaign is just over a month in existence and we have already reached almost a quarter of our target of €250,000. Rose and her family have been overwhelmed by the generosity and goodwill of the people of Kerry and beyond. We are extremely grateful to all who have donated and helped with fundraising events since our launch.

Rose has also had a busy month from becoming a Little Blue Hero to taking delivery of her first wheelchair complete with Unicorn Wheels. Thanks to people's generosity Rose's family can now begin the process of making the Family home wheelchair accessible and also plan for a ground floor extension to include a bedroom and bathroom for Rose.

As Rose prepares for an operation to correct the effects of Scoliosis on her spine which is now planned for September having been postponed due to the Cyber Attack on the HSE IT systems in June she has commenced a period of weekly intensive physiotherapy sessions with Physiotherapists Alan and Sinéad of Barefoot Physio. These privately funded sessions have been made possible as a direct result of the generosity of our donors.

August will be another busy month with several more Fundraising Events planned including The KVVCCC 11th Annual Ballymac Vintage Car and Honda 50 Run which takes place on Sunday, August 8th commencing at 10.00am at O Riada's Bar and Restaurant, Ballymacelligott and proceeding on a return run to Dingle. Please come along and support this great event.

Check out our social media platforms of Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to follow some great online competitions and raffles during the month of August with some amazing prizes.

For regular updates please visit our social media platforms and our website: To Donate

WWW.HELPROSEBLOOM.IE Finally Thank you to Margaret and her Team at Connect for their continuing support.

www.gofundme.com/helprosebloom

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REVISED GUIDELINES ON ELIGIBILITY FOR EMPLOYMENT WAGE SUBSIDY SCHEME (‘EWSS’) Assessment period

In addition to having tax clearance, an employer must demonstrate that the business is expected to experience a 30% reduction in business, due to Covid-19, in the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021, compared with the period from 1 January to 31 December 2019. Guidelines have also issued where businesses commenced trading between 1 January 2019 and 31 October 2019 and for commencements after 1 November 2019.

Subsidy rates

The current rates continue to apply for pay dates up to 30 September 2021. Updated rates from 1 October 2021 are expected in advance of this date.

PRSI

A reduced rate of employer’s PRSI of 0.5% continues for wages eligible for the EWSS.

Administration

Employers must complete a monthly EWSS Eligibility Review Form to avail of the EWSS support which ensures that eligibility criteria are met. This must be submitted to Revenue by 30 July 2021 in respect of June’s review and by the 15th day of the following month in respect of July to November.

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Phoenix Women's Centre

Kerry Mental Health Association Self Care Video For Children Ideal For Coping With School Stress SUMMER heatwaves will soon become a thing of the past as children throughout Kerry prepare to return to school next month.

The PHOENIX WOMEN’S CENTRE is all about supporting women in any way that we can. No matter what difficulty a woman may encounter, we are here to help on our support line, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10.00a.m. to 2.00p.m.

We also respond to needs as raised by you the women of Kerry. What would you like us to offer? This month we have had Virtual Coffee Mornings, Gardening Classes and the regular Wednesday morning walks.

Do you need IT support to help you apply for a job on line? Do you need any specific skills training? If we cannot deliver it ourselves, we will refer you to someone who can help.

Do you need to talk to someone? We will listen with no judgement and if necessary, can refer you to a specialist agency or counsellor.

FREE courses starting soon: The Social and Health Education Project (SHEP) are providing a programme Seasons for Growth: Living with Grief, Loss and Change.

Starting 28th September 2021, 20 hours over 10 weekly sessions.

Non Violent Resistance ‘New Authority’ Parenting Course. 10 weeks.

Thursday mornings 10.30a.m. – 12.00p.m. starting 2nd September 2021.

Both courses will be delivered on Zoom. Contact the Phoenix Centre to book your place.

We believe in altruism in all we do. The altruism of others in our community makes our lives so much happier and it is easier to cope with problems.

Altruism in the form of generosity and kindness is at the heart of our values. It is also the reason that we can provide our services to women. Selfless acts of generosity and thoughtfulness make it possible for the Phoenix centre to remain open.

We have been touched recently by the altruism of supporters and local businesses. Thank you so much.

Whether you can afford €5, €10, €20 or €50 as a one off donation or monthly subscription as a FRIEND, it will allow us to plan for the future.

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

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

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This can be an anxious time for them and their parents with new routines, reaquanting with classmates after the holidays, and the challenges of sitting back down to do their homework.

Kerry Mental Health Association is keen to remind parents that their children’s self care video presented by clinical psychologist, Dr. Clare Kambamettu, can help.

In the short video, Clare demonstrates how children could overcome stress and to help youngsters who are not feeling great to feel a little bit better.

The General Manager of Kerry Mental Health Association, John Drummey, said: “On a positive note, we’re mostly in a better place now compared to last December when the self care video was first produced. The vaccine roll out has now reached the younger age cohorts, less people are getting seriously ill from coronavirus, and the economy is reopening. However, we can’t ignore the fact that many children are anxious about what they see and hear in relation to Covid. Clinical psychologist Dr. Clare Kambamettu, who has extensive experience of working with children, has demonstrated some age-appropriate proven coping techniques to help them cope with stress.”

The children’s self-care video, which is available to view on social media, includes tips about creating a happy box, setting a worry-time in the day to talk to mum or dad about things that are causing upset and taking balloon breaths.

Dr. Clare Kambamettu said that things have been very uncertain with so many changes to our everyday life: “It’s very normal that some people might feel a bit more worried than they used to. I hope the few tips and tricks in the video are helpful in managing some worry during this really difficult time.”

The video can be viewed at Kerry Mental Health Association has encouraged parents, teachers and childcare providers to show the video to children at home or in classrooms when the schools reopen.

It can be viewed on Kerry Mental Health Association’s Facebook and YouTube. For more information email info@kerrymentalhealth.ie.

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A HEALTHY LUNCH BOX –The Fantastic 5!

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Wholegrain / wholewheat carbohydrate

In other words, something BROWN e.g., brown bread (homemade or shop-bought), brown slice pan, pita, wrap, rye crackers, pasta, rice. Wholegrains have more fibre and more vitamins & minerals. Next best alternative is white bread or pasta as opposed to less filling & less nutritious carbs like crackers & cereal bars. Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy for physical activity & brain function.

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by Paula Duggan Balance Nutrition, Nutritionist MSc., BSc.

Ok, so first up … this is not about perfection!

This is simply about, 1. Knowing what a healthy lunch box looks like (if you don’t know ….)

2. Aiming to include most of the "Fantastic 5" … most days (that’s good enough).

I find it much easier to put a lunchbox together at 7:30am in the morning (when I’m not at my sharpest) if I have this little checklist in my head!

Typically, the Irish lunch is good when it comes to fruit and there might be three different types of fruit in a lunchbox but it may be lacking then on veggies or protein. The "Fantastic 5" equals a balanced lunch as it includes five healthy food groups and not just a lot of one or two groups.

As variety is also really important, I would then try to vary the fruit offered, protein sources etc.

h ic w d n a S n e k ic h C

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Protein

Some healthy protein sources include chicken, tuna, eggs, beans, hummus & nuts. Protein is really important for growth as well as repair & immunity in children & adolescence.

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Dairy

Dairy includes cheese, yogurts & milk. Also, a good source of protein – cheese may double up as both the protein & dairy source. Dairy is particularly important between the age of 9-18yrs of age for building stronger bones, 92% peak bone mass is achieved by 18 years so these years are crucial.

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Veggies

I find miniature veggies or chopped / sliced veg on the side works better than a soggy tomato or a limp piece of lettuce in a sandwich. Think … cherry plum tomatoes, mini cucumbers, carrot sticks, mini peppers, sweetcorn and for the more adventurous … olives / pickles / avocado / baby beetroot!

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Fruit

This is probably the easiest one for most people … fruit makes for a handy, tasty & healthy snack. However, remember to mix it up – think variety – think colour. Fruit is nicest when in season … kids (&adults) can be put off certain fruit when they have had a bad taste experience!! Ever had a tasteless dry mandarin or a soft blueberry … it can be difficult to get them to try again! Dried fruit e.g., apricots is another option, it can be a handy one to keep in the cupboard for when you run out of fresh fruit. Tip! Avoid dried fruit with added sugar e.g., banana chips typically have sugar added. Check ingredient list to make sure there is no added sugar (don’t confuse ingredient list with nutritional information … there will be sugar listed under the nutritional information as fruit naturally contains sugar.

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Teenagers!!

Leftover Dinner - I think leftover dinner is an excellent choice for teenagers if they have access to a microwave in school. Dinners are usually well-balanced meals containing protein, carbs & veg. We all get sick of sandwiches so this would break the monotony. Add a yogurt & piece of fruit to include your dairy and fruit groups. Lots of dinners are even nicer the next day as we all know e.g., Chicken Curry or Shepard’s pie.

If your teenager buys their lunch out – encourage them to choose brown bread when ordering a sandwich, encourage healthier protein choices like lean chicken breast as opposed to deep fried or fattier options from the deli counter. Beg them to add a piece of fruit and a bottle of water to their shop-bought lunch! These small changes can make a big difference to their health. Access & exposure plays a huge part in the choices they make. However, knowledge & encouragement from home will also make a difference to the habits they are forming now.

Salads: Also, I think homemade salads are a super idea, e.g., Tuna pesto pasta salad, Cajun chicken salad, Wholegrain rice salad with feta & blueberries and Noodle salad.

You could make a big batch of some of these salads as they will keep in the fridge for a few days. Here is one idea: · Asian noodle salad Chicken or Veggie - cold cooked whole-wheat noodles, ADD chicken, choice of veg – cut into thin strips (e.g., spring onion, carrot, red pepper), dressing (Shake-up the following in an old jam jar

- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 1 tbsp maple syrup, 2 tbsp light soya sauce, 1 tbsp water, 1 lime- juice, 1 clove garlic crushed, 1cm ginger finely grated, ¼ tsp chilli flakes - optional, seasoning) Healthy eating is important for everyone, especially children & teenagers, to ensure that they receive all the nutrients they need to grow and develop. Something I commonly encounter, is the belief that kids & teenagers can eat what they want as long as they are burning it off. However, I couldn’t disagree more!!!

Healthy eating isn’t just about energy balance, it’s about 1) Nutrition - hitting your targets for nutrients; 2) Developing the taste for healthy food - real food ... good food; 3) Developing the healthy habits which will stand to you later in life when you don’t “burn it all off” so easily.

Healthy eating is about variety & balance predominantly ... there is no magic bullet ... the overall diet is the important thing ... the focus should be on the inclusion of foods and food groups not exclusion.

Treats: Most primary schools don’t allow treats so this one isn’t really an issue here. However, if you want to discourage your teenager from eating a whole load of junk food at lunchtime one idea might be to make a healthier homemade treat e.g., carrot or banana bread. You can half the amount of sugar in the recipe, use ½ brown flour & ½ white flour, add some pecans or walnuts if they like nuts. Popcorn is another healthy treat, it is a wholegrain, high in fibre and relatively low in calories.

For more information contact Paula on: Paula Duggan Balance Nutrition www.balancenutrition.ie paula@balancenutrition.ie; 087 9615882

Scotia Muse Academy Scotia Muse Academy will be holding 5th year revisions the first 2 weeks of Aug. The revisions are excellent for any student who feels they fell behind because of lockdowns or illness or If a student is aiming for high points next year in their leaving cert.

Once problem areas are addressed It is easier to get to grips with the second half of the curriculum.

a few subjects.

We also offer the full curriculum in most subjects. This can be a fantastic option for anyone who just needs to repeat

We are a small school but we can offer personnel attention. The atmosphere is casual but we remain very serious about the work.

We can work with students to find a timetable that suits. We offer safety nets. No student will be allowed to fall behind.

We can cater for students who would prefer to do their leaving cert completely with us or adults returning to education or if all that is needed is one subject.

We take pride in our school and we want our students to reach their full potential at all times

ng the fi Grinds Classes starti 42

€ 25 per class.

rst week of Aug.

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Making theMost of Transition Year!

By Mary Lucey Founder Career Ahead Many students regard transition year as a as doss year and complete it with no real plan in place or set goals to achieve.

Yet, it is a time that can result in enormous benefits to students from both a career and personal perspective. The benefits of TY are sometimes not evident to students, or indeed parents, until they are making their CAO choices or starting college. It does demand, however, that the student fully engages with TY and personally ensures they get the most from it. They should avail of every possible opportunity presented to them during the year. It is also the first-time students are given a licence to develop their own personalities and create their own unique opportunities. Once approved by their school, they can pursue personal, individual opportunities during the school term. For example, I am aware of students who spent a month in France; went on sailing courses in West Cork; set up and managed fundraising events; went on filmmaking courses – the list is endless and benefits enormous. If the TY student does not fully embrace this approach to transition year; it really is their major loss.

Below are tips I believe transition year students should take on board which will undoubtedly benefit them for their leaving certificate, college and beyond!

1. Plan and Stick to it – Students should make an individual plan to correspond with the schedule they get from their school, identifying what they personally want to achieve each month of TY. They then need to take the necessary actions to ensure they achieve each month’s goal or goals.

2. Part-time work - TY is a time when students should secure some part-time work. The personal development and learning that takes place in a workplace environment is second to none.

In many cases, students are transformed – they gain confidence; learn how to deal with people; learn to take on responsibility; learn timekeeping skills; teamwork, etc, the list is endless. If they cannot find paid work – they should consider volunteering, again this will stand to them in the future.

3. Foster Independence - Students should: open up a bank account and bank online; practice surviving on a tight weekly budget; practice going shopping for themselves; learn how to cook three nutritious meals; do a first-aid course; study and take the driver theory test and get their provisional driving licence; practice the skill of introducing themselves in a confident manner; learn how to construct an email properly and communicate in a professional manner; plan and manage trips via buses; trains etc

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4. Learn a new skill - During TY; students should try and learn a skill that will travel with them. For example, barkeeping skills; barista skills; cooking skills; retail skills; playing an instrument.

This means, going forward, they will be able to secure work or earn, no matter where they travel to in the world.

5. Building Up Qualifications Students should use TY to start to build up qualifications.

Especially since Covid; the number of online certified courses is enormous. If a student feels they are interested in following a particular career; an online course is ideal to complete to get a feel for a discipline.

6. Start Thinking Careers –Work experience is an element for all TY students and time and time again; this is not taken on board in a manner that will really benefit the students. In a lot of cases, it is viewed as a box ticking exercise without really looking at the possible opportunity here. Students should start to research and consider what courses they might like to follow and how work experience can provide an insight into these careers. The student themselves need to approach and secure their own work experience, not the parent or guardian.

I have yet to come across a businessperson or employer who is unhelpful or unkind to a young student who personally has the confidence and takes the time to get in touch with them. They may not be able to take on students for work experience, but they will certainly engage and advise them what their career is like.

7. Overcome an obstacle – There is always something that throws all of us – be it giving a presentation; talking in front of a group; approaching a teacher with an issue; eating a balanced diet; exercising regularly; - students should use TY to get help and develop skills to overcome these issues so that will not continue to be future obstacles.

8. Get Better – Every TY student has a skill or an interest, a passion that they love. Be it football, rugby, art, gaming, music, singing, maths, science, computers, etc. They should explore it more and focus on getting better and better at it during the school year. Ideally, it may be something that can be converted to a college course, a scholarship application, and a future career.

Mary Lucey Founder Career Ahead 087 9338941 www.careerahead.ie

New Frontiers.

Turn dreaming into doing.

0 0 1 1 0 1 1

1 1 0

0 0 0 1 1 1 0

New Frontiers in Kerry is now accepting applications for Phase 2 from individuals who have an innovative business idea.

Programme Benefits • Open to business ideas from across all sectors • Support package valued at €30,000 including €15,000 tax-free stipend, no equity taken • Further support available in Phase 3 to the value of €10,000+ • Personalised one-to-one mentoring • Expert advice and guidance from an experienced programme team • Access to research and development facilities • Practitioner-led workshops • Free co-working space at Tom Crean Business Centre in Tralee • Support and guidance in the development of a strong business plan

Visit newfrontiers.ie for more information and to apply.

Deadline for applications is 25th August at 3pm.

NEW FRONTIERS NATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR

DEVELOPING ENTREPRENEURS

Pearly Whites

by Dr Marcas Mac Domhnaill Fáilte Romhaibh!

Dentists are often mouthing off about the many health problems that can be aggravated by poor oral hygiene. It is no wonder as poor oral hygiene can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Gum disease in turn can lead to shrinking gums, bone loss around teeth and tooth loss .

Gum disease is the most common disease in adults in general.

Those with adult periodontitis (gum disease) may have an increased risk of a stroke and/or heart attack. They are also more at risk of being diagnosed with cardiovascular disease.

Bacteria from the mouth may also cause clotting problems in the cardiovascular system.

With regard to diabetes, chronic gum disease can disrupt diabetic control but diabetes can also contribute to bacterial overgrowth in the mouth. Therefore, diabetics need to maintain good control of their oral hygiene so that it does not make their diabetes worse.

Smokers with diabetes greatly increase their risk of tooth loss and those wishing to stop smoking should reach out for advice through their doctor or dentist.

It is a sad fact that patients with type II diabetes are three times more likely to develop periodontal disease than non-diabetics.

As always, ask you dentist if you have any concerns.

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

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Munster Technological University Awarded over €2.2m to Provide 837 Places Across a Range of Courses Developed to Address Industry Skills Needs Brid Mc Elligott, Vice President for Development, Research and External Engagement at MTU, said: “The Springboard+ initiative offers free, or subsidised, part-time courses leading to qualifications that are in demand by employers. Many courses focus on future-proofing the skills of people already in employment, particularly in roles that may be impacted by digitalisation. To date MTU has worked with over 6,000 Springboard+ students, resulting in many graduates now pursuing rewarding careers. All courses selected for funding under Springboard+ 2021 are in areas of identified skills needs.”

Munster Technological University has secured €2,2190,980 in funding to provide 837 places under the Government’s Springboard+ and Human Capital Initiatives for the academic year 2021/2022. In total, MTU is offering 28 Springboard+ courses as part of its suite of part-time offering. A further €616,400 was received to offer 106 places across a range of culinary and food service operations programmes to address the significant shortage of qualified staff in the tourism and hospitality sector as Ireland looks to reopen following the COVID19 pandemic.

These funded places are spread over 28 courses in a broad range of disciplines including Cloud Computing, Data Science and Analytics, Quantity Surveying and Culinary Skills, Pharmacy Management, Circular Economy as well as in Sustainable Agriculture, Automation & Control, Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing Practices & Systems, Information Design & Development, Building Information Modelling (BIM) with Revit, Leadership and Transformational Change and Automotive Operations.

Michael Loftus, Vice President for External Affairs at MTU stated “MTU is fully committed to the development of graduates who have the skills, positive attitude and overall ability required by industry. While this focus has always been centrally important to our work, it is now more vital than ever that we work to support industry at a time of unprecedented challenge associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding will enable us to reskill and upskill those seeking employment, as well as those who are currently in employment, at their time of greatest need. MTU is committed to industry engagement and our partnerships with enterprises and representative groups, such as the South-West Regional Skills Forum, ensure that our courses are current and relevant. The work-based learning approach which has been designed into these courses will maximise the employability of the graduates.”

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Springboard+ courses are free for people who are unemployed, those who were previously self-employed and returners to the workforce. Courses at NFQ Level 6 are also free for those in employment. For employed participants on courses NFQ level 7 – 9, 90% of the course fee is funded by the Government, with participants required to contribute just 10% of the fee.

Staff will be available over the coming weeks to advise potential students looking at a return to education. Further information on course availability, eligibility criteria and the application process is available by visiting www. springboardcourses.ie.

Springboard+ and HCI Funded Courses

MTU are offering a wide range of funded programmes under the Springboard+ and HCI initiatives. These programmes are designed to help you gain the skills necessary to either obtain employment in industry areas where there is an increasing need or to upskill in your current job.

Fees do not apply for those seeking employment and applicants in receipt of relevant social welfare payments will retain their benefits under Springboard+ and HCI. Under the relevant funding programme applicants currently employed and seeking to upskill can qualify for up to 90% of their fees.

MTU KERRY CAMPUS • Certificate in Culinary Skills • Higher Certificate in Arts in Culinary Arts • Certificate in Retail Food Service Operations • Certificate in Leadership and Transformational Change • Higher Diploma in Science in Computing (Cloud Infrastructure) • Certificate in Building Information Modelling (BIM) with Revit • Certificate in Industrial Instrumentation and Automation • Certificate in Industry 4.0 and Industrial Internet of Things • Certificate in Validation • Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy Management and Practice • Certificate in Circular Economy • Postgraduate Diploma in Bioeconomy with Business • Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Agriculture and Land Use with Innovation

MTU CORK CAMPUS • Certificate in Designing Innovative Services • Certificate in Sales Strategy & Techniques • Higher Certificate in Arts in Culinary Arts – Professional Chef Programme • Certificate in Culinary Skills • Certificate in Retail Food Service Operations • Postgraduate Diploma in Science in BIM and Digital AEC (Architecture, Engineering & Construction) • Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing – BIM Applications • Certificate in Digitised Automotive Operations • Lean Sigma Yellow Belt • Lean Sigma Green Belt • Lean Sigma Black Belt • Certificate in Intelligent Manufacturing Systems • Certificate in Validation Science • Certificate in Process Safety • Certificate in PLC based Automation Systems • Diploma in Quality Management • Higher Diploma in Quality Systems Validation with Data Analytics for the Biopharmachem Industry • Postgraduate Diploma in Analytical Sciences with Instrument Validation • Higher Diploma in Science in Data Science & Analytics Certificate in Process Data Analytics • Master of Science in Cybersecurity Management • Higher Diploma in Science in Cloud Computing • Higher Certificate in Science in Software Development • Bachelor of Business in Supply Chain and TransportManagement • Certificate in Biopharmaceutical Supply Chain Management • Certificate in Customs and Global Trade Management

www.mtu.ie

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BORD OIDEACHAIS AGUS OILIÚNA CHIARRAÍ KERRY EDUCATION AND TRAINING BOARD

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Courses are offered subject to demand and applicants meeting entry requirements.

Limited places available on certain courses.

Clash Road | Denny Street | Listowel | Monavalley | National Outdoor Campus

Campus

Campus

Campus

Campus