By Peg Prendeville
The Races are over and sadly Sam has gone to Dublin for a year but no doubt he will return to Kerry again. One needs to spend some time in a city to experience the different lifestyles! Ladies Day at the races proved to be a hit in this part of the world. Congratulations to Bríd Hayes from Mohernagh, Ballyhahill who was the Overall winner of McElligotts Honda Best Dressed Lady. Brid was wearing a red and white knee length 50’s style dress from ASOS and a headpiece by Listowel based milliner, Aoife Hannon. Bríd is getting married next May, so intends to use the prize towards creating her dream wedding. She received a cheque for €3,000 from sponsors Patrick McElligott, MD, McElligotts Tralee and John Saunders, Marketing Director, Honda Ireland. The winner of the Listowel Races Most Glamorous Young Racer, sponsored by Listowel Race Course, was 16 year old Nicola Sheahan, Ballyguiltenane. She was wearing a top from Swamp and a skirt made by her Mom, Mary. She received a prize of €500. Lisa and Diarmaid Daly, Dromagarraun came in third place in the Best Dressed couple; they did not win a prize but enjoyed the fun of it all so it was an exciting day for the area. Well done to all.
It was lovely to see an article about Loughill in last week’s Observer; it helps us all to learn more about our own areas. There was another very interesting piece in the Glin page titled The ladies of the Knight about the Knight’s Walk. It was written by a guest of the local ICA guild who came to talk to them about birds.
Is there anything more depressing and frightening than watching the thousands of people walking through Europe in search of a safe home these times. Fergal Keane in the Sunday Independent wrote a most powerful poem last Sunday which paints a picture of utter despair. Please God there will be people with the brains and the means to create a solution to the problem very soon, but, I believe it needs divine intervention now.
It is nice to see the Loughill/Ballyhahill Parish Newsletter back in action after the summer holidays.
Whenever any of you are in Tralee there is a selection of hand painted glass, stone and other crafts by our own Carol Noonan now selling in Atlantic Creations, Courthouse Lane, Tralee so give a call there. It is right next to the bookshop.
People are beginning to buy for Christmas so why not buy from local businesses and self-employed craftsmen rather than buying online from unknown multinational companies. This way more local people will have a better Christmas and there will be a better community spirit. A good idea, I think.