.A Halloween fundraiser for Brú Columbanus at Mounthawk Montessori School.
SPOOKY fun was enjoyed by all the boys and girls in aid of Brú Columbanus yesterday to celebrate their 21st intake of children in Mounthawk Montessori School & Busy Bees Nursery, Tralee.
The parents and children left no stone unturned as they created their fabulous costumes and props to make this the most wonderful of celebrations.
Susan Quirke-Crowley said that they were delighted that parents had chosen them for their children’s Early Childhood Care and Education.
They were delighted to support Brú Columbanus in their fundraising efforts as the facility provides much needed support to many Kerry Families in need of accommodation when they have sick loved ones in Cork Hospitals.
The weekend is upon us and it’s a long one. Yippee! Here’s a few things you can head out to in town and beyond…
Saturday
1. Go to the dogs…
Launching the Recovery Haven ‘Night At The Dogs Fundraiser’ back in September.
A night at the dogs at Kingdom Greyhound Stadium in aid of Recovery Haven Cancer Support House Kerry is on Saturday.
This event promises a great night of racing combined with a Best Dressed Lady and Gent competition as well as lots for the kiddies Best Halloween Costume, face painting and bouncy Castle and music after racing.
The night will feature the final of the Kellihers Toyota Sweepstake sponsored by the Kelliher Family and is an Inver sponsored race. Tickets €10 at the door.
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2. Get out to folk…
Leo O’Kelly
Fans of folk music are in for a special treat when a prominent figure from the scene back in the early 1970s comes to the Tralee stage on Saturday night.
Leo O’Kelly was a member of the Irish folk duo Tír na nÓg with Sonny Condell, who, with Pentangle and Nick Drake, were considered the forebears of progressive folk.
The duo split up in 1973 with Leo turning producer, before releasing a series of solo records.
He reunited with Condell for Tír na nÓg’s first album in 42 years in 2015 with ‘The Dark Dance’ which was received enthusiastically by fans and critics.
Now he’s on his way to Courthouse Lane upstairs in The Acoustic Room at Il Forno Restaurant. Tickets are €15 and booking is essential on 066-7195402.
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3. Rock out for charity…
If folk music isn’t your thing, get in touch with your inner mosher as The Abbey Inn hosts a night of rock music for a great cause.
People are encouraged to dress up for the weekend that’s in it and help raise funds for Bru Columbanus and the Kerry Coronary Care Unit. Tickets are €10 and it’s well worth going if you’re into your decent rock music. The night begins at 9pm.
Sunday
4. Na Gaeil’s big day…again…
Andrew Barry and Jamie Lowham celebrate David Culloty’s last gasp equaliser in the drawn game.
All roads lead to Killarney for the Oakpark club’s Junior Premier Club Championship Final. Na Gaeil probably should have capitalised on their numerical advantage against Glenbeigh/Glencar in the drawn game two weeks ago.
They’ll find it tough against the Mid-Kerry side so they’ll need all the support they can get in Fitzgerald Stadium. Throw-in is at 2.30pm. Should they do it, it’ll be some evening in the Killeen clubhouse.
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Monday
5. Halloween fun for the little ones…
It’s the day where kids all over town get dressed up and fill up on goodies going door to door.
Crag Cave out in Castleisland is hosting a special Halloween Fancy Dress Disco for all the little ghosts and goblins from 2pm to 5pm to get kids prepared for trick or treating later.
It costs €8 per child and you get a goodie bag and they’ll be prizes for best costumes.
.Staff from Sam McCauley’s, including Jennifer McCaffrey and family, at the presentation of a cheque to Bru Columbanus last Thursday.
THE staff in Sam McCauley Chemists Tralee made a very special charity presentation to Bru Columbanus, a facility close to the heart of one particular employee.
The team in Sam McCauley’s raised an amazing €2,443 through a Christmas Wrapping Collection in December.
A long serving member of staff in Sam McCauley’s, Jennifer McCaffrey, from Tralee, learned first-hand the service Bru Columbanus provides where accommodation is free of charge to the relatives of seriously ill patients in Cork hospitals and hospices, especially relatives of sick children.
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In 2014 Jennifer and her partner, JP Healy from Adare, were excitedly awaiting the arrival of their baby daughter. When Jennifer’s waters broke unexpectedly at just 25 weeks pregnant, she had to be transferred from University Hospital Kerry to Cork University Hospital in order to receive the care she needed.
Jennifer received wonderful care from all the doctors and nurses in CUH and her beautiful daughter Ella May was welcomed into the world 11 weeks prematurely in November 2014 weighing just 3lbs.
Due to complications from Jennifer’s waters breaking so early and being born so prematurely Ella May stayed in CUH from 16th November 2014 until she was finally left home on January 5, 2015.
Jennifer did not leave her side and her ability to remain so close to her precious daughter was made possible in no small part by the people in Bru Columbanus.
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Bru Columbanus provided an en suite family room to Jennifer and JP throughout their stressful and often emotional hospital journey with Ella May. They had access to a communal kitchen and lounge where they met and became friendly with other families in similar situations which was a source of great support.
Ella May remained in hospital all through the Christmas period of 2014. Having a child in hospital at any point of the year is difficult but becomes more so during the festive period.
However, because of the service Bru Columbanus provided, Jennifer’s two older children Abbie and Luke were able to come and stay with her during the weekend. They could spend time together and go Christmas shopping.
Bru Columbanus allowed them to feel like a family again during a Christmas period which could easily have been chaotic and lonely had it not been for this amazing service. When Jennifer & JP were leaving Cork to finally bring Ella May home, all they were asked to do was to give a discreet donation to Bru Columbanus of any amount of their choosing.
Speaking about her time in Bru Columbanus Jennifer said; “Looking at Ella May now and seeing how she has developed into such a happy, gregarious lively little girl it can be hard to remember a time when she was so fragile. Looking back on our journey with her I know for certain that it would have been a million times harder for me, JP and our families to get through if we hadn’t received such wonderful care from Bru Columbanus.
“They were there for my family when we needed help the most and we could not be more grateful. The service they provide is invaluable and I cannot compliment the staff and volunteers enough. They gave us a sense of normalcy during a very emotional time. It means so much to be able to present them with this donation. I would like to thank all my colleagues in Sam McCauley’s for their help in collecting this money, it was a team effort and they really got behind it. A special thanks to everyone who donated, your generosity will ensure that Bru Columbanus can continue to do such wonderful work.”
Every year Sam McCauley’s Tralee chooses a deserving charity to whom they donate the proceeds of this collection.
Bru Columbanus accommodated 680 families in 2015, of which 263 were from Kerry. They are a small, independent charity completely reliant on donations and fundraising. There is an opportunity to support Bru Columbanus on Saturday, October 29, when a fancy dress Rock Night will be held at the Abbey Inn Tralee.
THREE charity events held in July and August in memory of a former Austin Stacks player raised almost €13,000.
Trevor’s family and Austin Stacks Hurling Club organised three events in July/August for Bru Columbanus, Cork which is an independent charity that provides “home from home” accomodation for relatives of seriously ill patients in any of the Cork hospitals and the Hospice.
Funds raised amounted to €12,907.69 and Trevor’s Dad, Richard Barrett presented a cheque for this amount to Anne Maria O’Connor of Bru Columbanus, Cork at Austin Stacks Club, Connolly Park, Tralee on Tuesday.
The events held were a Table Quiz organised by Trevor’s brother, Paul in Dublin; Golf Classic held at Ballyheigue Golf Club and an Invitational Hurling Tournament held at Connolly Park, Tralee.
At the presentation of a cheque for nearly €13,000 for Bru Columbanus, the benefits of three charity events held in memory of Trevor Barrett were; Martin Collins (Austin Stacks PRO); Lorraine Counihan; Gillian Barrett; Anne Maria O’Connor (Bru Columbanus); Richard Barrett; Betty Barrett; Sadhbh Maguire; Aidan O’Connor (Chairman, Austin Stacks GAA Club); Anthony Fitzgerald. In front, hurlers Ronan Mhac Ghiolla TSeainan, Kevin O’Leary, Peter O’Regan, Michael O’Leary and Danny Maguire. Photo by Adrienne McLoughlin
