News Archives - Page 9 of 16

Jun 05

University Concert Hall SPAR Panto Cinderella launched with star-studded cast

by richanthon in Family, News, Performance 0 comments 3338 0

SPAR Panto Cinderella

The star studded cast of the SPAR Panto, Cinderella, were out in force to launch this yearÕs show which runs at University Concert Hall, Limerick from December 18th. The fairytale cast, in full costume, looked very much at home in the beautiful garden room surrounds of House, Limerick.
Panto debut in a starring role will be Haley-Jo Murphy as Cinderella and Myles Breen and Richard Lynch as the hilarious (and hideous!) Ugly Sisters at there launch in House, Limerick.
Samantha Mumba, who shot to fame in 2000 with the release of her debut single and most recently seen on Celebrity Masterchef, joins the UCH Panto cast for the first time this year.
Samantha MumbaÕs debut single Gotta Tell You went straight to the top of the Irish, UK and US charts in 2000. An international star, she went on to sell almost 5 million copies of hits during her successful singing career. Samantha also worked with Steven Spielberg, Vinnie Jones, Roger Daltrey and Patrick Bergin during her time as an actress.
A recent viewer-favourite on Celebrity Masterchef, Samantha is now preparing to be ÒbooedÓ off the stage as she takes on the role of CinderellaÕs evil Stepmother in this yearÕs University Concert Hall panto!
Picture Sean Curtin True Media.

University Concert Hall SPAR Panto Cinderella launched with star-studded cast

The star-studded cast of the SPAR Panto, Cinderella, were out in force on Tuesday, October 31st to launch this year’s show which runs at University Concert Hall, Limerick from December 18th until January 7th. The fairytale cast, in full costume, looked very much at home in the beautiful garden room surrounds of House, Limerick.

Samantha Mumba, who shot to fame in 2000 with the release of her debut single and most recently seen on Celebrity Masterchef, joins the UCH Panto cast for the first time this year.

Samantha Mumba, Cinderella’s evil Stepmother and Leanne Moore as the Fairy Godmother at the launch in House, Limerick. Picture Sean Curtin True Media.

Samantha Mumba’s debut single Gotta Tell You went straight to the top of the Irish, UK and US charts in 2000. An international star, she went on to sell almost 5 million copies of hits during her successful singing career. Samantha also worked with Steven Spielberg, Vinnie Jones, Roger Daltrey and Patrick Bergin during her time as an actress.

A recent viewer-favourite on Celebrity Masterchef, Samantha is now preparing to be “booed” off the stage as she takes on the role of Cinderella’s evil Stepmother in this year’s University Concert Hall panto!

Speaking today Samantha said, “I’m really looking forward to taking part in this year’s Panto, and am very excited to be playing Cinderella’s Stepmother– I’ve never played a baddie before so I’ll get to boss the Ugly Sisters around and have a lot of fun with this role!”

Joining Samantha for his SPAR Panto debut at University Concert Hall will be Dayl Cronin, Dancing With The Stars semi-finalist and former member of Irish boyband Hometown, who will star as Cinderella’s love interest, Prince Charming.

Dayl Cronin, the Prince and Panto debut in a starring role will be Haley-Jo Murphy, Cinderella at the launch in House, Limerick. Picture Sean Curtin True Media.

The Robert C Kelly and University Concert Hall Panto is now in its sixth year and has grown to become one of the most eagerly anticipated in the country, with a host of Irish showbiz names starring since 2012.

Magic, romance, a feisty heroine, a handsome prince, dubious sisters that could do with a beauty blogger boot camp, chart hits and hilarity will all combine inCinderella to produce the most wondrous panto ever seen!

Also starring Richie Hayes as Cinderella’s BFF Buttons, Leanne Moore as the Fairy Godmother, comedian Tom O’Mahony as Dandini and Myles Breen and Richard Lynch as the hilarious (and hideous!) Ugly Sisters. Making her UCH Panto debut in a starring role will be Haley-Jo Murphy as Cinderella!

Feedback for last year’s panto was amazing. “Fantastic…one of the best shows ever. Loved it from start to finish”,
“I was like a little kid again”, “I won’t be forgetting this show for a long, long time”, “Brilliant fun for all”.

The SPAR Panto Cinderella will be running at University Concert Hall, Limerick from 18th December 2017 – 7th January 2018. Tickets from €18.50 with Matinee & Evening Shows. Box Office: 061 331549.

For stories on previous Pantos click here

Click here for more info and to book tickets for this year’s UCH SPAR Panto Cinderella

Jun 05

Celia Holman Lee styles shoot to promote Focus Ireland Beloved shops

by richanthon in Awareness, Charity, Fashion, News 0 comments 2790 0

Celia volunteered her time to style a fashion photo shoot to promote Focus Ireland Beloved charity shops. Celia pictured here with Richard Lynch and the crew from I Love Limerick, the team from Focus Ireland and models from the Holman Lee Agency. Picture: Michael O’Sullivan/OSM Photo.

Celia Holman Lee styles shoot to promote Focus Ireland Beloved shops

Limerick’s Celia Holman Lee has given her backing to the fight against homelessness with the news that she has been unveiled as an ambassador for Focus Ireland.

The well-known model, fashion stylist and television presenter is supporting the Focus Ireland efforts locally in Limerick, and nationally, as the homelessness crisis worsens.

Recently Celia volunteered her time to style a fashion photo shoot to promote the Focus Ireland Beloved charity shops. The shoot was produced with the help of Richard Lynch and his crew from I Love Limerick and took place at the Georgian House building and the Peoples Park in Limerick city. Luke Culhane, Limericks current Limerick Person of the Year and Aisling O’Connor filmed the day’s events. Limerick ladies Lousie Griffin and Mary Joyce donated their time to do the makeup and the hair and Michael O’Sullivan from Cork who regularly works with Focus Ireland was the photographer for the shoot. Models were provided by the Holman Lee Agency.

Focus Ireland Beloved shops help Focus Ireland to raise funds to create safe, secure homes for homeless people all over Ireland.

These quaint little shops have four locations in Ireland and are the talk of the town. The quirky boutiques specialise in quality fashion and gifts for women and children.

Beloved stocks new and gently worn clothing donated by designers, retailers, and private donors. You’ll even find many clothes with the labels still on. Examples of stock include items from designers Fendi and Dolce & Gabbana as well as high street shops Karen Millen, Zara, Cos, and Oasis. The stores also stock homeware, gifts, calendars and iPhone covers.

All the money raised through the stores goes directly towards Focus Ireland’s fight against homelessness.

Celia pictured styling a model from the Holman Lee Agency for the Focus Ireland Beloved charity shops photo shoot. Picture: Michael O’Sullivan/OSM Photo.

Next year, 2018 will mark twenty years of Focus Ireland service provision in Limerick City and County, and now more than ever Celia is urging local people to get behind the efforts.

Focus Ireland Ambassador Celia Holman Lee said, “I am so honoured to become an ambassador for Focus Ireland as thanks to them there is a clear end in sight for the trauma of homelessness that Irish families are currently going through each day.

“It breaks my heart to see that the number of homeless children has continued to rise and to be given an opportunity to shine a light on this crisis is something that I feel very passionate about.

“I am a mother and a grandmother and my family means more to me than anything else in the world.”

She added: “We have to protect these families and ensure that all children in this country feel safe and secure.”

The impact, which Focus Ireland has made on the people of Limerick, was borne out by a recent study, which outlined the difference a youth housing project made in the city.

It changed the lives of young people who were homeless or at risk, and the project has been so successful that leading international experts believe it should be introduced nationally.

Shockingly 1 in 3 now experiencing homelessness is a child and the situation is getting worse all the time. There are now over 2500 children living in emergency accommodation in Ireland. Homelessness is a frightening and shocking experience for anyone, and for a child, even a short period of being out of home can have a long-term and far-reaching impact on their life.

Focus Ireland’s Limerick Manager Ger Spillane has witnessed first-hand the impact of the soaring cost of rent coupled with a shortage of supply, locally.

Mr. Spillane said: “Focus Ireland knows through our work that seeking advice and information as early as possible can really help to prevent people from losing their home.

To have someone as committed and high-profile as Celia Holman Lee supporting our efforts means a lot in terms of raising awareness of the issues, and helping us to fund our services.”

Mr. Spillane said: “Our frontline staff here are still dealing with people who have become homeless from the rental sector as rents have been hiked up and they can’t afford them.

There needs to a much wider range of Government actions taken to keep protect tenants and keep them in their homes.”

The charity said the Government really has to kick-start the building of homes and follow through on delivering a more secure private rented sector if Ireland is to end the deepening crisis in the rental housing and homelessness areas.

Ger Spillane added: “Having Celia on board helps Focus Ireland to raise vital funds and awareness of the fact that the housing crisis is continuing to deepen.”

He concluded: “An average of 80 families has become homeless every month so far this year, compared with 60 a month last year. The crisis is worsening.”

Focus Ireland said it aims to play its own key role in overcoming the crisis – for people who are homeless or at risk as the charity aims to double its housing stock over the next four years. The charity currently provides homes for over 600 households around the country who were previously homeless or at risk.

To find out more about the Focus Ireland Beloved Shops and where they are located click here

To read more of our stories on Celia Holman Lee’s involvement with Focus Ireland click here and here

To read more Focus Ireland stories go here

To find out more about Focus Ireland click here

Jun 05

Gold Medal for Adare in this year’s Limerick Going for Gold 2017

by richanthon in Award, Community, News 0 comments 2308 0

Gold Medal for Adare in this year’s Limerick Going for Gold 2017 – Adare was awarded the top prize of €10,000, with €7,000 and €5,000 being presented to Abbeyfeale (2nd) and South Limerick City (3rd) respectively.

Gold Medal for Adare in this year’s Adare Limerick Going for Gold 2017

By I Love Limerick Correspondent Jordan Mac Cormaic

There were jubilant celebrations in The Strand Hotel, Limerick last night as Adare claimed the top prize in Limerick Going for Gold 2017.

Limerick Going for Gold 2017, which is sponsored by the JP McManus Charitable Foundation, has a total prize pool of over €75,000.

It is organised by Limerick City and County Council and supported by Limerick’s Live 95FM, The Limerick Leader and The Limerick Chronicle, The Limerick Post, Parkway Shopping Centre, I Love Limerick and Southern Marketing Media & Design.

A total of twelve communities made the final of the Limerick Going for Gold Challenge Category before the winners were announced at the grand finale, attended by hundreds of people from communities across Limerick city and county.

Prizes were also awarded in six other Going for Gold categories.

Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr Stephen Keary congratulated the participating communities for helping to ensure that Limerick Going for Gold 2017 continued to be a tremendous success.

“Limerick Going for Gold’s mission is to make Limerick a brighter, better, cleaner place to live, work and visit and every community who participated in this year’s event must be congratulated on the amazing job you have done once again.”

“It never ceases to amaze me how a shared sense of community spirit among people can help to transform an area. It is clear that Going for Gold has also helped to complement, consolidate and add value to the council’s involvement and engagement with the broader community sector in Limerick.”

The Challenge Category final was made up of 12 groups from across Limerick.

Finalists were chosen by popular vote on Limerick’s Live 95FM over a five-week period.

The popular vote finalists were Athea, Castleconnell, Galbally, Hospital and Oola. They were joined by wildcard finalists Abbeyfeale, Adare, Croom, Foynes, Kilfinane, Moyross, South Limerick City who were selected by the Limerick Going for Gold Judges Richard Barry (Tidy Towns Chair Tallanstown Co Louth) and Jimmy Feane (retired Director of Service, Limerick City and County Council).

Adare was awarded the top prize of €10,000, with €7,000 and €5,000 being presented to Abbeyfeale (2nd) and South Limerick City (3rd) respectively.

The other placed finalists were Oola and Croom (4th – €3,000/ 5th – €2,000).

The remaining groups were commended and received €1,000 each.

Head of the Adare Limerick Going for Gold 2017 team George Stack said of the win: “This means everything to everyone in Adare, it’s something that everyone in the community has helped with in various ways.”

He continued: “I’m so pleased for all of the marvellous people that have given their time and effort to keep Adare in tip-top shape.”

Going for Gold 2017 Limerick in Bloom was won by Kilteely (€5,000) with runners-up Patrickswell getting €3,000. In third place was Croagh (€2,000).

The following groups were highly commended and each received an award of €1000 – Ardpatrick, Athea, Broadford, Bruff, Caherconlish, Galbally, Kilmallock, and Newcastle West.

Prizes were also awarded to Tidy Towns groups based on their Tidy Towns score.

The Overall most improved across Limerick was Kilcornan (€2,000).

The Overall most improved in each Municipal District will be awarded €1,000 each and they were Abbeyfeale, Glenroe, Gouldavoher and Rathkeale.

The overall winner of the Residential Area Category (€2,000) was presented to Caherdavin with Monaleeen Park in 2nd place (€1,500) and Cappamore Estates in 3rd place (€1,000).

The following areas received highly commended (€500) – Mill Road, Croom Estates, Grange, Glenbrook, Glendale & Glendale Lawn, Castletroy View, Gouldavoher, Carraballawn, Carriglea, Drominbeg, Slugaire, Woodlawn, Verdant, Carriglea.

The Grange in Raheen received the award for Best Newcomer (€500).

Endeavour Awards of between €500 and €1,000 were presented Limerick Fairtrade Committee, Limerick Youth Service Centre, Southill Tidy Towns Group and Westfields Wetlands to encourage and/ or support ongoing work on the environment.

In recognition of National Reuse Month the Limerick Going for Gold Reuse Award went to the UL Environmental Committee for their repair and repurpose initiative of on-campus laptops, macs and smartphones, and to Our Lady of Lourdes for their Food Waste Prevention Project.

The Garden Competition Category was sponsored by the Parkway Shopping Centre and featured a prize fund of €1,000 in shopping vouchers.

Roger Beck from the Parkway Shopping Centre presented prizes to John and Ita Carroll, Castlemahon (1st), Frank Costelloe, Askeaton (2nd) and Robert O’Byrne, Kennedy Park (3rd).

In a new departure for 2017, the Limerick Going for Gold judges awarded a Judges’ Award trophy to The Bake House, Bruff, Tait House, Southill, Leen’s Hotel, Abbeyfeale, The Bridges in Croom and the Stryker Roundabout, Raheen.

The #Loveyourlimerick Photographic Competition was won by John McCarthy, for his depiction of a day in the life of Kilteely and Fiona Quinn for capturing a moment many of us will have seen along the quays in Limerick city.

Speaking at the event Noel Earlie from the JP McManus Charitable Foundation said: “It was considered important that recognition be given to community groups, in whatever form they take, for their contribution to the environment. They’re role models for all of us, leading by example. Congratulations to all the communities involved. Your efforts are paying off.”

To visit the official website for Limerick Going for Gold click here

To read more Going for Gold stories on I Love Limerick click here

May 31

MRS MakeUp and Leanne Moore celebrate the new Crescent Cailyn Ireland stand

by richanthon in Beauty, Business, News 0 comments 3856 0

Cailyn Ireland counter launch at Shaws, Crescent Shopping Centre, Limerick make up artist Michelle Regazzoli Stone, fitness expert Leanne Moore and style and Cailyn Makeup Artists Aimee and Lisa. Picture: Zoe Conway/ilovelimerick 2018.

MRS MakeUp and Leanne Moore celebrate the new Cailyn Ireland Cosmetics stand at the Crescent Shopping Centre

by ILoveLimerick correspondent Eimear Kelly

Cailyn Ireland have opened a new island floor cosmetics stand in Shaw’s Department Stores at The Crescent Shopping Centre and to celebrate the official launch on Wednesday, May 30 at 7 pm, Michelle Regazzoli Stone aka MRS Makeup, one of the most well-established make-up artists in Ireland and the UK will be holding an instore masterclass, doing a makeover on fitness guru, Leanne Moore.

MRS Makeup, Michelle Regazzoli Stone is a very well established and talented makeup artist whose work is regularly featured in many publications and magazines such as Hello!, Closer, VIP, RSVP and Confetti Bridal to name but a few. Some of Michelle’s regular clients include former Miss World Rosanna Davison and The Only Way is Essex stars, Samantha and Billie Faiers.

Leanne Moore, You’re a Star winner, journalist, TV Presenter, panto star, fitness guru and blogger is Mrs. Makeup’s model for the evening. Mrs. Makeup will guide guests through the Cailyn Cosmetics product range, showing her tips and tricks to make the most out of the products.

Michelle said, “I am so excited to meet everyone in Limerick and thrilled to be making over one of Limerick’s leading ladies Leanne. Leanne is a fitness expert and I want to do a look on her focusing on the 3 key essentials of Cailyn – Long wear, smudge proof, waterproof. Leanne is the ideal person to work on to show just how incredible Cailyn cosmetics are.”

Leanne said, “ I am so excited as I love makeup as much as any girl. As a girl on the go, I am extremely active and I want to learn how to apply my makeup so it lasts throughout the day, but stays looking fresh. I am also eager for Michelle to show me how to take my day look into night. She is the expert!”

Annette Gayson of Cailyn Ireland adds, “Makeup application, one on one lessons and fantastic customer service awaits you at Cailyn, where our wonderful makeup artists Aimee and Lisa are on hand to pass on all the tricks and tips to get the most out of your products. We are honoured to open our first national outlet showcasing over 60 lines in Limerick, my home and my favourite place to be.”

Produced in L.A., Cailyn Cosmetics was established in 2000 and the brand was introduced to Ireland in 2014 and has gone from strength to strength. They provide a variety of high-quality product lines including mineral based face and body makeup, as well as naturally inspired skin care lines and nail care products.

Cailyn was originally created for the high fashion industry so it is high definition, super long lasting, hard wearing makeup. Mineral based and certified cruelty free, it truly is beauty engineered!

Tickets for the Cailyn Ireland MRS MakeUp Masterclass taking place from 7 pm to 9 pm on Wednesday, May 30 in Shaw’s Department Store at The Crescent Shopping Centre can be purchased on Eventbrite and instore for only €20. Ticket price is redeemable against the purchase of two products on the night. For more info contact Annette at [email protected].

To purchase tickets click here

To read more beauty related stories click here

To read Mrs. Makeup’s blog click here

To read Leanne Moore’s blog click here

For more information about Cailyn Ireland click here

Mar 15

BNest Social Incubator Showcase 2018 gives Midwest Social Enterprises a platform to shine

by richanthon in Business, News 0 comments 1865 0

BNest Social Incubator Showcase 2018 gives Midwest Social Enterprises a platform to shine

BNest, the first dedicated Social Enterprise Incubator, is an initiative created specifically to support social entrepreneurs nurture their start-ups, and caters to all types of organisations from charities to businesses with a social conscience. On Tuesday, March 13, BNest held their Showcase Day 2018 to highlight these enterprises and the substantial progress that has been made with the help of BNest, as well as to allow others to view the real social impact that each individual organisation is having on the broader community they are serving.

Since September 2016, in partnership with Nexus Centre UL, BNest have been running a six-month programme in which emerging social enterprises learn how to get their new organisations off to the best start by focusing on key areas related to developing their enterprises, in terms of business, social and personal aspects.

Bnest Social Incubator Showcase 2018. Picture: Ciara Maria Hayes for Ilovelimerick 2018.

Eamon Ryan who founded and self-funded BNest said, “We are the first fully-fledged social incubator in Ireland, and the idea was to create a peer group which shared experiences that could help one another. BNest has been given a home by the University of Limerick, where participants have access to the full facilities of the Nexus Innovation Centre. The venture is being philanthropically funded for three years at a cost of about €20,000 per programme, while participation is free for the enterprises selected. Last year, nine enterprises completed the programme, and this year another eight enterprises took part.”

At the BNest Social Incubator Showcase 2018, the graduates showcased their enterprises, which are achieving real social impact across the Midwest, dealing with various issues from mental health to the environment. Eamon adds, “These passionate people have worked on their projects for the past 6 months and it was so exciting to have a showcase event, so people could learn about each of the projects and meet the people behind them. Its all about people stepping forward to do something that they see is not being done and with this year’s crew it was a privilege to have people in this group taking and sorting real issues and problems facing our community and society in general.”
In addition to the display booths a short informal presentation was made by each enterprise including Limerick Autism Group, a support service for autistic children, their parents and siblings and Visual Limerick, a project to help showcase the positive attributes of Limerick by utilising shop windows and promoting Limerick’s educational, literary, artistic and innovation works, concepts and ideas.

Current BNest Incubator participant, Catherine O’Brien set up an online platform for parents of children with special needs called ‘ODODO’, and says that working with BNest has, “Helped improve my original concept as it enabled me to take it apart, and build it right back up.” Evelyn Pepperrell of ADD/ADHD Midwest Support Group who completed the programme last year said, “The programme has given our group massive confidence in putting our message forward. The ongoing support for our project has continued to be invaluable as you have on the spot follow up if issues arise.”

The Limerick Gateway to Education was also involved with the BNest Incubator last year. Founder, Suzanne Roche said, “I took part in the BNest Incubator programme last year, and its content and ongoing support for our project has continued to be invaluable. When I started the project in 2012, I was very much on my own, it’s a fantastic programme as you have on the spot follow up if issues arise. A great programme to get involved in, if you’re a start-up.”

Bnest Social Incubator Showcase 2018. Picture: Ciara Maria Hayes for Ilovelimerick 2018.

On the day, there were various guest speakers from Carmel Fox, former CEO of Ballyhoura Development, and 18-year-old Emily Duffy, founder of the Duffily bag, as well as Gert O’Rourke, centre manager of Nexus UL.

Fox spoke of the passion and drive required by people choosing a path, and spoke of the obstacles faced when building an organisation, as well as ways to combat these issues, funding is always problematic as many depend on the leader being able to find and engage a team of complementary skills around them. This is a difficult challenge for all enterprises but one they need to solve, Fox explained.

The next speaker was Miss Emily Duffy, who founded the Duffily Bag at just 14 years old. Duffy spoke on the need to understand the real needs of the user. Her “sleeping bag” for the homeless was designed by engaging with them to fully understand what life was like on the street, delivered in a way that met their unique needs, not necessarily those that we might assume they have. She also spoke re the challenges of taking a great idea to scale, the need to balance control of the purpose of growing the diverse team that can deliver it.

Centre manager of Nexus UL, Gert O’Rourke aimed her talk on the importance of diversity within commercial and social enterprises.

For more information visit www.bnest.ie or email Kasia Zabinska, BNest Manager at [email protected].

For more stories on BNest go here.

For more info on BNest go here.

Oct 24

Focus Ireland Ambassador Celia Holman Lee Joins the Fight Against Homelessness

by richanthon in News 0 comments 3109 0

Pictured at the Focus Ireland Ambassador Celia Holman Lee video promo shoot from left to right – Rebecca Reynolds, Focus Ireland, Richard Lynch and Aisling O’Connor, I Love Limerick, Celia Holman Lee, Focus Ireland Ambassador, Claire Culhane, Luke Culhane, Limerick Person of the Year and Mick O’Connor, Focus Ireland. Picture: Michael O’Sullivan.

Celia Holman Lee Fights Homelessness with Focus Ireland

Focus Ireland Ambassador Celia Holman Lee joins the fight against Homelessness

Limerick’s Celia Holman Lee has given her backing to the fight against homelessness with the news that she has been unveiled as an ambassador for Focus Ireland.

The well-known model, fashion stylist and television presenter is supporting the Focus Ireland efforts locally in Limerick, and nationally, as the homelessness crisis worsens.

Next year, 2018 will mark twenty years of Focus Ireland service provision in Limerick City and County, and now more than ever Celia is urging local people to get behind the efforts.

Focus Ireland Ambassador Celia Holman Lee said: “I am so honoured to become an ambassador for Focus Ireland as thanks to them there is a clear end in sight for the trauma of homelessness that Irish families are currently going through each day.

“It breaks my heart to see that the number of homeless children has continued to rise and to be given an opportunity to shine a light on this crisis is something that I feel very passionate about.

“I am a mother and a grandmother and my family means more to me than anything else in the world.”

She added: “We have to protect these families and ensure that all children in this country feel safe and secure.”

The impact which Focus Ireland has made on the people of Limerick was borne out by a recent study which outlined the difference a youth housing project made in the city.

It changed the lives of young people who were homeless or at risk, and the project has been so successful that leading international experts believe it should be introduced nationally.

Despite the best efforts of many, Limerick is one of the most economically disadvantaged cities in Ireland.

Recent evidence suggests that its position has declined further relative to other cities since the recession.

Focus Ireland Ambassador Celia Holman Lee

Celia Holman Lee, Focus Ireland Ambassador, Richard Lynch, I Love Limerick and Rebecca Reynolds, Focus Ireland. Picture: Michael O’Sullivan.

This environment has, in turn, increased the difficulties faces by many of those Focus Ireland assists in seeking housing, employment and other supports.Focus Ireland’s Limerick Manager Ger Spillane has witnessed first-hand the impact of the soaring cost of rent coupled with a shortage of supply, locally.

Mr Spillane said: “Focus Ireland knows through our work that seeking advice and information as early as possible can really help to prevent people from losing their home.”

“To have someone as committed and high-profile as Celia Holman Lee supporting our efforts means a lot in terms of raising awareness of the issues, and helping us to fund our services.”

Mr Spillane said: “Our frontline staff here are still dealing with people who have become homeless from the rental sector as rents have been hiked up and they can’t afford them.

“There needs to a much wider range of Government actions taken to keep protect tenants and keep them in their homes.”

Ger Spillane added: “Having Celia on board helps Focus Ireland to raise vital funds and awareness of the fact that the housing crisis is continuing to deepen.”

He concluded: “An average of 80 families has become homeless every month so far this year, compared with 60 a month last year. The crisis is worsening.”

Focus Ireland said it aims to play its own key role in overcoming the crisis – for people who are homeless or at risk- as the charity aims to double its housing stock over the next four years.

The charity currently provides homes for over 600 households around the country who were previously homeless or at risk.

To visit the official website for Focus Ireland Ambassador Celia Holman Lee click here

To visit the official website for Focus Ireland click here

To read more Focus Ireland stories on I Love Limerick click here

Oct 24

Limerick Going for Gold 2017 #LoveyourLimerick photo competition with Luke Culhane

by richanthon in News 0 comments 2702 0

Limerick Going for Gold 2017 #LoveyourLimerick photo competition with Luke Culhane

A new category has been added to this year’s Limerick Going for Gold 2017. #loveyourlimerick Photo Competition aims to attract wonderful photographs of communities, places, and towns throughout Limerick city and county.

There will be a junior category for those under 21 who enter this category. A cash prize of €500 will be awarded to the winning photographer who submits best overall #loveyourlimerick 2017, with an additional €500 awarded to his/ her community. Runners-up prizes will also be awarded.

Film maker Luke Culhane, Limerick Person of the Year launching the #loveyourlimerick campaign. Picture: Alan Place.

Luke Culhane, Film maker and our current Limerick Person of the Year lends his support to the #loveyourlimerick Photo Competition. The 14-year-old, who campaigned against cyber-bullying with his ‘Create No Hate’ video that reached international acclaim. Luke was also Grand Marshall in this year’s Limerick’s St Patrick’s Day parade. Last week I had the honour of creating a video promo with Luke for the #loveyourlimerick campaign and you can see it now on ILoveLimerick.com and all our social media.

To enter the Limerick Going for Gold #loveyourlimerick Photographic Competition email a high-resolution image (1-10 megabytes) to [email protected], use the hashtag #loveyourlimerick and upload on either Instagram or Twitter. Indicate your age if you are under 21

A cash prize of €500 will be awarded to the winning photographer who submits best overall #loveyourlimerick 2017, with an additional €500 awarded to his/ her community. Runners-up prizes will also be awarded.

More than 140 applications have been received for Limerick Going for Gold 2017.

All of these groups have already received Limerick Going for Gold Environment Improvement Grant funding ranging from €200– €2,000 to assist them with their environmental work and help with the overall aim of Limerick Going for Gold which is to make Limerick a cleaner, brighter, place to work live and visit.

These groups are also in with a chance to win an award in the Limerick Going for Gold Grand Final that will take place in October. Judging of all the Limerick Going for Gold entrants is ongoing and will take place up until mid-September.

Other categories in this year’s Limerick Going for Gold competition include Limerick in Bloom, Residential Areas (including Estates), Challenge Category, Tidy Towns Incentive Category and Best Front Garden Competition, sponsored by the Parkway Shopping Centre. More info on Limerick.ie.

To enter the Limerick Going for Gold #loveyourlimerick Photographic Competition:

Email a high res image (1-10 megabytes) to limerickgoingforgold@limerick.ie
Use the hashtag #loveyourlimerick and upload on either Instagram or Twitter
Indicate your age if you are under 21
Please view terms and conditions on https://www.limerick.ie/council/services/environment/clean-community/limerick-going-gold

For more on Limerick Going for Gold 2017 click here

Oct 24

Limerick LGBTI Pride 2017 is huge success with inspirational youth pride of place

by richanthon in Community, News 0 comments 3165 0

Limerick LGBTI Pride 2017 is huge success with inspirational youth pride of place

Richard Lynch, PRO Limerick LGBTI Pride 2017, Cllr Vivienne Crowley, Deputy Mayor of Limerick pictured with some the inspirational young people who form the Youth Advisory Panel on the LGBT Youth Strategy at the Limerick LGBT Pride Parade 2017. Picture: Álex Ricöller/ilovelimerick

This year the focus of Limerick LGBTI Pride 2017 was youth with inspirational young people taking pride of place in the celebrations. The Limerick LGBTI Pride 2017 Grand Marshals were the incredible young people who form the Youth Advisory Panel on the LGBTI Youth Strategy. This strategy is the first of its kind in the world focusing on the needs of LGBT young people in Ireland. The young people came from all over Ireland to represent the youth strategy team. Seven members of the group travelled to Limerick to take part in the LGBTI Pride Parade as Grand Marshals.

The young people were delighted to be involved in Limerick LGBTI Pride 2017. The group were keen to focus on gender recognition. During their speech at Pride Fest following the parade, one member of the group said “In this country, if you are under 16 you can’t be legally recognised for your gender. If you are between 16 and 17 you can but you have to go through loopholes. Right now we are trying to fix that so that everybody can have legal gender recognition”.

The amazing young people spoke candidly at Pride Fest with another member saying “When we were talking to young people while doing our consultations we found out that some of the words we use all the time in our community are not words that everybody knows. When I say my pronouns are she/her that means that is how I would like to be addressed, when people use those pronouns with me that is them respecting me”.

The aim of the group is to develop a strategy which addresses the challenges and needs faced by young members of Ireland’s LGBTI community and will work with young people from all over the country to do so. The strategy will ensure that all young LGBTI young people can achieve their full potential in terms of their physical and mental well-being, being safe and protected from harm and are respected and contributing to their world.

Pictured Glenn Keating, Belong To (bottom left) pictured with some the inspirational young people who form the Youth Advisory Panel on the LGBT Youth Strategy at the Limerick LGBT Pride Parade 2017. Picture: Álex Ricöller/ilovelimerick

Members of the group also spoke about their experience of being involved in the strategy and what it means to them “I am lucky I live in Dublin it’s a very friendly and open environment but other areas of Ireland are not like that and those are the people that I am trying to help. Those people who are younger than me and who will grow up after me deserve to be represented”.

The group were passionate about their work and one member spoke about the inclusion of the I for intersex in LGBTI. “I stands for intersex, an intersex person is someone who was born with ambiguous genitalia or chromosomes. That means that they are not classed with what would traditionally be a male or female body. Often these babies have surgery to make them ‘normal’ and we would like to put a stop to that with our involvement in this strategy”.

Overall, Limerick LGBTI Pride 2017 was a huge success with events running throughout the week. The main celebrations took place on Saturday with the Parade, Pride Fest at performances at Dolan’s. The parade saw hundreds of people line the streets of Limerick to celebrate Limerick LGBTI Pride 2017. This was followed by a huge Pride Fest held at the Hunt Museum which featured performances from legendary drag queen Shyanne O’Shea, Unity Gospel Choir Limerick amongst others. Saturday night saw Dolan’s filled with Pride as they hosted the Pride Climax party.

X Factor star Saara Alto took to the stage and gave a dazzling performance. Other performances on the night came from Limerick native Doreen Grimes, Shyanne O’Shea, Madonna Lucia and Paul Ryder.

Richard Lynch, PRO Limerick LGBTI+ Pride 2017 said “People have been asking now that Marriage Equality has been passed in Ireland, why is there a need for a Pride Festival? There will always be a need as long as others in the global LGBTQ community are not as fortunate as us in terms of equal rights. We must fight for our brothers and sisters throughout the world and take a stand for human rights for all. That’s why our theme this year is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBTQ) Youth. It was an event supporting LGBTQ young people in Limerick and beyond and we want Pride to be an inclusive, open and integrated event welcoming all people regardless of their sexual or gender orientation, religion or race.

For more on Limerick LGBTI Pride 2017 click here

For more on the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy click here

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Limerick LGBTI Pride 2017 is huge success with inspirational youth pride of place

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