.Participants looking forward to the ‘Re-New Fashion Show’ fundraiser in aid of Down Syndrome Kerry at the launch of the event on Tuesday at The Rose Hotel. Photo by Dermot Crean
DOWN Syndrome Kerry ‘Re-New Fashion Show’ is set to dazzle audiences on Friday, March 15 at The Rose Hotel in Tralee.
This eagerly anticipated event promises an evening filled with fabulous fashion, stunning vocal performances, laugh-out-loud comedy, and, above all, a showcase of the amazing fashion on offer from the 321 Shop.
The excitement begins with a drinks reception starting at 6:30pm, followed by the main event kicking off at 7pm. Attendees will be treated to an unforgettable experience featuring a lineup of exceptional talent.
Continued below…
.
Among the highlights of the evening are special guests Johnny’s Cottage – Breeda, Miriam, Aine, and Mary, who will add their unique charm and grace to the catwalk.
The stage will come alive with the melodious voice of Lauren Glennon, enchanting the audience with her soulful tunes.
“Adding to the glamour of the evening are local celebrity designers Fiona Horgan, Geraldine O’Regan, Carmel Russell, Joe O’Brien, who have lent their creative genius to craft evening looks for our esteemed models,” said Siobhan Walsh, Operations Manager of Down Syndrome Kerry.
“The runway will be graced by an array of diverse and talented models who have been paired with our designers, including Grainne O’Rourke, Liam Purcell, Sinead Fitzgerald, Dale O Carroll, Mary Purcell, Stephen Roche, Kevin Ross (Balloons Le Gra), Annmarie Ladden, Noel Ryan, Kate McNamara, Siobhan Looney, and Brendan Fuller (Radio Kerry),” added Siobhan.
“We are delighted to announce our panel of esteemed judges, including Head Judge Don O’Neill, Paul Scanlon (Best Dressed Male at the Listowel Races ’23), Carmel Roche, and Mary O\Donnell, who will be on hand to recognize excellence and style,” said Joe Burkett, Creative Director.
“Keeping the evening flowing with charm and wit will be the amazing Margaret Kissane from Connect Kerry, who will guide guests through this unforgettable night,” added Joe.
“We are thrilled to present the Down Syndrome Kerry Re-New Fashion Show, an event that celebrates renewable fashion, diversity, talent, and inclusivity,” said Rachel Fitzgerald, Manager of 321 Shop.
“It’s more than just a fashion show; it’s a platform to showcase the beauty and creativity of renewable fashion and to celebrate the inclusivity and diversity of our community.”
Tickets for this event are priced at €20 each and are available for purchase from the DSK office and the 321 Shop on High Street in Tralee.
.Skills demos, activities, and events all happening at the Monavalley Campus.
KERRY College Open Week 2024 welcomed over 2,000 students, career changers, and jobseekers across its five campus locations in Listowel, Clash Road, Killorglin and Monavalley last week.
An additional 2,500 prospective learners attended the many events hosted across the week, including the Further Options Event, Information Evening, Kerry College of Beauty Open Evening, Apprenticeship Open Evening and Guest Speakers Event.
A much-welcomed addition to Open Week 2024 was the Killorglin Campus Open Day on Monday 19th February. Visitors enjoyed a free bus service from Tralee and Killarney to Killorglin Campus on Monday, setting the tone for the exciting day ahead.
Continued below…
.
Highlights included insightful discussions on careers in the Great Outdoors, showcasing the potential of outdoor/adventure therapy in youth work, and more.
Aodhnait Carroll, Killorglin Campus Manager, reflected on the success of Killorglin Campus’s first Open Day.
“Kerry College Killorglin Campus hosted its inaugural Open Day, welcoming prospective learners to witness first-hand the diverse range of courses we offer. Against the stunning backdrop of our outdoor education and training Campus, bathed in sunshine, our talented learners demonstrated their evolving skills in disciplines such as yoga, adventure activities, and scuba diving. From the tranquil to the thrilling, our courses cater to outdoor enthusiasts aspiring to turn their passion into a profession. Thank you to all who joined us, and we look forward to the exciting journeys ahead for our future learners.”
All set for a Yoga Mastery Event in the Killorglin Campus.
The Scuba Skills Showcase impressed with demonstrations of essential diving techniques, leaving attendees inspired to dive into this career. Attendees found serenity and strength at our Yoga Mastery Event, deepening their understanding of this ancient practice and how to turn it into a career.
People had the chance to learn more about Killorglin Campus’ brand-new Nature Based Early Learning and Care course, highlighting the importance of outdoor learning and play in the field of Early Years Education.
Clash Campus Open Day attendee leaps in to action on the vertical jump test!
Continued below…
.
Clash Road Campus visitors enjoyed guided tours of campus facilities and met with teachers and current learners during the event.
Learning Support Staff were on-site to highlight the many supports available to Kerry College learners. Career Guidance Counsellors were also available to offer progression and career-related advice.
Principal Stephen Goulding highlighted the success of the Information Event featuring guest speaker Rory O’ Connor, who shared insights into his career path and the life experiences that shaped him. Current learners gave an account of their educational journeys and how entry into further education and training has had a positive impact on their lives.
The Kerry College of Beauty Open Evening on Wednesday the 21st February enabled visitors to explore the Beauty Therapy building. They were able to discover the state-of-the-art facilities and learn more about internationally-recognised certifications offered on the full-time and part-time programmes ran on-site.
“The event was incredible! Having talked to current learners and the instructors, I’m left inspired to pursue a career in the beauty industry!” said one attendee.
Picture perfect at the Listowel Campus.
In Listowel , visitors were treated to guided tours of the newly-built campus facilities and had the opportunity to interact with teachers and current learners. Career Guidance Counsellors and Learning Support Staff were on-site to meet with prospective learners and offer expert information.
Listowel Campus hosted several guest speakers including Katie Hannon, Tracey Grimes and Lizzy Lyons. These successful women in business inspired attendees with diverse range of insights and expertise.
Katie Hannon being presented with flowers after delivering an inspiring speech at the Listowel Campus. L-R – Miriam Goulding, Katie Hannon, Carmel Kelly (Clash Road Campus Deputy Principal), Stephen Goulding (Clash Road, Denny Street and Listowel Campus Principal)
“Clash & Listowel Campuses had a very successful open week. Almost 900 visitors visited the campuses and got a comprehensive range of information on all our courses for September 2024. There was a fantastic atmosphere in both campuses and potential applicants took part in class demonstrations and activities”. – Stephen Goulding, Principal of Clash & Listowel Campuses.
At Monavalley Campus, visitors were offered hands-on experiences, with practical skills-based demonstrations throughout the day. Activities ranged from stone carving to virtual reality experiences overlooking Tralee from the Wind Turbine training tower. Kerry College’s state-of-the-art Digital Skills Centre allowed visitors to record radio sound bites or vox pops.
Tracey Grimes being presented with flowers after sharing her story as an award winning specialist in the Hair and Beauty Industry at the Listowel Campus. L-R – Tracey Grimes, Stephen Goulding (Clash Road, Denny Street and Listowel Campus Principal)
The highlight of the week was the Amazon Web Services Fibre Splicing Workshop. This fantastic program enabled learners to develop their skills and knowledge further. It also catered to potential career changers who were interested in learning more about this exciting and growing industry.
“I never realised that these courses and facilities existed on my doorstep! Kerry College is a hidden gem.” said one attendee.
Monavalley Campus Manager Con O’ Sullivan reflected on the record-breaking attendance during the Open Week and was happy to see huge demand for direct routes to work and career progression. He expressed gratitude to the companies that exhibited at the annual Apprenticeship Open Evening, providing valuable insights and opportunities for attendees.
Skills demos, activities, and events all happening at the Monavalley Campus.
“Kerry College Monavalley Campus had a very busy Open Week 2024. It was a wonderful opportunity for Monavalley Campus to showcase the extensive catalogue of courses on offer including, IT, Healthcare, Construction, Digital Media, Broadcast Production, Business, Tourism and of course Apprenticeships. It was great to have so many Kerry, Cork and Limerick based schools visit our centre and learn about the exciting world of opportunities that Monavalley Campus has to offer” – Monavalley Campus Manager, Con O’ Sullivan
At theKillarney Admissions Office, visitors connected with the Admissions Team, current learners, teachers, instructors, the Apprenticeship Team, the Business Support Unit, representatives from the Pathways Programmes, and many more!
They came along to find out about the suite of full-time and part-time courses available in Killarney. Furthermore, they found out about transport, childcare, and financial supports available to help them access their Kerry College journey to success.
Attendees learn about our Business Support Unit, Outdoor Education courses and more at the Killarney Open Day.
“We were delighted to host our first open day in Killarney and would like to thank anyone who called in on the day. It was a great opportunity for us to showcase all we have on offer in Killarney for 2024. We have some exciting full and part-time courses in the pipeline and hope to continue to grow our offerings over time. The Admissions Office in Killarney is open Monday to Friday and we would urge anyone who is unsure of their next step to pop in and have a chat with us; this could be school leavers, parents, guardians, career changers. No appointment is necessary! We are here to answer queries about any of our courses or apprenticeships, but we will also do our best to help direct you to services or resources that you may need to make the journey back to education easy and accessible for you.” – Ella O’ Donoghue, Admissions Officer.
Lizzy Lyons being presented with flowers after speaking about her experience as a successful business woman at the Listowel Campus. L-R – Miriam Goulding, Lizzy Lyons, Stephen Goulding (Clash Road, Denny Street and Listowel Campus Principal)
For those interested in Kerry College’s Part-Time and Full-Time Courses and Apprenticeships, more information is available at www.kerrycollege.ie or by contacting the Admissions Team at 066 714 96 96 or 064 6622593.
MANY 65-year-olds look forward to free travel but Dan O’Donoghue would prefer to jump out of an airplane to raise funds for Kerry Mental Health Association and to show his grandsons that nothing is impossible.
The fundraising parachute jump from 13,000 feet will take place in Edenderry, Co Offaly on Saturday, April 27 with the aim of raising over €2,500 for Kerry Mental Health Association via www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/breakinggrandad.
Dan, who lives in Tralee and is originally from Valentia Island, made the charitable leap year proposal to do a parachute jump to help fund the cost of rolling out free and affordable mental health first aid training in Kerry.
Continued below…
.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is the initial help given to someone who is developing a mental health problem, experiencing a worsening of an existing mental health problem or a mental health crisis. The first aid is given until appropriate professional support is received or until the crisis resolves.
It costs €2500 to train one MHFA instructor with additional costs to secure the licence from Mental Health First Aid Ireland to deliver courses.
Dan O’Donoghue, a leading trainer in Ireland in the field of Business Development and referral strategies, said; “The one thing that really gets to me is young people, especially young people, who are full of anxiety. They are worried about so many things and it shouldn’t be like that. I have a great relationship with my three grandsons Feidhlim (7), Lochlan (4) and Donagh (2) who would love to see me leap out of an airplane. I’d love to show them and their friends that you can do anything you want without worrying about it.
“What Kerry Mental Health Association is doing to roll out free and affordable mental health first aid training in the county is brilliant and a really deserving cause. I’ve had my own experiences of anxiety and stress and truly believe that mental health first aid training is very necessary nowadays. Sadly it shouldn’t be, but that’s the way it is. Seeing the impact social media is having on our young people and adults as well, we need something to counteract that and I think that mental health first aid is a way of doing that.”
Kerry Mental Health Association wants to hear from community or not-for-profit organisations in the county to compile a schedule of mental health first aid courses over the coming months.
The General Manager of Kerry Mental Health Association, John Drummey, said; “We are honoured that Dan O’Donoghue has chosen to support our efforts to fund the roll out of free and affordable mental health first aid training in Kerry. Jumping out of a plane is not something that many 65-year-old grandads would do but fair play to Dan for taking the leap. The money he raises will make a huge difference to so many people in Kerry.
“Three free mental health first aid courses have already been delivered in MTU Kerry Campus Tralee and the Ross Café Killarney in February 2024 with 30 participants in attendance. We want to do more and train more people to deliver the courses, so this step out of the plane is a step in the right direction.”
Both Dan and John have expressed their gratitude to Corcorans Furniture who will kindly sponsor the advertising campaign to promote the parachute jump and to maximise the fundraising potential.
The Breaking Grandad Parachute Jump from 13,000 feet will take place on Saturday 27th April in Edenderry, Co Offaly.
IF you’re around Tralee town centre this Saturday, then why not pay a visit to Paco on the Mall to help out an important service.
Eileen Whelan of Paco is once again hosting a charity fundraiser, this time for the Kerry Bereavement Support Group.
“A few of my close friends lost loved ones last year and it’s a great service they provide for anyone dealing with grief,” said Eileen.
Continued below…
.
Eileen is organising a coffee/fashion show event from 11am to 3pm on Saturday. There’ll be the usual array of buns, scones and cakes to eat, some spot prizes and Deputy Michael Healy Rae and Cllr Sam Locke will strut their stuff on the ‘catwalk’.
Local ladies will model fashions from Paco to launch their spring/summer range, while there will also be some live music from Ger Hanlon. People are invited to make a donation on the day in return for the food and entertainment and all are invited.
