Models strutting their stuff at the fashion show in the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
By Dermot Crean
IT really was a memorable night with a party atmosphere when around 700 people attended a fashion show with a difference.
Around 70 models with Down Syndrome and learning disabilities, from all over Kerry, strutted their stuff on the catwalk to rapturous applause in Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Thursday night. It was a real community effort with businesses from town supplying all the clothes and an array of generous spot prizes.
The chief organiser, Maree O’Connor from Tralee, said the idea for the event was inspired by her 19 year old daughter, Labhaoise, who has Down Syndrome.
Maree, married to Donal O’Connor who is principal of Caherleaheen NS, explained to TraleeToday.ie what the night was all about, just before the show.
“This is a celebration of people with learning disabilities,” she said. “There is a lot of people with Down Syndrome and others with varying degrees of learning disabilities here and we wanted to give them a chance to get up on the stage and show off and have fun.”
She said much work had gone into the night.
“It’s taken six to eight weeks but I’m absolutely overwhelmed with the response. I never expected to have 70 models here on the night, I never expected the shops and businesses in the town to be so welcoming to the idea and so co-operative.When parents went to the sports and fashion stores to get the models fitted, they couldn’t get over how into the whole thing the staff were and the welcome they got.”
The models came from all over Kerry and were of varying ages as Maree explained.
Models looking cool at the fashion show in the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
“The models taking part are from all over Kerry; from Cahersiveen, Kenmare, Killarney, Listowel, Tralee and outlying areas. The youngest model we have is 15 months and the oldest is 44, so we have all ages,” said Maree. “They are really excited. We’ve had two rehearsals already in the hotel and those nights were amazing. They loved walking up and down on the catwalk.”
The event had a lot of media coverage in the run-up to Thursday night, not least from the Sunday Independent who ran a story on it in its Life Magazine.
“We were very lucky. I emailed Brendan O’Connor from [RTE’s] The Saturday Night Show to tell me about it and he passed on the information to the editor of Life Magazine. They sent down a journalist and she spent the day with us. That’s how that article came about,” explained Marie.
It was also an opportunity to raise funds for a new project as Maree explained.
Mary Jo Daly on the catwalk during the show on Thursday. Photo by Dermot Crean
“We’re trying to get funding for a new project for young adults and school leavers and to offer them another forum where they can develop their educational skills, social skills and creative skills.”
“We want to give them a worthwhile place to be and also key to the whole thing is integration into the local community. We want to develop links with local businesses in Kerry and get the guys proper work opportunities on a long-term basis,” said Maree.
Speaking the morning after the event, Maree said she still couldn’t get over the support and the fun that was had on the night.
“At the end of the show, 12 of the models did a Zumba dance on the stage. Not only did they get a standing ovation, but the whole crowd joined in for the last two dances.”
With all the highlights of this amazing occasion, Maree said one thing really stood out for her on the night.
“There was one child who was very quiet and withdrawn and her parents thought there was no way she would get on the stage and take part. She was due to be last up on stage. When the time came at the end, she took to the catwalk and got into the atmosphere of the event. That really made my night.”
Scroll down for another 15 photos from the night…
CEO Down Syndrome Ireland, Pat Clarke; Sheila Power, Down Syndrome Kerry; Ann Ladden Secretary Down Syndrome Kerry; Marie O’Connor, main organiser of the fashion show and Ronan Redican, Chairman Down Syndrome Kerry with children Ronan, Sean Michael and Andrew Redican pictured before the fashion show in the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Ann O’Neill, Siobhan and Saoirse Prout, Castlemaine, at the fashion show in the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Jessica Power on the catwalk at the fashion show in the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
JP O’Brien, Liam Purcell and Dale Carroll waiting for the fashion show in the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Madeline Brosnan, Mary Lawlor, Maureen O’Sullivan, Noreen O’Halloran and Aoibhe O’Halloran at the fashion show in the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Nellie Poff (right) and Aoife Poff, with Colm and Helen Horgan and children Robin, Lizzie and Rachel Horgan, Kenmare, at the fashion show in the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Laura Russell, Anna O’Keeffe, Sybille Ehlbeck, Asdee at the fashion show in the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Sheila McCarthy, Mary O’Connell, Ann Marie O’Connor, Mary Mahony, Castleisland at the fashion show in the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Mary Purcell, Shannon Lonergan and Jean Lynch, Tralee at the fashion show in the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
In front; Ellen Keely, Sarah Foley, Erin Keely and Lauren Foley, Patsy Foley and at back, Mary Roche and Madeline Foley, at the fashion show in the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Ann and Carol McMahon, Rockpark Avenue, Tralee, at the fashion show in the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Joanne Roche and Megan Ryan from Mods And Minis, Tralee, at the fashion show in the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Breda Switzer, Mairead Moriarty and Ann Moran at the fashion show in the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Christina Buckley and Noreen Flaherty, Lixnaw at the fashion show in the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Mary McCarthy, Samantha McCarthy, Betty McCarthy, Lynton Dinsdale, Milltown at the fashion show in the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
