Celia Featured image

On Wednesday 4th March, the launch of Celia Holman Lee exhibition ‘Celia Holman Lee: Limerick’s Style Icon’ took place in The Hunt Museum. 

Mary Kennedy, from RTE’s Nationwide and Celia’s close friend, was there on the night to help launch the exhibition. In her speech, Mary mentioned ‘Celia is a champion of Limerick and Irish design, and it’s lovely that The Hunt Museum is putting on this exhibition in this, the year of Irish design. She is a great person for supporting the Limerick boutiques. It is a wonderful asset to the city of Limerick.” 

On the night, Celia said ‘I’m overwhelmed, I’m honoured. I’m so proud of Limerick design because 99% of the clothes that are on show are manufactured here in the area of Limerick over the past 30 years that I have been wearing them. There is a story from every single one of them and it makes me think back on many wonderful memories. She joked about her husband complaining about all her clothes in the loft, saying ‘at long last I’ve cleaned out the loft Ger!”

Mary Kennedy, Celia Holman Lee and Richard Lynch at the launch of Celia Holman Lee's exhibition in The Hunt Museum.

Mary Kennedy, Celia Holman Lee and Richard Lynch at the launch of Celia Holman Lee’s exhibition in The Hunt Museum.

Celia Holman Lee is a well known fashion commentator and television presenter along with being a respected model and agent. Both nationally and internationally-recognised, she has been active in the fashion industry for five decades. During this time she has received a myriad of awards and plaudits. She was voted by the public as the winner of the first ever VIP Style Awards in 2002 and has not been off the country’s Best Dressed lists since. Throughout her career she has continually promoted Irish designers, gathering an extensive collection of their work which the Hunt Museum is delighted to showcase in Celia Holman-Lee: Limerick’s Style Icon from March 5th to May 3rd.

Celia began modelling at the age of 15 while she was still at school after being approached while working as a shop assistant in a boutique in Limerick. Her early career as a model saw her featured in magazines, newspapers and fashion brochures and she subsequently started the Holman Lee Agency when she was 22 and it is now the longest established model agency in Ireland.

Over the years she has developed her signature style, appropriately glamorous on the “red carpet” and classically chic in her everyday life. She has always been a great supporter of Irish designers and has generally favoured them for some of the landmark occasions of her life, from choosing a figure hugging cerise dress by Limerick knitwear designer Caroline Mitchell for her only daughter Cecile’s wedding to a bronze sequinned strapless dress from designer John McNamara for her 60th birthday party. Amongst the renowned Irish designers’ clothes hanging in her wardrobe and due to be featured in the upcoming Celia Holman-Lee: Limerick’s Style Icon at the Hunt Museum are a selection from Michelina Stacpoole, Paul Costelloe, Miriam Mone, Patrick Casey, Joanne Hynes, Aideen Bodkin, Marian Murphy Cooney, Vonnie Reynolds, Peter O’Brien and Don O’Neill along with some custom made outfits from local designers Alison Cowpar, Fiona Whyte, Mariam O’Donovan, Linda Wall and Clair Costelloe.

Celia Hunt Exhibition 2

Celia Holman Lee in her early modelling career in the 1970s.

Celia Holman Lee exhibition at Hunt Museum

Celia Holman Lee in her early modelling career in the 1970s.

Celia has also gathered an amazing archive of press clippings from magazines and newspapers spanning the many decades of her career including cover-shots from magazines along with lots of magazine photos features on Celia with many featuring some of the outfits that will feature in the Hunt Museum exhibition Celia Holman-Lee: Limerick’s Style Icon. She also has many photos from her early modelling career in the 1970s and some very interesting original brochures with her modelling for Shannon Airport Duty Free Mail Order and various other companies during that time period.

https://youtu.be/9ZNv7HUTjqk

For more information, check out Celia’s Facebook here
and her Twitter here.
For more information about Hunt Museum, click here.
Check out the Hunt Museum’s Twitter here and their Facebook here.
For more stories about Celia, click here.

 

 

The Sparkle & Shine Easter Ball 2016 in association with the Keith Duffy Foundation will take place on Easter Bank Holiday weekend, Saturday, March 26th, at the Limerick Strand Hotel.

Miriam O Callaghan, one of RTE’s most loved and respected presenters will co- present the evening along with former Boyzone star, actor and philanthropist Keith Duffy. Entertainment for the star-studded event will be provided by world-class performer Cole Page and his band. An exclusive live auction will be the highlight for many, along with an extensive raffle supported by local businesses.

This year the Sparkle and Shine initiative and the Keith Duffy Foundation, founded by Keith Duffy, have decided to join forces to raise funds for their respective chosen charities and to give the Midwest region a night that is set to become one of the most high profile events of the year.

The Keith Duffy Foundation has chosen Cliona’s Foundation to be their chosen charity for its inaugural event in Limerick. The aim of Cliona’s Foundation is to give financial support to families of children with life limiting illnesses, to help them pay for the vast amount of non-medical costs associated with caring for a seriously ill child, “I’m delighted to help raise funds for Cliona’s Foundation for the work they do, it is something that’s close to my heart as I have seen the financial burden on families caring for a critically ill child and as part of my work with the Keith Duffy Foundation which aims to provide support and financial assistance to a number of chosen children’s charities throughout the country. I am also thrilled that Miriam O Callaghan, a much respected broadcaster and the official patron of my chosen charity Cliona’s Foundation, is coming to show her support on the night.” 

Miriam O Callaghan, one of RTE’s most loved and respected faces will be Master of Ceremonies for the glamorous event. Miriam has become a household name in Ireland following her success on RTE’s Primetime and Saturday Night with Miriam.

There will be a live fundraiser auction compered by none other than Keith Duffy himself with some seriously fabulous treats up for grabs. World-renowned singer Cole Page will provide entertainment for the evening. Cole has performed for dignitaries from the worlds of politics, music and sport including Bill Clinton, Sir Alex Ferguson and Robbie Williams. There will be Easter favours at each seat, spot prizes, table prizes and gift bags and a raffle with a guaranteed prize of a minimum value of €100 at each table with plenty more opportunities to win prizes throughout the night.

The Sparkle and Shine Easter Ball in association with the Keith Duffy Foundation will take place on the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, Saturday, March 26th at the Limerick Strand Hotel.  Tickets cost €100 or €1000 for a table. Check out the Sparkle & Shine Facebook page here

Take a look at the Keith Duffy Foundation site here

Check out the Keith Duffy Foundation Facebook here

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St Munchins Community Centre 10 year anniversary

Pictured at St Munchins Community Centre 10 year Anniversary celebrations – Richard with Kevin O Reilly, Denise Mulcahy, Catherine Troy, Kieran O Neill, Chairperson St Munchins Community Centre, JP Mc Manus, Sue Anne Foley, Noreen McManus and Linda Ledger, Manager St Munchins Community Centre. Picture: Jonathan Baynes/ilovelimerick.

Spirits were high this week at the St Munchins Community Centre 10 year anniversary celebrations, after a decade of community enhancement and development, with special guests in attendance.

 JP and Noreen McManus attended the celebrations with daughter Sue-Ann Foley, in a show of support for the centre, and to turn the sod on the new day-care facility that will be built on the grounds.

After being presented with a number of gifts, in a show of gratitude for the help of the JP McManus Benevolent Fund, Sue-Ann Foley spoke to the crowds, encouraging the people who avail of the services offered to be “grateful” that they have people to speak for them, because “not every community has it. “We get plenty of applications in for centres such as this, and we try and help as many people as we can. It’s very easy to help St Munchin’s.

“My parents are very proud Limerick people.. And this centre shows what Limerick is about and the proper community spirit,” Sue-Ann said. Linda Ledger, St Munchin’s Centre Manager, thanked the McManus family for their continued support over the past decade. “None of this could have been done without JP McManus, he’s been our backbone. All our dreams have really just come true, and they’re even better than we thought.”

The centre continues to expand, taking over the grounds of the former St Lelia’s National School, which was one of three schools amalgamated into Thomond Primary, earlier this year. Thomond Primary is one of the many beneficiaries of the wide range of services that St Munchin’s offer to the community, with one of their newest ventures being the community café at the school, an extension of the café in the centre. Backed by social enterprise, six of the centre’s staff serve food to more than 250 students, giving them the chance to socialise with fellow students in the morning, over a healthy breakfast.

Linda Ledger spoke about the community café initiative, and its success so far. “There are some things like that, that we do, that you can’t put value on. There’s no glossy document, you just have to see it. And when you see something like that, it’s really wonderful,” she said. The new facility at the former St Lelia’s will be an “educational outreach” for everyone, young and old.

Paul Patton, Head of Further Education and Training, Limerick and Clare ETB, officially announced the major award in Healthcare Support that will be available in the new facility. Speaking about promoting education in the community, Mr Patton said: ““The whole idea is, as a social enterprise, is to work within the neighbourhood, and further afield.” This award covers modules, such as; Care Skills, Care of the Older Person, Care Support, Palilative Care Support, Infection Prevention Control, naming just a few. “We’re going to look at education in a completely different light.. We are tackling education, our way,” Linda said.

Visit the St Munchins’ Community Centre website here

Check out the St Munchin’s Community Centre Facebook page here and Twitter here

Read more about St Munchin’s here

Rugby legend Paul O Connell awarded UL doctorate honour

Dr Paul O Connell with Richard Lynch from I Love Limerick. Photo by Jonathan Baynes for ILoveLimerick.com

Limerick rugby legend Paul O Connell was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science at a ceremony in front of 1,000 invited guests on Thursday November 5, 2015.

The former Ireland captain, who bowed out of international rugby after picking up a hamstring injury at the World Cup last month, is the 100th person to receive an honorary doctorate at the University of Limerick.

Irish head coach Joe Schmidt, Munster players past and present, his family and friends, including wife Emily, son Paddy and daughter Lola were at this special event celebrating.

“I am delighted, I am a bit overwhelmed by it. I had a look through the list of previous conferees – it is great company that I will be keeping. I had a lovely phone call from Declan Kidney this morning – I was at his conferring previously,” said Paul.

O’Connell, who won 108 Irish caps over a glorious Irish career, said that the University, where he completed three of four years of a computer engineering degree before professional rugby came calling in 2001, had played a “big part” in his life.

“When you grow up in Limerick, the University ends up being a big part of your life, even if you don’t go here as a student,” he said.

“To get appreciated by your home university is something that is very special. I have played in teams all my life, great Munster and Irish teams and to be getting individual honours sometimes when you play a team sport is a bit strange and it can be a bit embarrassing because you are never in that situation, it is never about the individual when you are part of a team.

For 15 years the Munster icon has trained almost daily on campus in UL, and has a long association with the campus that dates back his days as a swimmer in the original PESS swimming pool as a four or five year old, he explained.

Asked about a break with that routine now with his move to Toulon in the offing – albeit with months of rehab for his injury ahead of him – he said simply: “It is part of life, part of the circle of life.

“I think the Toulon move is something I gave a lot of thought to and I swayed back and forth as to whether it was the right thing or the wrong thing to do. But I think for whatever I want to do for the rest of my life, I think I will be all the better for having this experience and it is something I am really looking forward to,” he said.

“Limerick will always be my home and it will always be somewhere I would like to come back to.”

O’Connell explained why he wouldn’t rule out a return to education in the future: “I have had good excuses with having two kids and having a senior role in the Irish team and Munster team as well. I have toyed with it, I have come in and spoken to the University plenty of times about the possibility of coming back and doing various things and I cooled on the idea as well. But I probably have 18 months left playing rugby and I will be taking a little bit of time out after that and who knows, I could end up back here as a student as well,” he admitted.

UL President Professor Don Barry paid tribute to the rugby legend, who has been a director of the UL Foundation since 2011, saying that the occasion was an “opportunity to honour those who have inspired, who have led with courage and passion and who have made great contributions in their fields of endeavour.

“Much thought, consideration and deliberation goes into deciding who is worthy – except when it is a real-life super hero, and particularly when his name is Paul O’Connell.

“Today I am very proud that UL bestowed upon Paul our highest honour. He was already an important member of the UL family, but today he accepted a place in the history of this institution,” he added.

Read Richard’s tribute to Paul O Connell here.

Read more about Paul O Connell here.

Read more about UL here.

Watch our exclusive interview with rugby legend Paul O Connell 

Castleconnell winner of the Limerick Going for Gold competition 2015

Limerick Going for Gold 2015, which for the first time included the communities across Limerick City and County, featured a prize pool of over €76,000, courtesy of the JP McManus Charitable Foundation.
the JP McManus Charitable Foundation.

Castleconnell were named as the overall winner in the Challenge category at Limerick Going for Gold Competition 2015, receiving a €10,000 prize.

I had the honour of taking on the role of Master of Ceremonies for the event, which raised awareness of environmental issues, got people involved in their own areas and made a physical difference in communities.

JP McManus presented Castleconnell at the Limerick Going for Gold Competition 2015 with their cheque and trophy, thanking them for their role in their community.“There’s a great passion here, of people and a love for the county. Everybody embraces everybody.“I feel very privileged and honoured to be here and everybody’s a winner here. I can see Limerick getting cleaner and brighter, I am very happy to be from here,” McManus said.

Over €76,000 was awarded to Limerick communities who raised awareness of environmental issues, got people involved in their own areas and made a physical difference in communities. Through four categories – Challenge, Limerick in Bloom, Best Front Garden and Tidy Towns Incentive categories – Limerick communities were awarded with monetary prizes and were commended on their “fantastic” work.

Awards were also presented on the night in Endeavour and Residential Areas categories. Limerick Mayor Liam Galvin was in attendance on the night, acknowledging the role of communities and sponsors in the Going for Gold initiative.

The Challenge Category winners at the Limerick Going for Gold Competition 2015, whose finalists were chosen by public vote following radio and newspaper coverage, included Kilteely, Broadford, Anglesboro, Rathkeale, Hospital and O’Malley Keyes, each receiving an award of €1,000. Croom and Caherdavin came in joint fifth place in the Challenge category, each receiving an award of €2,000.Kilfinane, reaching fourth place, were presented with a cheque for €3,000 by Gerry Boland. South Limerick City received an award of €5,000, coming in third place in the Challenge category.

Check out the Limerick Going for Gold Facebook page here

Read more about the Going for Gold competition here

Butterfly Ball 2015

The Mid-Western Cancer Foundation’s annual Butterfly Ball is considered one of the high profile events of the Mid West area social calendar.  This year has been difficult from a financial point of view for everybody personally and professionally. This continues to be true for the HSE where funding and resources remain restricted. Indeed the Director General of the HSE has accepted the adverse impact on patient care.

The aim in the Mid-Western Cancer Foundation is to complement and cooperate with the HSE to assist the regional Cancer Services in areas such as purchasing of equipment, funding research, and continuing education that is necessary to support our designated national Cancer Centre. The Foundation also helps to create awareness of cancer in the Mid-West region and to the run the Support Centre.

The Foundation continues to receive considerable donations from those individuals who have been treated in our Centre and also their families and friends who have been affected by their experience.  The presence of the Mid-Western Cancer Centre has enabled the majority of patients to be treated locally thus remaining at home with support from family, friends and health professionals within the region.  

The last 12 months of fundraising has been difficult as experienced by all charities. Nevertheless, significant funds have been used to maintain and improve the quality of care to patients at the Cancer Centre by providing, for example;

  • Recliner Chairs in Day Ward- €20,500•Software for Prostate Imaging – €20,000
  • Paxman Cooler – Hair Loss prevention €12,500
  • Chairs polished and upholstered – Oncology Reception and clinic €3,600
  • Armchairs in Ward 4B – €7,666
  • Funding for additional medical staff – €17,811

In total, over €80,000 has been raised.

Funding is also used on an ongoing basis to support the Cancer Information and Support Centre. Here, the foundation aims to complement the medical treatment by the provision of psychological and counselling support with access to services such as complimentary therapies and support groups. This is in conjunction with the Irish Cancer Society. We hope to be just as successful for the next year so that we can maintain all the services currently provided.

The number of people who are being diagnosed in this region is increasing and will continue to increase.  In the current environment we need your support more than ever to help us ensure the continuing management of our patients with cancer.

Details about this year’s Butterfly Ball 2015:

This years Butterfly Ball 2015, was held on Saturday 3rd of October in the  Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Ennis Road, Limerick.

Tickets were €90 per person which included:

A champagne reception with the Dolmen String quartet.

  • A 4 course meal, 
  • Complimentary professional photography from Michael Martin photography
  • Gift bags from  Lorraine O’Connell at No15 Le Maison De Curio
  • Special entertainment – Las Vegas Casino with HIYA Events featuring Elvis Presley and DJ James Sexton, 
  • Raffle on the night with great spot prizes. 

Tickets were available from the Mid-Western Cancer Foundation office at the Cancer Information & Support Centre  or  online.

Thanks go to Brian Harrington, from the Radisson Blu Hotel, for sponsoring the Butterfly Ball 2015 press launch, and the staff and the George Boutique Hotel for hosting the event.

Visit the Mid-West Cancer Foundation website, to buy tickets here

Read more about the Butterfly Ball here

Read more about Limerick charities here

28/08/2015 REPRO FREE The founder of the ILoveLimerick website, Richard Lynch will once again take up the role of master of ceremonies at the Limerick Going for Gold Grand Final in September. Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Councillor Liam Galvin joined media sponsor Live 95FM's Geraldine O'Regan and Mr. Lynch at People's Park this week for the announcement. Run by Limerick City and County Council in association with the JP McManus Charitable Foundation, Limerick Going for Gold encourages businesses, community groups and individuals to improve their areas, reduce the impact of litter across the City and County and generally make Limerick a cleaner brighter place to work live and visit. Judging of all Limerick Going for Gold Category entrants is ongoing. The initiative is supported by Live 95FM, Limerick Leader, Limerick Chronicle, Limerick Post, I Love Limerick, Parkway Shopping Centre and Southern Media Marketing. Picture: Alan Place/Fusionshooters.

Going For Gold Community Category finalists have been named in the Challenge Category of Limerick Going for Gold 2015 following a public vote.

The communities of Anglesboro, Broadford, Castleconnell, Kilfinane, Kilteely and Rathkeale have been voted through to the final by public text vote on Live 95fm’s Limerick Today Show.

The six communities will challenge for the top prize of €10,000 in the Challenge Category of Limerick Going for Gold 2015.  A number of wildcard communities will be chosen by Limerick Going for Gold judges over the coming weeks.

Run by Limerick City and County Council in association with the JP McManus Charitable Foundation, Limerick Going for Gold encourages businesses, community groups and individuals to improve their areas, reduce the impact of litter across the City and County and generally make Limerick a cleaner brighter place to work live and visit.

Judging of the Limerick Going for Gold Challenge, Limerick in Bloom and Best front Garden Categories is ongoing. The Tidy Towns Incentive category will be based on the National Tidy Towns results.

Meanwhile, Richard Lynch has been confirmed as Limerick Going for Gold host for this year, once again taking up the role of Master Of Ceremonies at the Limerick Going for Gold Grand Final in October.

Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Councillor Liam Galvin joined media sponsors and Mr. Lynch at People’s Park this week for the announcement.

Going for Gold Challenge Category

This category was open to all groups including those that have entered Tidy Towns

Limerick in Bloom Category:

This category, which is open to all groups, relates to appropriate planting and floral displays, use of colour, perennial planting and planting schemes that attract biodiversity.

Best Front Garden Competition: 

The Parkway Shopping Centre, Childers Road, sponsors this category. The garden must be visible from the public road.

Tidy Towns Incentive Category:  

This category is open to groups that have entered the National Tidy Towns Competition in 2015 and whose results are listed in the 2015 Tidy Towns Results Book.

Check out the Limerick Going for Gold Facebook page here

Read more about Limerick Going for Gold here

 

Richard Lynch pays tribute to rugby legend Paul O Connell

Picutred: Richard Lynch and Paul O’Connell

Richard Lynch pays tribute to Rugby Legend Paul O Connell on his retirement from International Rugby.The IRFU and Munster have confirmed that Paul O Connell will be released from his contract at Munster after this autumn’s Rugby World Cup.

In an interview with Richard Lynch who is the creator of www.ILoveLimerick.ie, he describes how grateful he is to have worked with Paul O’Connell from the Special Olympics in 2010 right up to Team Limerick Clean-Up in April 2015.

Richard explained: “On behalf of myself and I Love Limerick I would like to pay tribute to the retiring Munster and International rugby legend who I have worked with on a number of occasions since the beginning of I Love Limerick.

Paul is a man who is truly proud of our beautiful city as he has said himself on numerous occasions and proved undoubtedly over the years through his involvement with positive campaigns and charity work.”

In April 2012 Paul was made a Freeman of Limerick which is the highest honour that can be bestowed upon an individual from Limerick City and County Council. On receiving the award Paul explained that this award was something he will treasure for the rest of his life; “it is truly an honour for me to receive this award from my native city.”

More recently, Paul has also put extraordinary time and effort into campaigning for Team Limerick Clean-Up which was an event sponsored by the JP McManus Benevolent Fund on Good Friday of this year.Paul has also expressed his love for his home city through many different projects he has campaigned for over the years. Richard added: “I have been lucky enough to work with Paul throughout projects such as the Special Olympics which took place in Limerick in 2010 and again in 2014. Paul actively campaigned for volunteers to get involved and part of the success of the event is certainly down to his involvement and the spirit he brought to the event, endearing more and more people to get involved.”

Richard said: “Paul launched the event back in September 2014 where I had the privilege of working with him again for such a fantastic and positive cause. This man couldn’t be prouder of Limerick and Limerick truly couldn’t be prouder of him, up to 10,000 people showed up on Good Friday to clean up their city and local areas which is no doubt down to the encouragement they received from one of the countries favourite sports stars. Speaking at the launch I remember talking to Paul for a documentary for I Love Limerick and he really cared not only about the clean-up  but also about the future of Limerick, he said: “we need to get as many people out onto the city as we can to clean it up and tidy it up for the series of events that happen every summer in the city. Teaching kids how to look after the city and the county and to be proud of it and setting those standards which hopefully they will carry throughout their lives”. Not only has Paul O’Connell been an ambassador for multiple charities throughout Limerick over the years, but his sporting achievements are simply second to none making him someone we hold in very high prestige here at I Love Limerick and of course throughout the entire county and country.”

He made his Ireland debut against Wales in February 2002 and has won 101 caps for his country. With Ireland, Paul has won a Grand Slam (2009), led his country to two RBS 6 Nations championship titles (2014, 2015) and claimed four Triple Crowns (2004, 2006, 2007, 2009).Paul made his senior Munster debut in August 2001 and has represented the province on 178 occasions. With Munster, Paul has won two European Cups (2006, 2008), three League titles (2003, 2009, 2011) and a Celtic Cup in 2005.

In 2009, Paul led the British and Irish Lions Tour of South Africa.  A three time Lions Tourist (2005, 2009, 2013) Paul played in a total of 7 Lions Tests and was a member of the Series winning side in Australia in 2013.

Mayor of Limerick City and County, Cllr Kevin Sheahan, has also paid tribute to Paul: “He has served his City, Province and Country in outstanding fashion throughout his rugby career. He is a man who loves Limerick, its people and the proud title that Limerick holds as sporting capital of Ireland and in turn, the people of Limerick idolise him. I would like to especially thank him for all the wonderful sporting memories he has helped create over the years with Munster Rugby, particularly so many unforgettable days in Thomond Park Stadium and two very special European finals in Cardiff”.

Richard finished by paying his respects to the work Paul has done and will hopefully continue to do: “Paul’s outstanding achievements have made him one of the most well respected and adored sports stars in the country and certainly here in Limerick. I would like to express how proud I am and everyone at I Love Limerick is of how he has served his city in extraordinary ways since the beginning of his rugby career. We would like to wish Paul and his family all the very best with their future endeavours, we hope he will continue to inspire the people of Limerick and Ireland like he has done for so many years now and we look forward to working with him on upcoming projects in the future. On my own behalf, thank you Paul and I wish you all best in the World Cup this autumn and beyond.”

 

Read more about Paul O’Connell’s charity work here.

Check out Paul O’Connell’s Facebook here.

Follow Paul O’Connell on Twitter here.