.Fermanagh star Eimear Smyth, second from left, is presented with the 2024 ZuCar Golden Boot award by Allyson McCarthy, ZuCar Marketing Manager, left, and Kerry goalkeeper Ciara Butler, second from right, is presented with the 2024 ZuCar Golden Glove award by LGFA President Mícheál Naughton. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
KERRY goalkeeper Ciara Butler is the winner of the 2024 ZuCar Golden Glove award.
Ciara’s outstanding save to tip over a blistering effort from Meath’s Marion Farrelly in the 2024 TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship quarter-final in Tralee on July 6 won the popular vote hosted recently on the Ladies Gaelic Football Association website.
Ciara, from the Castlegregory club, was one of five nominees for the prestigious individual honour, along with Michelle Monaghan (Leitrim), Rebecca Lambe Fagan (Louth), Dearbhla Gower (Galway) and Monica McGuirk (Meath).
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The ZuCar Golden Glove award for Ciara crowns a magnificent individual season for the 20-year-old goalkeeper, who was the last line of defence as Kerry claimed the 2024 TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship title with victory over Galway at Croke Park on August 4.
Having suffered back-to-back final defeats in 2022 and 2023, the Kingdom recovered in style to land the Brendan Martin Cup for the first time in 31 years, with Ciara playing a huge role between the sticks.
Almost 3,500 votes were submitted for the Golden Glove award and Ciara’s save accounted for 1,583, well clear of her nearest challenger, Leitrim’s Michelle Monaghan (891).
Ciara was presented with her award at Croke Park today by Ladies Gaelic Football Association President, Mícheál Naughton, and Allyson McCarthy, ZuCar Marketing Manager.
Following the conclusion of the TG4 All-Ireland Championships, Fermanagh’s Eimear Smyth was the leading scorer across the Junior, Intermediate and Senior grades and won the Golden Boot Award.
Eimear’s incredible tally of 8-48 (72 points) was 39 points clear of her nearest challenger, Louth’s Kate Flood. Eimear was also present at Croke Park today to collect her award.
.Eibhlín Ní Bhric (seated fifth from left) with Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn staff on the occasion of her retirement on Wednesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
DECADES of teaching came to an end this week for a much-loved and respected member of the Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn staff.
Ballyferriter native Eibhlín Ní Bhric has been at the school for 22 years and staff and pupils bid a fond farewell to her as she embarks on her retirement.
Having graduated from St Pat’s teacher training college in Dublin, Eibhlín first taught in gaelscoileanna in Dublin from 1989, staying for 10 years, before moving to Skibbereen in 1999.
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A job came up in Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn in 2002 and she came home to Kerry. Eibhlín said she has really enjoyed her time at the school where she taught infants, second and special education.
“I’ve absolutely loved it here. Great school and great colleagues — a lot of them re very good friends so we’ll stay in touch. The kids and the parents are great so it’s been a privilege to be here, but I’m ready to move on now while I feel young and energetic.”
Eibhlín still lives in her native Ballyferriter and said the only thing she won’t miss is the daily commute to Tralee.
Married to Dubliner Mick Davis, they have three children, Faolán, Oscar and Finn. Eibhlín has loads of plans for retirement involving her hobbies including cycling, hill-walking and travelling. We wish her well in her retirement.
Eibhlín Ní Bhric (centre) with Principal Liam Ó Chonchubhair and Deputy Principal Olive Ní Ghearain on Wednesday. Photo by Dermot CreanEibhlín Ní Bhric (centre) cuts a cake to mark her retirement, with Principal Liam Ó Chonchubhair and Deputy Principal Olive Ní Ghearain on Wednesday. Photo by Dermot Crean.
THE MTU N-TUTORR programme has introduced fully accessible group study pods designed to support student collaboration.
These pods are supported through a partnership with MTU Libraries. This initiative emphasises the commitment to create welcoming, inclusive spaces that cater to the diverse needs of all learners, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed.
The group study pods have been carefully designed to prioritise comfort, accessibility, and student collaboration. These innovative spaces provide an ideal setting for group work, whether students are discussing class projects, preparing for exams, or simply sharing ideas.
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The pods are fully accessible to students with disabilities, offering easy entry and use, ensuring that all students can benefit from these new spaces.
Ergonomically designed seating and spacious layouts make the pods comfortable for all students, creating an environment that encourages focused study and collaboration.
Each pod is soundproof to minimise noise, allowing groups to work without interruptions and distractions.
Students can easily reserve the study pods through MTU Libraries’ booking system, ensuring flexible and convenient access to the spaces throughout the academic year.
This partnership between MTU N-TUTORR and MTU Libraries represents a shared dedication to supporting student success by providing spaces that accommodate diverse learning needs.
By offering fully accessible, collaborative study environments, MTU and N-TUTORR are helping to ensure that all students have the tools they need to thrive.
The N-TUTORR programme is designed to transform learning, teaching and assessment by focussing on transforming the student experience and developing the capabilities of all staff to address a sustainable pedagogical and learning environment with particular and critical focus on digital transformation, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).
.‘Well, Well, Well?’ opens at Siamsa Tíre in October. Photo by Pauline Dennigan.
A NEW contemporary artwork series, inspired by four of Ireland’s premier holy well sites — Lady’s Well, Rockspring and Tubrid Well, Millstreet in County Cork and St Michael’s Well, Lixnaw and Tobar na Molt, Ardfert in County Kerry — will be exhibited in Siamsa Tire next month.
Artist Marie Brett and blogger/author Amanda Clarke have partnered with a diverse community of holy well custodians, farmers, healers, historians, folklorists, scholars and interested neighbours in creating ‘Well, Well, Well?’ a body of artwork celebrating the role holy wells play in modern-day health and wellbeing.
The artwork spans dance, music, song, photography, print and film and will be premiered at Siamsa Tíre, Tralee, opening on October 3rd with Emmy award-winning poet Alan Cooke, and famed traditional singer, Sonny Egan.
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The artwork tells the story of a local lad who visits a holy well in curiosity and encounters its guardian.
Accompanied and guided across three sites, he makes votive offerings, enters into the water and receives elemental healing. He returns fundamentally changed.
The work explores wellbeing, and questions how individuals, communities and governments are meeting contemporary healthcare needs.
The series combines factual community experiences of healing water and earth energy, with reimagined folklore and traditional customs.
The free exhibition will run from October 3 to October 30.
Ivan Hurley previews Friday night’s game at Mounthawk between champions Cork City and Kerry FC…
With the destination of the title decided, it’s easy to know the countdown to the end of the season is fast approaching.
Cork City, who were crowned SSE Airtricity First Division Champions last Friday night are the visitors to Mounthawk Park on Friday night on Matchday 31 (kick-off 7.45pm).
Cork City, who were well deserving of the league title, will pose a difficult opponent to Kerry FC on Friday night.
With just one loss on their way to victory, it has been a dominant display by the Leesider’s in the division and have earned themselves a direct call up back to Premier Division football at the first time of asking.
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Kerry will be looking to add further points to the table in the club’s just second ever campaign in the League of Ireland. A disappointing defeat to UCD the last time out in Tralee was backed up by last gasp draw away to Treaty United last Friday night.
Fans and players alike will know a Kerry FC victory was deserved in that game. Kerry dominated possession for 100 minutes but a last-gasp goal earned the Limerick outfit a share of the spoils.
But Kerry FC can bring some confidence into this game in Mounthawk Park tomorrow night. The last time Cork came to town an early penalty was all that separated the two sides in Tralee.
Kerry had a number of chances throughout the game and on another occasion could have earned at least a point against the would be champions.
So the scene is set for the visit of Cork City to Mounthawk Park tomorrow evening. With a good weather forecast and strong ticket sales, this is sure to be a game not to be missed.
Kerry’s sole signing of the summer transfer window has come from our Cork neighbours. Oran Crowe signed for the Kingdom from Cork City just a couple of weeks ago and has made two appearances in the Kerry green to date.
Speaking to the media earlier this week, First Team Head Coach Conor McCarthy issued no fresh injury concerns ahead of the game against Cork City.
Oran Crowe did require stitches after getting an elbow to the face against Treaty United last time out but he should be fit and ready by kick off.
Recent absentee’s Antonio Tuta, Andy Spain and Valerii Dolia have all minutes back under their belts and remain available.
“We are looking forward to it. It’s an exciting game for us to play,” said Conor. “They’ve signed some very good players during the window so it’s a brilliant test and challenge for us to play against a team like that. So like that myself, the players, the club as a whole are looking forward to it 100%”.
.Jer O’Connor from Lixnaw, who is living with Friedrich’s ataxia, achieved a scuba diving qualification in the Red Sea.
A LIXNAW man is encouraging the public to get behind Enable Ireland’s Life With No Limits Campaign this month.
Jer O’Connor from Lixnaw is one of Enable Ireland’s 2024 Life With No Limits Champions.
Jer attends Enable Ireland Adult Service in Tralee. At the age of 18, he was diagnosed with Friedrich’s ataxia (FRIDA), a genetic, progressive movement disorder.
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Since then he has embarked on some incredible physical adventures which have seen him soar through the sky (he’s jumped out of a plane – twice) and dive to great depths in the ocean, despite having had a life-long fear of water.
“When I was young, I was terrified of the water,” said Jer. “I remember going to Ballybunion Beach with my family. Even trying to dip my toes in the water gave me motion sickness.”
“After I was diagnosed, I spent a long time putting off certain things. However, I realised that my condition was getting worse and that my time was becoming limited to do the things I wanted to do in life.
I wanted to try and conquer my fears and not let anything hold me back. I told Conagh, my key worker at Enable Ireland services in Kerry, about my phobia of water.
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“She introduced me to Kerry Passion of Diving by taking me to one of their open days. They are a voluntary organisation that specialises in making scuba diving accessible to everyone. That’s when I decided I wanted to overcome my fear and achieve a diving certification.
My first day of training with Passion of Diving was at the Aqua Dome. I was so afraid. But the team there are amazing. They didn’t force me to do anything I didn’t want to.
“I was slowly introduced to the water and got familiar with the equipment. Passion of Diving were very methodical and good at slowly building your confidence. Now I trust them with my life. However, back then, my fear was getting the better of me.
But on the third day, something clicked in me. I realised that I was in no danger. I was surrounded by scuba diving instructors who would quickly pull me up if anything went wrong. I found that the fears which were limiting me were all in my head.
“It was so freeing to have conquered my fears and be able to dive. I don’t feel disabled when I am under the water. It’s like my disability fades away.
To achieve the practical part of my qualification, I was fortunate to take a trip to Egypt and go diving in the Red Sea. We went for a week and spent four days diving. 20 people of mixed abilities went from Passion of Diving and they are the some of the best people I’ve met in my life.”
It was a scary transition going from a still pool to the open sea where you can be thrown around by the waves. However, having my friends from Passion of Diving around me boosted my confidence.
I reminded myself of my training and I was able to push those fears aside. The diving was stunning. Being among the corals, the fish and the different sea life was beautiful.”
“I would love to get more people with a disability interested in scuba diving, simply for the freeing feeling it gives you. I’ve learnt it’s important to be open to new opportunities in life and to not let fears or self-doubts restrict you.
As well as scuba diving, I try to go skydiving at least once a year. There’s a great sense of exhilaration and freedom to do something where your disability is not a factor.
When the parachute opens you get to see the world from a different perspective. It’s made me realise how small my problems are. I’m very proud of myself for taking on these challenges.”
Enable Ireland’s ‘Life With No Limits’ campaign takes place during September each year.
It provides a platform for children and adults with disabilities who use Enable Ireland services to share their life experiences. The campaign also aims to raise much-needed funds to support the charity’s work.
Every year, Enable Ireland needs over €2 million in additional funding to meet the costs of delivering their services.
Support the ‘Enable Ireland Life With No Limits’ campaign this September by making a purchase in one of their charity shops or donating online at www.enableireland.ie.
The public can also support Enable Ireland by giving to volunteers collecting for the charity throughout the month.
Or drop a bag of quality pre-loved items into their local Enable Ireland shop or clothing bank or into any TK Maxx store nationwide as part of their Give Up Clothes For Good campaign.
.Damien Bourke and Diarmuid O’Connor cutting the ribbon at the official opening of Na Gaeil Abrew on Sunday.
THE official opening of a new service for Na Gaeil took place last Sunday. ‘Na Gaeil Abrew’ is their new coffee dock situated on its grounds in Killeen.
The project was realised thanks to the huge support and sponsorship from the people of Na Gaeil and has been going from strength to strength since opening its hatch in July this year.
The official opening began with a special blessing by Fr James Walsh followed by some proud words from chairperson of Na Gaeil, Conor Kavanagh.
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Kerry players Diarmuid O’Connor and Damien Bourke cut the ribbon and declared Na Gaeil Abrew officially open much to the delight of present and past members of Na Gaeil who gathered to celebrate this special occasion.
Musicians Maura Begley, Mary Conroy, Nicholas Long and Philip and Avril Doyle treated the crowds to some heartwarming Irish music before Helen Tansley finally let them in on the amusing tale of Na Gaeil Abrew.
Na Gaeil Abrew has become much more than the selling of tea and coffee. It is a social outlet, a place to chill out, to catch up with friends at half time, a place to take the weight off your feet, listen to a bit of music, have a bit of banter with fellow members and people from different clubs, such simple concepts and yet so vital within a GAA club setting.
“I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of this initiative which has brought out the absolute best in our club and its members,” said Helen.
“Na Gaeil Abrew is such an integral part of our club now and has created a very special sense of community spirit and belonging. We are blessed to have such a wonderful team of people behind this venture to ensure its smooth running at every game since its opening.” Scroll down for photos…
Conor Kavanagh with Helen Tansley at the official opening of Na Gaeil Abrew on Sunday..An aerial view of the official opening of Na Gaeil Abrew on Sunday.Enjoying the official opening of Na Gaeil Abrew on Sunday..At the official opening of Na Gaeil Abrew on Sunday.At the official opening of Na Gaeil Abrew on Sunday..Musicians at the official opening of Na Gaeil Abrew on Sunday..
