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

 

Sports stars join ranks of Clionas Foundation Purple Platoon

Pictured is Niamh Kavanagh, Joy Neville, Paul Browne and Brendan Ring. Picture: Oisin McHugh

Sports Stars Niamh Kavanagh, Paul Browne and Joy Neville have joined the ranks of Clionas Foundation Purple Platoon to take part in Adare to Survive in Limerick on Sunday the 27th of September. They are also calling on others to take up the challenge and complete the course to raise funds and awareness for Cliona’s Foundation.

If you’re up for the challenge then complete the 7.5km military style obstacle course with the Purple Platoon team. By joining the Clionas Foundation Purple Platoon, €5 of your registration fee will go directly to Cliona’s Foundation. You will be sent a combat pack that includes one of our purple running t-shirts, wear this to distinguish our division. Invite friends, family and colleagues to join you on this mission, and help make this our largest ever squad.

Register now and battle it out as a team, to join the Purple Platoon sign up online through the Adare to Survive website below or click on the Cliona’s Foundation Button on the homepage and follow the directions.

Cliona’s Foundation provides financial assistance to critically ill children all over Ireland. Founded in 2007 by Brendan and Terry Ring, in memory of their daughter Cliona who died of an inoperable brain tumour, Cliona’s Foundation has raised in excess of €870,000 already helping more than 230 families across Ireland.  Cliona’s Foundation receives no financial state support and relies on the generosity of the public for support and to ensure its continuity

For further information or to join the purple platoon contact Rachel on 061-331333 or email [email protected]

To learn more about Cliona’s Foundation, donate or apply for financial assistance please click here

Follow Clionas Foundation on facebook here

Read more about Cliona’s Foundation here

To register click for Adare to Survive, click here

For more information check out the Adare to Survive Facebook page here and Twitter 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.

 

Honouring Aaron makes donation to Temple St Childrens Hospital and local charities

Pictured: Lorraine O’Flaherty, Aaron’s aunt, Bernie Price, Temple Street Children’s Hospital and Cecilia O’Flaherty, Aaron’s mother.

HonouringAaron, an organisation which raises funds for a number of children’s charities in the Limerick area, donated €4,227 to Temple Street Children’s Hospital this past May.

The initiative, set up in memory of nine-year-old Aaron O’Flaherty who died tragically in 2014, has raised up to €15,000 in total since its establishment.

Cecilia O’Flaherty, Aaron’s mother, spoke about Remembering Aaron and why Temple Street Children’s Hospital was her chosen target for the donation.

“After Aaron left Galway University Hospital he was brought to Temple Street Children’s Hospital. They were so good to him there.

“They were all touched by Aaron in the time that he was there, they would bring him presents all the time.”

Cecilia presented the cheque to the hospital, which is an annual beneficiary of the Honouring Aaron organisation, and hopes to meet and thank some of the staff who had cared for Aaron: “I want to get up to meet them, I’ll plan a visit the next time I’m up there.”

Since its establishment, Honouring Aaron has raised money for a number of local charities, such as; Claughan GAA Club, Limerick Laker’s Basketball Club, Cliona’s Foundation and the Bumbleance.

Cecilia, a Civil Defence officer, acknowledges the support offered by the people of Limerick, showing her gratitude for every effort made, saying that all the support she has seen has been “overwhelming”.

The 2014 UL Sport Kids Run took place in Aaron’s memory last year, the day before the Barrington’s Hospital Great Limerick Run. Funds raised from the Great Limerick Run go to Galway University Hospital, where he was airlifted to after his accident, and to Temple Street Hospital in Dublin, where he spent his final days.

Donate to “Aaron O’Flaherty Memorial Fund” at EBS bank in the Parkway Shopping Centre. BIC No: EBSIIE2DSDD IBAN No: IE04EBSI93902145610398

Visit the Honouring Aaron Facebook page here

Read more about Honouring Aaron here

Tait House Pride of Place 2015

Picture L – r back row Olliver Creighton, Deborah O Holloran (Befriending), Tracey Lynch (CEO) Celline Mc Cormack (Befriending), Front row l – r  : Pat Begley, Mairead Mc Cormack, Michael Purcell, Michael Jones

The 2015 Pride of Place Awards, which is run by Co-operation Ireland in conjunction with local authorities north and south of the border, aims to recognise and celebrate the vital contributions that community initiatives make to society. This year Tait House Community Enterprise (THCE) located on Collins Avenue on the Roxboro Road, Limerick City has been nominated for this prestigious community award for the recent achievements of their Outreach to the Elderly Befriending Service.

THCE recognised a need for a Befriending service within the local community and in line with Limericks’ Age Friendly Strategy proceeded to establish this service for the people of the Southill area and beyond. The main objective of the service is to generate social inclusion and equality by engaging older people in positive and supportive relationships. The Service operates in collaboration with other services provided by Tait House such as The Action Centre which provides assistance with grant application, form filling, information on rights and entitlement with local Estate Management thus creating a centralised services hub. THCE have formed partnerships with local supportive services such as Social Services, Primary Health Care Team, HSE, An Gardaí Síochaná and LCCC office of Regeneration. By ensuring that the service provided will be delivered through a person centred model of care in a collaborative way with shared responsibility between other service providers, services users and the staff of THCE, We can help to improve both physical and mental health and the overall well being of people as they age.

THCE recently collaborated with An Gardaí Síochaná to deliver a Safer Community Presentation. The Presentation which was held each Wednesday for the month of May informed, educated and assisted older people to ensure greater public awareness of prevention methods on how best to live and support a safe living environment. The attendees were offered a free lock and chain for their door (which Tait House also installed), were provided with information on panic alarms and were given assistance with Grant assistance forms whilst enjoying a beautiful afternoon tea in the relaxing setting of The Mr Tait Café which is located on the grounds of Tait House. Chief Superintendent David Sheahan stated that “We are delighted to be partnering with THCE once again after the success of our work with them on the Team Limerick Clean-up. We work to the same agenda which has community at its core in line with the objectives of the Age Friendly Strategy.”

THCE aims to generate enterprise, employment and training opportunities through the provision of services for the people of Limerick. Tracey Lynch CEO of THCE stated that “we are delighted to be nominated for a ‘The Pride of Place Award 2015’ amongst other great community initiatives. It is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the collaborative approach achieved by Tait House Befriending Services and how this approach can make a real and practical difference to society, by identifying and responding to the needs of the community we ensure that the people within the community are at the heart of each of the services provided by THCE”

THCE have recently presented The Befriending Programme to Limerick Senior Forum in City Hall and to The Probus Association of retired and semi-retired professional and business personnel. Oliver Creigton of the Senior Forum stated that “LSF the voice of the Senior citizens of Limerick welcome the opportunity to work with Tait House in promoting our services to the Seniors of Limerick” Through their work over the coming months THCE hope to engage with many more Community Groups across the City and County.

Limerick City and County Council has announced that Limerick will be represented in the all-island initiative by the Tait House Community Enterprise in Category 5 (Age Friendly Initiative) and also Kilteely in Category 1 for population centres of up to 300 people, Bruff-based BGM Community Council Ltd. in Category 4 for population centres over 2000 and Scanlon Park in Castleconnell in Category 8 (Housing Estates).

The various projects will be aiming to emulate Limerick’s recent success in the competition when Castleview Park in Newcastle West claimed the top prize in its category in 2013 and in 2014 the Community Wellness Empowerment Leadership & Life Skills Project, St Mary’s Community, King’s Island, Limerick scooped one of the Special Awards in the Cities Competition. Radharc na Cille Housing Estate in Kilmallock, Co Limerick also picked up a prestigious runner up prize in the Housing Estates Category last year.

Congratulating the four Limerick projects nominated to participate in this year’s competition, Mayor of Limerick City and County Cllr Kevin Sheahan said the selected projects reflect the “depth and breadth of voluntary activity underway in communities across the Limerick.”

Mayor Sheahan added: “It is very evident from the applications received on foot of the Council’s call to community groups and organisations to participate in this year’s competition that the communities in question are wholly committed to making a really positive contribution to their localities. A key factor in the success of our participating projects this year will be the continued support of the wider community particularly when it comes to Pride of Place judging during July.”

Josephine Cotter-Coughlan, Director of Services, Limerick City and County Council, commented: “The competition offers communities the opportunity to showcase the positive contribution that local groups make to the overall enhancement of their localities. This year, we received expressions of interest from towns and villages all over Limerick. We now look forward to cooperating with the nominees with their preparations ahead of the judging season.”

The 2015 Pride of Place award ceremony takes place in Ennis, County Clare, in November.

For more Information Click HERE
To read more about Tait House click HERE
Check out the Tait House Website HERE
Find them on Facebook HERE
And Twitter HERE

Limerick Says Yes to Marriage Equality

Limerick Says Yes. Last Saturday, The Yes Equality campaign team was out in force at the count in the UL Arena, conducting tallies as boxes were opened and votes were counted. I spent the day with my crew filming and photographing a very emotional day that will be remembered forever in Irish history as Irish voters decisively voted in favour of marriage equality, making Ireland the first country to do so through the ballot box.

The people of Ireland backed same-sex marriage by a landslide in a referendum that marked a dramatic social shift in a traditionally Catholic country that only decriminalized homosexuality two decades ago. After one of the largest turnouts in a referendum there, 62 percent of voters said ‘Yes’, making Ireland the first country to adopt same-sex marriage via a popular vote. It is a social revolution and it’s very clear that this referendum is an affirmation of the views of young people.

One member of the Yes Equality team, who goes by the name of Billie, got down on one knee to propose to her long-term girlfriend Kate Stoica after the result became clear. “Kate we make a great team. I love you inside and out, head to toe, I don’t want to waste another minute of my life without you as my wife,” said Billie. “I’m very overwhelmed right now,” said Katie, who was surrounded by friends and well-wishers including her mum Jacinta.

Afterwards, we all went to the Kasbah Club at Dolans for the announcement of the National vote. It was like New Years Eve in 1999 as people cried, laughed and held each other. I was in shock. I couldn’t believe it was happening and I burst into tears at the final announcement. I am so incredibly proud of Limerick, of Ireland and of all the people involved in the campaign. What is more important is the key message of equality and inclusion for the LGBT section of our community in Limerick and Ireland, who have gained equality, inclusion and respect. In that regard we all have won as it has brought us forward on a global platform in the fight for equal human rights for all. This campaign energised and brought a whole new generation of our young people onto the electoral register and into politics and voting for the first time. It’s proof that we can change things. Here is to a brighter future and a new vision of love. One huge step for Ireland, another small step for the world. 

Read more about equality here.

One of Ireland’s largest mass participatory events, The Barringtons Hospital Great Limerick Run is estimated to deliver a welcome €4.5m boost to the local economy.

The organisers of the 6th annual Barrington’s Hospital Great Limerick Run exceeded last year’s participant numbers of 12,200 which are partly explained by the early bird registration discounts that ended on February 6 last.

The hugely popular run on Sunday, May 3 – the Bank Holiday weekend – and during Riverfest celebrations continues to draw more and more participants each year for the popular 10km race, which starts at 1.30pm in Pery Square,  the half marathon, starting at 11.45am, and the full marathon at 9am.

Over the last three months, the Great Limerick Run team visited companies, schools and shopping centres throughout Limerick, as part of their overall promotional campaign to encourage people to get active and set them self a personal goal or challenge.

Since the inaugural race in 2010, over 41,000 people have crossed the finish line, raising €1.1 million for various charities while simultaneously contributing €10 million to local and regional business.

Family members of the late Aaron O’Flaherty, aged nine, hoped that many runners would sign up with them this May to raise funds for hospitals which helped him in his final days.

Aaron, from Castletroy View, died tragically in May 2014 at Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin after an accident at the Blackhead Lighthouse, Co. Clare. 

Some 20 friends and members of his family took part in the run, to raise funds for Galway University Hospital, where he was initially airlifted to, and Temple Street hospital in Dublin, where the boy with the “irrespressible smile” sadly passed away.

This year’s UL Sport Kids Run 2015 took place in the University of Limerick on Saturday, May 2, the day before the big races,  in Aaron’s memory.

“Aaron really enjoyed the Kids Run in 2013 and his medal took pride of place in our home, “ said his mum Cecilia, who is a Civil Defence officer.

The run is now the largest mass participatory event outside of Dublin and the only annual ‘Tier One’ event in the Mid-West region.

Race Director, John Cleary stated that there are many reasons for the continued success of the event.

“We have to acknowledge the huge levels of support from the people of Limerick and beyond who have demonstrated that the Barrington’s Hospital Great Limerick Run is now firmly established on the Irish sporting calendar,” he said.

“The public private partnership model has allowed us as race organisers to deliver a world class event to Limerick with an economic value in excess of €4 million to the local economy according to the latest Council Economic impact report.

The support and commitment of Barrington’s Hospital as title sponsor along with Limerick City & County Council and other commercial sponsors including sports apparel company Brooks UK & Ireland reflects the confidence that all stakeholders and partners have in the future growth potential of the event. 

Denis Cahalane, Managing Director of Barrington’s Hospital said the event was a natural partnership for Barrington’s Hospital in terms of promoting a physically healthy and active lifestyle.

“We are proud to continue our title sponsorship of an event that promotes Limerick in a positive manner on a national and international scale,” he added. 

Since the inaugural race in 2010, over 41,000 people have crossed the finish line raising €1.1 million for various charities while simultaneously contributing €10 million to local and regional business.

Special Olympics Ireland is the official charity partner for the Barrington’s Hospital Great Limerick Run.

Interesting statistics on the Barrington’s Hospital Great Limerick Run to date include:

  • Over 175,000 people have cheered runners and walkers along the race routes.
  • On average 2,284 bed nights are created with 100% hotel occupancy on the night before the event with the average length of stay by those outside the region = 2 nights
  • 75,000 hours of physical activity is generated as a direct result of the Barrington’s Hospital Great Limerick Run
  • 6% of participants claim the event was the main reason why they started exercising.
  • 1% rated the event as having a high impact on Limerick as an event hosting destination
  • 192,000 bottles of water have been used by participants in the last five years.
  • An estimated 540,000 miles have been completed by participants since the inaugural event in   May 2010

*Barrington Hospital Great Limerick Run figures*

In anticipation of the demand for places in the children’s ‘UL Sport Run for Fun’ which takes place in the University of Limerick on Saturday 2nd  May, capacity has been increased to accommodate 3,000 children.  This event has to date raised over €50,000 for those primary schools with participating children.

A new ‘App’ for the event will be launched shortly that will contain useful advice on training programmes, nutritional advice along with information on various local services for those visiting Limerick over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

For full details on how to enter the Barrington’s Hospital Great Limerick Run please visit their site here. You can follow them on Twitter here and like them on Facebook here
You can read about last years run here.