Connect 22 February 2016

KERRY FASHION WEEK IS LAUNCHED

The lifestyle magazine for Kerry

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THE WEDDING GUIDE FAMILY VALUES

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ConneCt | editor note

EDITOR NOTE Hello and welcome to Connect Well we have all got through January and the evenings are starting to get brighter, so we have lots to entertain you in this issue. It’s the month of Love so we have lots of tips and ideas for your special day if you are planning a wedding. We also have some different ideas on what to do for Valentine’s Day for your special one.

Of course its election month, so we have caught up with some of our local candidates to see what their plan is for the future of our country and we also had a chat with Tánaiste Joan Burton recently, we decided to find out more about Joan as a person as we need to acknowledge that all these politicians are normal people with normal families so we are delighted to bring you that.

One of our new features for 2016 is family values, where we meet a family business that has stood the test of time and weathered all the recessions to be around today, this month we are delighted to meet Billy Nolan and his family who are celebrating 50 years in business this year. We wish them continued success and we hope you enjoy reading their story.

For those of you still thinking about changing your car, we have some of our picks in the motor industry. And of course we have all the usual advice from our regular contributors, so sit back relax and enjoy.

Until next time..........

Until next month

Margaret Editor

Margaret@connectpublications.ie

Also available online:

www.connectpublications.ie

WHAT’S INSIDE BECAUSE YOUR BUSINESS IS UNIQUE P-33

KERRY LADIES FOOTBALL PRESENTS A NIGHT OF FASHION P-21

GET FIT FOR 2016 P-25

EDITOR Margaret Brick Margaret@connectpublications.ie DESIGN Expose Design - www.exposedesign.ie PRINT Kingdom Printers CONTRIBUTORS Mark Doe, Dr.Mary McCaffrey, Caroline McEnery, Danny Leane, Marcas Mac Domhnaill, John Canty, Ken Tobin, Niall Fitzgerald FOR ADVERTISING ENQUIRES Contact Gillian on 087 4654561 or email sales@connectpublications.ie Also 086 2408237 or 066 7123954 FOR EDITORIAL ASSISTANCE email info@connectpublications.ie The cover picture is courtesy of Finesse Bridal

CONNECT MAGAZINE February 2016

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Connect weddings Finding the right dress is nearly as important as finding the right man to say I do with.. most girls dream of the ideal dress from a very young age, and sometimes expectations can be very high and it can become the most stressful part of the wedding journey to your big day, So please just stop and take a moment when you are considering the shopping trip, we have got some tips from the experts in the fashion industry to try and make it a little easier •

• • • • • •

• •

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Set a date that is suitable for you and allow time for your trip don’t rush into it because you are in certain town on a day, set aside a special day to make your trip.

Bring your bridesmaid, your mum and maybe one more, too many will lead to too many suggestions, ideas and opinions so that is not good…

Most shops don’t allow fake tan or excess Make-up so make sure to abide to these or your journey will be wasted.

If your bringing shoes try and bring a pair that you are comfortable and that the height will resemble what height you want to wear on the day.

Listen to the assistant in the shop, they are experienced in this area and have dressed many brides before you so value their opinion.

Don’t visit too many shops, this can lead to confusion, in turn leading to stress…

Most shops in Kerry now charge a 20.00 deposit for your viewing appointment, this is fully refundable on the purchase of your dress, but is a necessary deposit to cover the cost of the time the assistants provide with you to discuss your particular requirements, and we all know that these ladies are experts in their field so should be reimbursed for their time and its money well spent for the valuable advice and help you get.

Depending on the type of wedding your choosing it doesn’t always have to be a bridal boutique, sometimes the good occasion wear shops can be of great help to you too, Budget is very important, plan how much you would like to spend on your dress and try and keep within the price, of course you will be mesmerised with the collection when you arrive in the different stores and it’s your big day, but as most of us know its worn once so don’t blow all the budget on it.

Wear comfortable and suitable underwear when choosing the dress, or ask the assistant to suggest what’s best to wear under the dress, it can give you a very wrong vision if it’s not suitable and could ruin your expectations.

Lastly enjoy the day, don’t buy the dress unless you feel comfy and at your best in it.

When you buy the dress take plenty of pics on different poses so that when your big day comes you know the best way to stand or sit so your pictures bring out the best of you in your dream dress.

*Images courtesy of Unique Boutique and Finesse Bridal wear

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CONNECT MAGAZINE February 2016

ConneCt | Weddings

The lifestyle magazine for Kerry

Unique Boutique Bridal Open since September in Castleisland

KERRY’S BRAND NEW BRIDAL BOUTIQUE WELCOMES ALL BRIDES TO BE...

no

Open Monday to Friday by appointment only, Saturday 10am - 5 00pm no appointment necessary

Call Dee today for your appointment T: Main Street, Castleisland, Co. Kerry

www.uniqueboutiquebridal.ie

087 1650258

Fb.com/UniqueBoutiqueBridal CONNECT MAGAZINE February 2016

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RECOMMENDS

VENUE GUIDE

We all know picking the correct venue for your wedding is vital part of planning the day so here are just a few around Kerry that we would like to recommend. The choice is endless depending on your needs so we have just chosen a few to help you get started on your tour.

BALLYROE HEIGHTS HOTEL

Ballyroe Heights Hotel’s idyllic location boasts stunning views for those precious photographs and is the perfect setting for the perfect beginning. Enjoy serene tunes from their house pianist upon arrival while they provide a complimentary drink and canapé reception for you and your guests. The magnificent Ballroom is decorated with a choice of floral centre pieces, unique candelabras, white linen napkins and exquisite linen chair covers and bows. The Ballroom has its own private heated beer garden for the comfort of your guests. For a more intimate reception, they have the stunning Summit Restaurant.

MEADOWLANDS HOTEL

THE BREHON HOTEL

Situated adjacent to the Killarney National Park, The Brehon and Angsana Spa is the perfect location for couples seeking that extra special venue for their wedding day in Killarney. With a wealth of experience & reputation for elegance, style and impeccable service, the team at the 4* Brehon, invite you to experience Killarney’s most exclusive wedding venue The core belief at The Brehon is that it is not enough that a hotel be located in one of the most beautiful places on earth… the hotel must be worthy of its surroundings. The Brehon Wedding Suite is custom designed for a remarkable wedding reception and can cater for 220 wedding guests while our Private Dining Room is perfect for more intimate wedding parties.

Weddings in Style at the Meadowlands Hotel.

Set in a tranquil corner of Tralee on private gardens, the stylish Meadowlands Hotel will be the place of your dreams on your Wedding Day. It is your Special Day, so the Meadowland’s dedicated and experienced team will design it your way! Rest assured, you will receive personal attention to every detail. The elegant An Meitheal Ballroom, which is located in a private area of the hotel with its own fairy-tale lit courtyard, accommodates weddings from 70 to 180 guests. Up to 70 guests are accommodated in the intimate An Móinéar Restaurant with a welcome reception organised in the resident’s lounge or gardens offering a picture perfect photo opportunity. The Meadowlands Hotel is also a licenced and approved venue to hold Civil Ceremonies & Partnerships.

Visit www.meadowlandshotel.com or contact 066 718 0444 for a wedding brochure.

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CONNECT MAGAZINE February 2016

SOLY Y SOMBRA

Perhaps better known for their events such as concerts and wine tastings, Award winning restaurant Sol y Sombra is also a unique wedding venue. If you are forgoing a religious ceremony the fully converted church offers a beautiful and intimate place to marry.

Traditional wedding fayre is offered however their speciality is tapas (Awarded Yes Chefs Best World Cuisine 2016) and wine (RAI’s Best Wine Experience Kerry 2015). Wedding guests can share a delicious range of dishes over drinks and the stage and premium sound system ensures the party can continue late into the night.

Contact Cliodhna for their wedding brochure at info@solysombra.ie

The lifestyle magazine for Kerry

Connect | Weddings

CONNECT MAGAZINE February 2016

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ASK THE EXPERTS Here in Connect we know that planning your big day can be stressful so we have a few experts that we can recommend to you that will ensure your day is simply amazing...

FINESSE BRIDAL WEAR LISTOWEL are Munster’s Longest established Bridal Boutique. They are Celebrating 16 years in business this month. That is 16 years of experience that cannot be beaten. Liz & Mags have an ability to choose the perfect dress for any bride to be. They listen to your wishes and work together with you to find your dream dress. Finding your wedding dress should be a memorable experience and that is the service you will receive in Finesse.

They cater for all sizes from size 6 to 26 with a new range in store to suit the “Curvy” figure. Not every girl can fit into a size 10 dress so it is important to stock larger sizes in store also.

Appointments are necessary so if you do intend visiting Finesse be sure to call in advance where You will receive a very warm welcome from Liz & Mags.

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS & TRICKS CIARA O DONNELL

CHOOSING THE RIGHT FLOWERS FOR YOUR WEDDING DAY

Preparation Nothing is more improtant than a good canvas. Prepare your skin a few weeks in advance for your wedding day.

Your wedding flowers will frame your wedding so we asked Maura Sheehy from Mauras Cottage Flowers to give us some tips to make those decisions a little easier Flowers • Should reflect the brides personality and style • Need to compliment the style of your bridal gown and colour of bridesmaids dresses • Should have scent to create wedding day memories • Can pull the whole celebration together by continuity of theme , from the bouquets to church décor right through to venue • Can be used to create unique headpieces • May be used to dress the cake table • Can be included on your menu, edible flowers can be used in salads, main course, desserts and to decorate the cake itself • Can be a talking point, bee-friendly, chemical -free are in vogue at present • Complex textures and variegated foliage add character to your arrangements Choose a florist that will be offer you a personal service ensuring every aspect of the floral design is perfect on your special day.

I can’t stress it enough, that if the skin is in good condition the photos all work better on the day. Not only because of the visual impact, but emotionally the bride is more confident and relaxed when she knows her skin is looking great. You can always get a helping hand with this from some of the prfessionals out there, and none better then Nicolas Haven Tralee. Every time I hear a bride has booked Nicola’s Haven for their makeup I know they will look mazing all day and night. It certainly makes my job a lot easier in post production! They use Jane Ireldale products which gives professional results with out the madeup look. Unmatched in my opinion.

Photographer Choose someone you will get on with. A photographer is the one service you will employ who is going to spend the greatest amount of time with you before and on your wedding day... It is so important that you get a good vibe off the photographer. I also use the first meeting with a couple to try to understand what makes them tick. This is really the key in getting a great outcome for all involved. Happy partnership makes happy pictures.

Quality not Quantity Don’t ask your photographer how many photos you will get.

Ask to see a sample wedding and see if they have managed to capture the essence of the wedding in photos. It really doesn’t matter how many photos there are as long as the story is told well in images. I only issue as many photos as I think will stand alone as great images. I won’t give more just for the sake of it.

Professional Service Always ask your photographer if they are qualified in photography and insured to do so. Many photographers out there are unregulated as they may have a slick website and branding but they are not really up to the job. If their prices seem too good to be true they probably are. I have heard so many horror stories of couples being bitterly disappointed and even being robbed of deposits and their photographer absconding! So ask them where they trained, check out their qualifications (easily done online these days) and check their testimonials out. Be totally happy you have made the right decision.

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CONNECT MAGAZINE February 2016

At ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE design and create distinctive wedding stationery featuring images that will reflect your personalities and set the tone for your special day. Use photographs taken by us at a location that’s special to you or provide us with your treasured engagement shoot photographs to use on your bespoke range of stationery. We create everything you need for your big day from save the dates, invitations, ceremony booklets, table numbers and plans. As a thank you to our couples we offer a 20% discount on orders of more than 3 items to the value of €500 or over and 10% off for orders under €500. See more at www.allyouneedislove.ie.

ONE OF IRELANDS LEADING FASHION STORES

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1938 - 2016 30 Main St, Castleisland, Co. Kerry.

SPRING SUMMER 2016 NOW IN STOCK

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"ARE YOU LOOKING FOR SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL FOR A FAMILY OCCASION"

CONNECT MAGAZINE February 2016 9 www.hannonsfashionshop.ie

ConneCt | Weddings

The lifestyle magazine for Kerry

MEET THE MANAGER We caught up recently with newly appointed Manager of Ballyroe Heights Johnathan Collins to get his view of what’s important for your big day..

What is the secret to the perfect wedding venue?

Well Mags, I think the secret to the perfect wedding venue is having a fantastic wedding co-ordinator that makes you feel at ease the moment you walk through the doors and you know your wedding is in safe hands and under control so the couple can relax and focus on the other jobs to be done.

Also having the perfect location is key with beautiful scenery as a backdrop for those precious photographs.

How long in advance would you have couples booking their big day? What advice would you give to couples considering booking?

We have couples coming in here at least 2 – 3 years in advance to secure their date more especially if it is a significant day like Valentine’s Day or New Years Eve. My best advice for couples booking would be to take your time when looking at venues and enjoy the whole process. Also a good tip is to have a list of questions ready for the wedding co-ordinator just so you don’t forget to

ask anything on the day. Try and get the three main things booked fist, church or ceremony, venue and band and the rest will follow then.

With a range of alternative weddings now being booked, do you cater for all of these?

Yes we do cater for all alternative weddings; we are open to all non traditional weddings as well as traditional. We are open to all suggestions; it is nice to see the wedding world expanding and moving forward with the times.

Do days of the week still make a difference or are all days popular for weddings?

Weekends more especially bank holiday weekends are still the most popular but we have seen a huge increase in midweek weddings over the past few years.

There is a great incentive to get married midweek and we offer fantastic midweek packages.

THE VERSATILE SHOP THAT REALLY FITS YOU SINCE opening its doors in May of 2011 The Zip Yard Tralee has grown to be one of the top garment alterations location in the region.

Apart from providing the very important repair and mend service used by us all, The Zip Yard Tralee has also concentrated and developed a specialised bespoke service which brings individual designs and styles to life for the one off fashion item.

The Zip Yard Tralee staff are accredited and trained by Julie Cobbe of stylefish.ie to understand body shapes and to advise on how you can maximise to your advantage the best way to present your dress which will compliment your body shape.

be with you from the first day you meet to the day you collect your dress to wear on your big day!

The Zip Yard Tralee wants to ensure that you will: Look your very best Feel totally comfortable and confident in your dress And- most importantly--“WOW” your husband to be, families and guests as you walk up the aisle!

It’s your day; we would love to be a small but important part of it!

The Zip Yard -2 Denny StreetTralee - 066 7185684 www.thezipyard.ie

As your weeding day is one of the most important days in your life, The Zip Yard Tralee operates on an appointment basis so as to ensure you and your entourage have lots of time, total privacy (no one getting a sneak peek in advance!) and most of all a dedicated and highly experienced seamstress who will

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As newly appointed manager of Ballyroe Heights Hotel, are you excited for the coming year and have lots of new options for your couples looking to get married there?

I am very excited for the coming year as we have plans in place to implement new changes to our wedding packages, also there are plans afoot to modernise facilities in the hotel such as our Gallery room to cater for civil ceremonies. Our ballroom is being re-decorated in March so our future is extremely bright and we are all excited for what’s ahead.

ConneCt | Weddings

The lifestyle magazine for Kerry

w eddings

in

s tyle

• Beautiful Private Gardens • • Elegant An Meitheal Ballroom • • Fairytale Lit Courtyard • • Intimate Restaurant Weddings • • Personalized Wedding Packages • • Experienced & Friendly Wedding Team • • Civil Ceremonies & Partnerships •

oakpark, tralee

Tel +353 (0)66 7180444 • E-mail info@meadowlandshotel.com • www.meadowlandshotel.com

Finesse BRIDAL WEAR

“FOR THE PERFECT WEDDING DRESS ITS GOT TO BE FINESSE...”

CELEBRATING 16 YEARS IN BUSINESS MUNSTERS LEADING BRIDAL BOUTIQUE

AMAZING SELECTION OF GOWNS WITH A COMPLETE RANGE OF ACCESSORIES TO MATCH PERSONAL ATTENTION TO EVERY BRIDE

69 CHURCH STREET.LISTOWEL, CO KERRY T: 068 23943 E: FINESSEBRIDALWEAR@GMAIL.COM WWW.FINESSEBRIDALWEAR.COM

CONNECT MAGAZINE December 2015 / January 2016

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ConneCt | Weddings

The lifestyle magazine for Kerry

FOR THE ULTIMATE WEDDING EXPERIENCE CONTACT MAUREEN AT BRUSH N BLUSH

ON 066 7121627 SPECIALISING IN EXQUISITE BRIDAL UPSTYLES An affordable luxury for you and your party on your special day, bridal shower or bachelorette party!

IN SALON OR ON LOCATION, WE PROMISE TO BLOW YOU AWAY! Specialising in vintage upstyles and downstyles.

In an intimate setting our pamper room is perfect for your comfort and a great start for that special day out!

Airbrush make up and spray tanning available!!!

T: 066 7136580

Tuesday to Thursday: 9.00am – 5.30pm Late Night Friday by Appointment Saturday: 9.00am – 5.00pm 12

CONNECT MAGAZINE February 2016

ConneCt | Weddings

The lifestyle magazine for Kerry

CONNECT Annburys Ladies Boutique & Headpiece Specialist Styling ladies for the past 17 years 1999-2016

MASTERS OF STYLE

SPRING STYLES ARRIVING WEEKLY Mother of the Bride/Groom Cool casuals Dressy casuals Evening bags Headpieces get your ide al headpie ce for weddin gs

SIZES KFW AWARD 12 to 30 WINNER CATERING FOR COMMUNION AND CONFIRMATION OCCASION WEAR

Quality, Innovation design, Top Class Service Email: danny@annburys.com Facebook: Annburys Tralee UNIT 1B, THE PLAZA, ABBEYCOURT, TRALEE TEL: 066 7117117

STYLE

HELLO AGAIN EVERYONE HOPE 2016 HAS GOT OFF TO A GOOD START FOR YOU, TO CHEER US ALL UP AND TAKE OUR MINDS OFF THE COLD AND RAIN THIS MONTH I WILL BE GIVING YOU A FEW TIPS ON SHOPPING FOR AN OUTFIT FOR A WEDDING. I KNOW THAT MOTHERS OF THE BRIDE/GROOM CAN FEEL UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE WHEN SELECTING THEIR OUTFIT AS THEY ARE AT CENTRE STAGE, BUT DRESSING FOR A WEDDING TAKES A LOT OF PLANNING FOR ANY GUEST.

My first tip is not to panic at the thought of shopping for your outfit. Allow enough time to do some research, look through magazines but do stay realistic as what looks good on a model may not suit your shape. Get to know what suits your body shape and the only way to do this is to try on an item,my golden rule of never judging a dress by the hanger has to be applied here. Certainly shop with your eyes but don’t let patterns or colours put you off as if you get the particular style that suits you established you can then look for different patterns/colours of that style.

Please restrict the number of people you bring with you on a shopping trip, if you are the mother of the bride then bring her along. Just make sure whoever you bring knows they are shopping to suit your tastes, shape and budget and not theirs. So ideally someone you trust to give you an honest opinion who will not try and dominate the situation. Alternatively if you rather shop on your own then kerry is abundant with fantastic boutiques that offer first class customer service and advise, don’t be afraid to ask for help or even pop in and have a chat about what is available. Another golden tip is not to be too steadfast in your ideas of what you are looking for,definitely mothers of the bride/groom must be conscious of the colour theme but as I said earlier do try different styles. Be mindful of the season you are shopping for and find out when the new seasons arrivals will hit the shops. Finally, I must mention the very important accessories,these are so important as they can totally transform an outfit. Do not leave purchasing them especially your headpiece till the last minute. The headpiece is hugely important as it will stand out in photographs and must match the style of your outfit. At Annburys we do a vast range and can order in a particular colour match if given enough notice.

Well I hope these tips will be of some help to you, till next time HAPPY SHOPPING,

Danny

CONNECT MAGAZINE February 2016

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ConneCt | Weddings

The lifestyle magazine for Kerry

We specialise in the best for your special occasion...

PHOTO BOOTH AVAILABLE WITH WEDDING PACKAGES

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CONNECT MAGAZINE February 2016

The lifestyle magazine for Kerry

Maura’s Cottage Flowers

Homegrown Bespoke Wedding Flowers

Specialising in Vintage and Rustic themed weddings

ConneCt | Weddings

“The team at All you need is Love are professional and friendly - Natalie and Jessica did our engagement photo shoot and we couldn’t be happier with the beautiful images they captured.

From start to finish, choosing our save the date stationery was a breeze - and it was a pleasure dealing with them :)” - Alex & Mark

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WEDDING STATIONERY order 3 or more stationery items* (e.g. invitations, rsvps, mass booklets, table plan and thank you cards) *valid all year on orders over €500

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photographic wedding stationery wedding personalised photographic stationery that is as unique as you

www.allyouneedislove.ie | hello@allyouneedislove.ie 064 6642837 | 5 rock street, kenmare, co. kerry

CONNECT MAGAZINE February 2016

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Family Values

Billy Nolan Jeweller

In our new feature Family Values we look forward to meeting a family business each month who have survived recessionary times and are still around to tell the tale, so if you have a family business that you would like featured do contact us, this month we visit Billy Nolan Jewellers.

Tell us a little background on the Billy Nolan Jeweller story and how it all began?

The Nolan family has been in Business in Tralee since 1847 mostly in the area of grocery, taking lead from this I trained in grocery management on the job in London in Gardiners Supermarket and then went on to manage a Delicatessen in Earls Court.

I was asked to return to Tralee to manage Toumey’s Supermarket (now Easons) in the Mall. My business head large business tradition I branched out to a different field of retail.

Breaking with the grocery tradition I branched out part time with my father to set up an antique store in Dominick Street called the Treasure Chest. Within a year I had made the decision to make this a full time commitment. This was the beginning of Billy Nolan Jewellers as it is today.

So you started out in antiques? Do you still have an eye for a bargain?

Antiques were good to me, if you could run a grocery shop successfully at that time on such small margins you could try your hand at any business. Dealing in antiques I learnt a lot, especially the art of buying and selling right. It was a time where you not only sold for money but more trading and bartering.

Antiques is a business with so many specialities that you are always learning, Sterling Silver, China, furniture, they are all specialities that you had to learn about.

The hardest part of the antiques business is the supply. Finding good items at the right price and in the right condition was tough.

That combined with family life marrying my wife Margaret Hayes meant that I needed to focus on one area of the business, Jewellery.

This is where the more formal training was required and so I up skilled with Jewellery courses. I found that the jewellery industry is a very tight knit community and I have made lifelong friends throughout and became President of the retail jewellers of Ireland in 1996. Following on from this a few months later became the Chairman of the Irish Jewellers Association which I held until 1998.

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CONNECT MAGAZINE February 2016

You expanded the business in recent years tell us a little about Hilsers, are you happy with that decision?

In 1993 we purchased Hilsers Jewellers Castle St, Tralee and have been delighted with the expansion to the business. At the time it was an opportunity which I could not turn down, in life you get very few of these chances and to anyone reading this I would urge them to go with their gut feeling. After a bit of hard work it has paid off.

I am so grateful for the support that we have had over the years from the people of Tralee and the surrounding area of Kerry. Our staff that we have had over the years have all worked with our family business values and sense of community while supplying award winning service and product knowledge. I have a saying in business “You are judged by your staff that you have.” I really see my staff as an extension of my family and would like to thank them for their dedication and belief in the business.

Was it always going to be a family business did the kids shows interest at an early age?

All of the kids have played their part in the success of the business. Growing up myself we had to understand the value of money and how to earn it. I would like to think that my kids have been shown the same. Each of my family has brought their unique skills and talents to the business all serving an apprenticeship in the stores from a young age during summer and Christmas holidays.

Ciara and Louise now manage the day to day running of the two stores and have grown up to appreciate where it all started from in Dominick Street. Both of have pursued diamond qualifications with Retail Jewellers of Ireland and Professional Jewellers Diplomas with the National Association of Goldsmiths in the UK. Ciara holds a degree in Visual Communication and Louise is also a qualified Goldsmith.

I am sure you have some lovely stories as people coming into the shop are buying fab jewellery as a gift or a proposal, have you any particular story you would like to share?

Yes one story comes to mind, a few years ago a man came into the store looking to buy and engagement ring from me. I was off at the time and so he filled in my daughter Ciara on his story. When he was smaller his brother was coming into the shop to buy a watch for his communion with their mother. The boy kicked up such a fuss that he wanted a watch too, I reached into the display and gave him one saying that when he was older he will have to come back to buy his engagement ring from me. This man had come quite a distance just to buy his engagement ring which when I heard it blew me away.

Your family are now all having kids of their own so is it safe to say the Billy Nolan name will remain a dynasty in Kerry for many years to come?

It’s great to see the next generation showing interest in the store even at such an early age. They are inquisitive as most young kids are but want to know all about the business. My attitude in life is the same as in business of rewarding loyalty in customers and never skimming on quality products that you can put your name behind.

ConneCt | Weddings

The lifestyle magazine for Kerry

Find that perfect diamond for that perfect person... from ENGAGEMENT to ETERNITY

14 Dominick St & 13 Castle St, Tralee

#DiamondSpecialists

CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY 066 7122095 or 066 7121834

DIAMONDS

ARE A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND! We have all heard the saying but when it comes to it, do you know your G colour from your VS2 Clarity? Are you taking the plunge this Valentines? Here’s a few tips on buying your Diamond Ring.

CHOOSE YOUR PRECIOUS METAL

Diamonds were traditionally set in yellow gold but now can be set in white gold and platinum. Take a look at which metal will match your style, current jewellery and your complexion.

DIAMOND GRADING

Diamonds like most precious stones are graded by a few different ways. These we call the “4 C’s”, Colour, Cut, Clarity and Caret Weight. Each of the four properties combined form the value of the stone.

COLOUR

Diamonds come in a variety of colours however most will look for white diamonds.

The more colourless the diamond is the greater its rarity and value. Diamonds are

graded alphabetically from D (colourless) to Z (yellowish brown).

CLARITY

This is determined by the amount and location of natural inclusions in the diamond when viewed under a lens with 10x magnification. The grades are as follows: • VVS1 • VVS2 • VS1 • VS2 • SI1 • SI2 • Pique 1, 2 and 3

divided into a 100 points. So a diamond of 75points is .75 carats. Two diamonds can have the same Carat weight but can be different value due to the previous 3 C’s.

For more call to Louise and Ciara at Billy Nolan and Hilsers Jewellers Tralee.

CUT

Cut refers to both the proportions of the diamond and its shape. The most popular shapes of Diamond would be Round Brilliant and Princess (Square) Cut.

CARAT WEIGHT

The carat is the unit used to measure the weight and size of a diamond. 1 carat is

CONNECT MAGAZINE February 2016

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ConneCt | Weddings

SPRING IS COMING

Spring is coming and our thoughts are turning to love and marriage, yes the wedding season is about to start. Remember, as soon as you have the outfit, just bring it in to us and we will do our very best to supply you with everything else. Bringing someone with you for a second opinion is always a good idea, but not to the entire “Parish” choosing your accessories does not require a council meeting, as a matter of fact it can even be enjoyable!!

To complete any outfit the key is to make sure the accessories enhance the look, not dominate it. Carefully selected shoes, bags, fascinator and shawl/wrap can make any of us look a million dollars. Remember it is a special occasion, don’t be afraid to try out something different then you would normally wear.

Fascinators are a point in question. We stock a wide range of sizes and colors, why not just come in a try them on, they really do complete an outfit.

In stock at the moment we also have a large range of shoes with heels to suit everyone from the “kitten” heel to the “skyscraper” heel. Occasion bags; the trusty clutch bag is still a favorite with the wedding guest. The finishing touch to any outfit is the wrap/shawl, now I have to be honest I am a fan of the wrap, I would chose a wrap any day over jacket or coat, there is a lovely sense of elegance if the correct wrap is chosen to complement the outfit.

I hope this will help make choosing the finishing touches easier for you all, and if you have any questions re your outfit, do not hesitate to contact me on our That’s Perfect Facebook Page, Email me on carmelmrussell@gmail.com or even better call in for a chat.

Mens Trends STYLE: Happy new year, I hope 2016 is going well for you all. This month I want to tell you about a fantastic collection I wandered across, Moss Bros have launched their black tie rebel collection. If you are getting married this year I implore you to look at these pieces. Who says the groom can’t be as equally as eye catching as the bride. This collection has something for everyone. They have updated their tuxedos with velvet jackets, in black and burgundy, blue satin and printed jackets. The tailoring is exquisite, these suits/tuxedos are investment pieces and will last a lifetime. With this collection lots of fashion rules have been broken and its for the better. The black tuxedo has a new rival and this challenger is colour!!! Check out on mossbros.ie GROOMING So let’s put a check list in place of the little things that to be done prior to your wedding day.

1. Hair cut and shave!!! There is nothing attractive about looking slightly homeless in your tuxedo on your big day. I imagine brides look back at their wedding photos years later and wish they could’ve ‘groomed the groom a little’. If in doubt visit Niall O’Brien he has been highly recommended to me as a barber, Niall can be found in The Barbers, Manor West, Tralee. Hair should be cut about a week before the wedding day so it has time to settle, freshly cut hair is very noticeable.

2. Eyebrows!!! They need a tidy up, if you are handy with tweezers go for it. As long as you know what you’re doing. If in doubt visit a professional. Shelly in Vogue Hair & Beauty, is fantastic. She is also offering a customized deluxe facial, €50. A great way to look your absolute best on the day 3. Hands!!! A manicure should be essential for any groom to be. Your hands will be getting quite a bit of attention on the big day, there is no shame in having them looking good. If nothing else think of the photos!!

4. Lastly have fun and enjoy the compliments of being a wellgroomed groom…

Until next time,

Carmel

TILL NEXT MONTH

Niall x 18

CONNECT MAGAZINE February 2016

The lifestyle magazine for Kerry

Connect | Weddings

CONNECT MAGAZINE February 2016

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Valentine’s Day A VALENTINES PLATTER FOR 2 WITH MARK DOE

This valentines day don your aprons and cook for your partner, it is a great way of saving money and gaining those all important brownie points!!!

I think that Valentines dining should be about sharing, so why not serve a with a selection of nibbles and tapas. This a lot more less stress than trying to cook a three course meal. For dessert try some chocolate dipped strawberries served with a good quality ice cream. With so many great farmers market around now, there is a great selection of foods that can be used as Tapas and finger type food.

Don’t forget to include a few aphrodisiac items such as avocado, prawns or oysters!!!

Make up a selection of the ideas below, and serve with champagne or sparkling wine. These ideas also make for a great hens night in when celebrating your hen party, or you could just have your hen party here at Just cooking and we can look after that for you.

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Parma ham Salami and cured meats Smoked salmon Mini prawn cocktails served in shot glasses (see recipe below) Oysters Olives Tapenade Pesto Bread sticks Crusty bread Roasted peppers Pate Guacamole with nacho chips

• Looking Forward to welcoming you for spring • New Traders welcome • New to the Market ‘Community Stall’ Contact Gillian to participate.

• Email gillianwharton@yahoo.ie

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MINI PRAWN COCKTAILS Makes 2 x 2 ounce shot glasses 3 tbsp finely chopped baby gem or Cos lettuce 60g cooked shrimps (frozen shrimps are fine) 3 tbsp mayonnaise ½ tbsp tomato ketchup 1 tsp lemon juice A small dash of Tabasco sauce 2 tsp finely chopped apple 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Mix together the mayonnaise, ketchup, lemon juice, and mayonnaise.

Season with a little salt and pepper.

Place the lettuce in the shot glasses, and top with the apple.

Top with the shrimps and then the sauce.

Serve with brown soda bread.

The lifestyle magazine for Kerry

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IRISH FASHION INDUSTRY AWARDS AT KERRY FASHION WEEK 2016 in association with Image Magazine, Lancome Paris and Dunnes Stores Dunnes Stores welcomed as new Associate Sponsor of Irish Fashion Industry Awards and Kerry Fashion Week 2016 Details were officially announced recently of the Irish Fashion Industry Awards (IFIA), in association with Image Magazine, Lancome Paris and Dunnes Stores. Widely regarded as Ireland’s premier fashion industry event, the Irish Fashion Industry Awards will take place on Friday 4th of March in the Hotel Europe & Resort, Killarney, County Kerry and are the highlight of Kerry Fashion Week (KFW). Deadline for entries is Friday 5th of February. To enter, or for more information on the KFW ‘16 Programme of Events, visit www. kerryfashionweek.com , follow KFW on Twitter @kfwtweets or instagram @kerryfashionweek .

Dunnes Stores were officially revealed as a new Associate Sponsor of the Irish Fashion Industry Awards and Kerry Fashion Week 2016 and its creative director, Carolyn Donnelly joins the judging panel which also includes Melanie Morris, Editor in Chief, Image Publications (Chairperson of judging panel since its inception in 2009); Bairbre Power, Fashion Editor, Irish Independent and Executive Editor, Weekend Magazine and Helen Cody, womenswear designer and winner of Irish Fashion Designer of the Year at KFW 15.

It was also announced that Helen Steele, (who has dressed many Irish and international celebrities including most recently Saoirse Ronan) will also showcase her new S/S 16 collection as the guest of honour at the Irish Fashion Industry Awards.

Other events over KFW ‘16 include the annual KFW Boutique & Designer Show in the Pavilion at Ballygarry House Hotel, Tralee, County Kerry on Wednesday 2nd of March and a programme of Industry Workshops.

Kerry Fashion Week and the Irish Fashion Industry Awards are jointly produced by Orla Diffily and Paul Ruane (FrontPoint Events Ltd) and their dedicated team of fashion industry professionals. For more information visit www. kerryfashionweek.com, follow KFW on twitter @kfwtweets or instagram KerryFashionWeek.

Present a

Night of Fashion Wednesday March 9th Ballyroe Heights Drinks Reception 7.00pm, Show begins at 7.45pm Join us for an evening of Fashion And Fun, where lots of our participating Lady Footballers will take to the catwalk to show the latest looks from Fashion Houses all over Kerry.

They will be joined by a few Male Surprise Models too, so lots of fun guaranteed

Tickets €25 and available from Imelda Roche (Abbeydorney) 087 6125624 Dan Kearney (Castleisland) 087 7605499 Karen McGlynn (Fossa) 087 2948779 Nora Fealey (Cromane) 087 4143005 This night is kindly supported by our main sponsor Kerry Group and our associate sponsors

CONNECT MAGAZINE February 2016

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ConneCt | HeaLtH

ConneCt The lifestyle magazine for Kerry

WITH YOUR HEALTH

MALE FERTILITY PROBLEMS

– AN OVERVIEW The Scotia Clinic is very lucky to have Mr. Kevin McEleny, Consultant Urologist with Special Interest in Male Fertility, as a Visiting Consultant. Dr. Mary McCaffrey asks Kevin to explain the area of male fertility.

Kevin, How common is male fertility problems?

Yes - About 1 in 7 couples have difficulty conceiving and a sperm quality problem is involved half the time. This can range from minor problems with sperm movement to the complete absence of sperm, which affects 1 in a 100 men.

Is this a new issue?

Some experts think that male fertility may be getting worse over time. Sperm quality isn’t as good now as it was some years ago and could be due to changes in the levels of certain chemicals in the environment.

What causes sperm problems?

The precise reasons for sperm quality problems often aren’t obvious, but in general terms male fertility problems can be split up into different categories: 1. Problems with the hormones that control sperm production. Some people are born with or acquire problems with hormone glands in the brain called the hypothalamus and the pituitary. These glands control how the testicles make sperm and if they aren’t making their hormones normally, the testicles can’t make sperm.

2. Problems with the testicles ability to make sperm. These are pretty common and can be caused by a wide variety of problems including: • genetic problems like Kleinfelter Syndrome, • congenital abnormalities like undescended testicles • history of testicular problems like infections or varicocele. In many cases though, no cause can be found.

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3. Steroid use / Gym Substances Steroid use is extremely common.

Some men who go to the gym often take anabolic steroids which affects sperm production. Men taking these products (or indeed certain proteins supplements that can contain steroids) should stop immediately and it can take up to 18 months for their effects on fertility to wear off completely.

4. Chronic Medical Problems Medical problems such as diabetes can also affect fertility.

5. Problems with sperm delivery.

A blockage can occur at any point in the sperm’s journey, from inside the testicle where they are made, to the point where the pipes that carry the sperm (the vasa deferens) drain into the penis. One reason could be a previous vasectomy – which can be reversed surgically. Another common reason for a blockage is due to being born without the vasa deferens, which occurs commonly in men who carry the gene for Cystic Fibrosis

Kevin, what advice should men with sperm issues get?

Your doctor can refer you to a fertility specialist who will assess you by asking you some questions and examining your testicles to try and identify any problems.

The doctor may then perform some tests to look for a reason for the problem.

Sometimes the doctor will check your hormone levels (FSH) to see if this provides a clue. Certain genetic tests and specialised sperm tests may also prove useful.

A healthy lifestyle (a healthy diet, losing weight if you are too heavy, stopping smoking and regular exercise) are good things for male fertility and avoiding stress where possible is good too. Excessive exercise like marathon running or long distance cycling can be harmful, so don’t over-do it. Some experts advocate taking a multi-vitamin supplement also.

There is evidence that men with fertility problems have a slightly higher chance of developing testicle cancer and whilst this is very rare, it is worth examining your testicles for lumps every month and if you find any, let your GP know immediately.

And what treatments are used if sperm doesn’t improve?

IUI or IVF may be options in cases where the sperm quality if not too badly affected. However, a more usual treatment called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) involves injecting sperm taken from the semen in to the female partner’s eggs, as part of a fertility treatment cycle. In cases where there is no sperm in the semen, then sometimes a specialist doctor can recover sperm directly from the testicles by an operation. The type of operation recommended depends on the category of the problem

What else should couples be aware of?

Men have less awareness of how their bodies work than women do and are often deeply distressed when told that they have a sperm quality problem.

The traditional ‘tough male’ role means that men frequently feel that they have to be strong and supportive for their partners and in so doing, repress their own feelings, which frequently include guilt, frustration, anger, sadness and disappointment. So don’t be afraid to ask for help if it hasn’t been offered.

Consultations with Mr. McEleny are provided, on referral, via The Scotia Clinic.

*all advice here is general information for advisory purpose only so please consult with your own doctor for full professional advice on your concerns.

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WONDERING ABOUT YOUR FERTILITY? Consider a Fertility Check!

FEMALE

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• Fertility Check • Hormone Blood Test • Scan to assess ovaries • Clinical Consultation

• Fertility Check • Semen Analysis • Clinical Consultation

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• 1:6 couples have difficulty conceiving • Female fertility peaks in the 20’s, gradually declines in the early 30’s. Declines dramatically from age 35 • Male fertility issues have an impact in 50% of fertility cases WWW.SCOTIACLINIC.COM

SATURDAY CLINICS NOW AVAILABLE THE SCOTIA CLINIC | SCOTIA HOUSE | MANOR WEST | TRALEE | CO. KERRY PHONE: (066) 7181100 | FAX: (066) 7181156 | EMAIL: RECEPTION@SCOTIACLINIC.IE

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ConneCt WITH YOUR HEALTH Pearly Whites: Fáilte Romhaibh

By Dr. Marcas Mac Domhnaill As we face into a new year, we often pause to plan ahead, to review the old year and to make any necessary changes to our lifestyles. While many new year resolutions do not last very long, one should always try to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This applies to our dental health as recent studies have proved how poor oral health can affect our general medical health also. Therefore, budgeting for healthcare needs to be given priority. Below are some common questions regarding dental schemes, both state and private schemes.

What does PRSI dental cover allow?

Any employee who pays PRSI (Pay Related Social Insurance) out of their wages, will eventually be eligible to a free dental examination, once every year. Eligibility depends on your age and the number of your contributions. The Department of Social and Family Protection have a dental helpline for queries. You will need your PPS number for all queries. Your dental practice can also apply to check eligibility.

What does a full medical card allow?

A full valid medical card (not a GP only card) allows a free dental examination, once every year. It covers all extractions and up to a maximum of two fillings per calendar year. With regard to fillings, it covers white filling material on the anterior teeth and metal filling material on the posterior teeth. All other treatment needs prior approval from the HSE. It is important to note that scaling (cleaning of plaque and tartar from teeth) is not covered with a medical card. Medical cards are given to people aged 16 years and older. For those under 16 years of age, they come under the care of the local HSE dental clinic in their area. In recent years, to avoid long waiting lists in the public dental system, patients often choose to access private dental treatment with their local dental practice and orthodontist.

Does medical health insurance help with costs?

Some medical health insurers allow a set fee for a dental visit. The patient needs to apply for this money and provide a detailed receipt. Ask your medical insurance company for details.

Can I claim tax relief on dental treatment?

One can only claim tax relief at 20% on certain dental treatments. This includes provision of crowns, bridges, root fillings, veneers, some surgical extractions of wisdom teeth, orthodontic treatment and advanced gum treatments, to name a few. Your dental practice will provide you with your special claim form which you can give to your accountant or send directly to your local tax office.

Can I get private dental insurance?

Recently, private dental insurance has become much more popular in Ireland.

Some companies provide private dental insurance for their employees. Many of these schemes place an emphasis on prevention of dental disease. These schemes can be operated in two ways. (a) The patient pays the dental practice and claims money back from the insurance company. (b) The insurance company pays the dental practice directly – therefore the patient only pays the dental practice any necessary balance not covered by the policy.

Bliain nua faoi shonas dhaoibh go léir.

Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí!

Beir Bua agus Beannacht. www.macdomhnailldental.ie

MAC DOMHNAILL DENTAL TRALEE, 11 Denny Street Tralee 066 7121457, fiacloir@gmail.com

www.macdomhnailldental.ie

CONNECTMAGAZINE MAGAZINEDecember February 2015 2016 / January 2016 2424 CONNECT

Self-Help for DEPRESSION Last time I wrote about some self-help strategies for managing depression. Those focused on staying active (exercise is a great counteraction to depression), eating well and avoiding foods that mimic the chemical effects of depression in your body, talking things over with somebody (a friend, family member or professional) and learning to breathe.

There are more strategies, of course, that will help you to avoid falling into a depressed state, and they are more longterm ways of changing how you approach your life: Manage expectations: It is important to remember that we can’t always be happy, and it’s unrealistic to expect that you will continually feel upbeat and cheery. We are also led by social pressures to believe that we can have it all, all the time. Sometimes life is difficult, people are awkward and unhelpful, and you can’t always have what you want. Accept that hardship and adversity are part of life, and don’t feel persecuted if things go wrong. Learn to manage adversity with grace, and make the best of your situation. That is not to say that you should accept being miserable all the time, just that it helps if you have realistic expectations. It helps to know that, despite how things may appear from the outside, nobody’s life is perfect.

Change your narrative: Learn about re-writing your internal story. We can often give ourselves negative messages about ourselves and our lives. We develop an internal dialogue that focuses on our limitations and self-criticism. Negative messages are powerful, and if we keep repeating them to ourselves, we create the circumstances in which they become true.

Laugh more: Doing things that are fun and enjoyable, that make us laugh, remind us that life doesn’t have to be taken so seriously. Find people and situations that make you laugh, and visit them regularly.

Learn something new: This can be anything. Just learn something new. Ask a friend to teach you to bake, take a class in car maintenance, get kayaking lessons. Acquiring new skills or knowledge is extremely validating, and helps to open up possibilities for us.

Answer the questions: People who are depressed are often filled with doubt and questions – Why did I do that? Why didn’t I do this? What if I had gone here instead of there?

Why can’t I ...? It’s helpful for you to sit down and answer those questions fully. There are always reasons why we act they way we do, or fail to act the way we want to. Take an honest look at the answers. Are the reasons still valid? Can we change things for the better? Stop regretting the past, and you can begin to see a future.

Do something for others with no expectation of return: This helps to turn our focus outwards, away from ourselves.

Volunteer, do some service project, get involved in a charity.

Don’t look for appreciation or recognition, just do it because you can. As always, if your depression is serious, seek professional help.

Caroline Smith Psychotherapy Counselling 087 6444837 e: info@carolinesmith.ie w: www. carolinesmith.ie

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The lifestyle magazine for Kerry

In 2016 what does Health, Wellness & Fitness really mean?!

Over the past 5 years Irish people have become much more aware of the need to look after their health. Which is really great!

We now see more & more people getting active, making better food choices and living a healthier and more balanced lifestyle.

However, what does it really mean?

As we try our very best to eat better we make our way to the health food section in our local store. We see all the healthy foods, snacks & treats. We swap some “normal stuff ” for a “healthy” version. Not knowing that it’s probably also filled with just as many sugar’s and additives? But it’s from the health food section so it must be better right?! Not always.

We enjoy exercising! We begin making better moves here too! We often see people take up running as an early bridge to exercise. After a 4-6 week period we read somewhere online that running may in fact be really bad for you, it’s bad for our joints & it causes weight gain are just some of the conspiracy theories.

As a nation we are now, more so than ever, aware of our Mental Health & Wellbeing.

However less & less people are talking, particularly young people. We visit our local schools on a regular basis and spread a very important message. Talk, talk to each other, talk to your parents, talk to your teachers but never just talk to yourself. Talking to others rather than bottling things up can have a drastic effect on our mental health and our general outlook on life.

So how do we go about implementing these

positive changes and keeping them in our lives?!

1) Just start. Make one change every week. If we try to change everything at once it won’t last as it’s too much of a shift too fast. Small steps conquer the biggest mountains so don’t overwhelm yourself!

2) Don’t go solo! Changing your lifestyle & starting a fitness routine is tough on your own so grab a friend and do it together! Share the load & experience together.

3) Take part in exercise that you enjoy! This is so important guys! If you love cycling, then get out on your bike, go to Spin Classes! If you love Zumba, go to Zumba a couple times a week.

If you love weight training, well then make sure you lift weights. We see lots of people just exercising for the sake of it, boring and just doing the same thing all the time. If you want to make this new lifestyle change stick it should at least be enjoyable. Even mentally, preparing yourself for a workout that you enjoy is much easier than preparing yourself for a workout you don’t enjoy!

4) Making better food choices is easy. People make eating healthy out to be the hardest thing in the world! Start out by reducing your sugar intake & increasing your water intake.

These are two easy steps you can make right now by reading this article! You don’t have to “cleanse” nor do a 7 day “detox”. As humans

we have a liver, kidneys & lungs that detox our bodies 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Weight loss is always seen on any quick fix as we basically don’t even eat. Guys your body does not like this! It’s not natural. Eat real, fresh & nutritious food then team that up with some form of enjoyable exercise and see the change! At WK Fitness we start people off with training, movement & exercise and then after about a 7-14 day period we breakdown any food barriers and improve that aspect of a members lifestyle. We have seen huge results here, taking things step by step.

5) Exercise plays a major role in providing people with a positive outlook and a positive mental health. Exercise makes us feel good about ourselves. It releases “happy” hormones from our brain. You don’t have to run for 3 hours a day for this to help. Simply exercising for 30 minutes 4 times a week can have a huge effect!

Talking to those close to you is vital, your parents, friends, classmates and teammates.

Never keep your problems to yourself, get it off your chest. You will be surprised how much it can help and how much people can help you.

It’s ok not to be ok and it’s absolutely ok to ask for help!

Hopefully you can implement some of this advice & these tips into your life right away guys!

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BUSINESS businesses and we encourage all starting out to engage with the local support offices to avail of what is on offer for them.

Joan Burton is an Irish Labour Party politician. She has served as Tánaiste since 2014 and as Minister for Social Protection since 2011. She is the Leader of the Labour Party since July 2014. Recently she paid a visit to Tralee to unveil some new projects in the town so we caught up with her for a chat.

Joan you like popping to see us in Kerry why is this?

Yes indeed I love coming to Kerry, I really enjoy Kerry and its people and the spirit of positivity Kerry people have. I am here today to visit the sports academy which has just received a grant from Minister Brendan Howlin. I am delighted to see that it’s a centre that will not just be a centre of excellence for sports minded people but also for people with a disability. This will be of huge benefit to the town the county and the country really.

As a woman in politics do you see obstacles there that men don’t come up against?

Yes there are times I feel as a woman you need to go the extra mile to ensure that you’re up there, as a woman I feel we try extra hard to be part of the political scene which is still a very male dominated area of life, there are still only about 16% of the dail female, but we are working towards this and I do feel the Gender Quota will help this greatly. There are now a lot of younger men around the table such as Alan Kelly, Arthur Spring and Simon Covney who all have young children so it’s more the norm now listening to conversations regarding childcare and everyday family issues as opposed to earlier in my time in the Dail, when it was unheard of to have these discussions.

Did you always want to be a politician or was it something that came later in life?

It was something that came later in life to be honest, I graduated from ucd with a degree in Commerce and worked as a lecturer in accountancy in Dublin and I

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travelled quiet a lot and visited places like Tanzania. I then returned and was encouraged to run for election, Dick Spring in fact was an instrumental part of my encouragement to the political road that I took, and I have to say even though it’s a tough road at the best of times it’s something I enjoy. My role as Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection has certainly brought me a lot of satisfaction over the years, to come to Kerry and see hotels and businesses re opening is certainly a positive for me too.

How do you see Labour performing in the next election?

Of course it will be difficult, it will be for all candidates, but I do think that we have started a road to progress and even meeting people now they are more positive about the future of the country.

The marriage equality referendum that was recently successfully passed, do you feel this was a benefit to the country?

Oh I do for sure, I think it was a very proud and happy moment for Ireland and to the young people in particular who exercise their right to vote and did it with such positivity. It was refreshing to see the country coming together as a whole for this.

Women in Business in Ireland- what are your thoughts on this?

I feel there are a lot of women in Business all over Ireland and many of them begin at the kitchen table with small businesses that grow slowly but confidently, they nourish their business daily while also regularly running the house, the kids, and sometimes have a strong involvement in their partners business too all in a day’s work to them, so we as a government need to make sure there are plans in place to support this, and we are delighted now to say that the self-employed tax credit will soon reach the same level as paye credit over three years, we are also looking at other ways of assisting start up and developing

Does Joan Relax?

Yes indeed in the winter time I like to take in a film on rare date night with my husband, I recently went to see Brooklyn which is a very moving movie and definitely worth a watch, as it reflects on Ireland long ago. I also enjoy walking and am a member of the Fingal walker group and like to get out on Sunday mornings with this group when the workload allows.

I am also a strong lover of art and theatre, and would love to see more being done for these services. New improvements grants allocated will hopefully help some of the smaller theatres and that who may need improvement works done.

What does 2016 hold in store for Joan?

I will most probably be out knocking on doors and hoping the myself and the party will be returned to government to complete the work that’s started on getting the country back on its feet again.

It’s been a very hard time for the country these past few years but we are confident things are turning for the better. As the saying goes a lot to do but certainly lots done to date. It’s certainly refreshing to come to Kerry and see hotels and businesses reopened in the county.

How would you advise the public regards voting?

I would always encourage Vote with what you think is best for you, your family, and your work. We are working to put the country back in place and hopefully this will happen sooner rather than later. My wish for Kerry is that it would be a Better Kerry, to live, to work and to enjoy a quality of life.

Happy new year to you all.

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What Businesses should expect in 2016 As another year is underway and with the economy gathering momentum what should we expect in 2016.

•

Budget 2015 Tax Cuts

Revenue Commissioners

January finally saw the implementation of many of the tax cuts announced in the Budget last year. This will inevitably lead to increased disposable incomes, which will be a welcome boost to many individuals.

General Election

With a soon to be announced general election, the scrap for votes is gathering pace. Election promises may take time to come to fruition, but on the positive side, the general election creates a lot of business activity. This will be a welcome boost to businesses during the early part of the year.

Important Questions to ask your Politicians Is 9% Vat rate going to be retained?

Where to now for Irish water?

Who pays for election Promises?

What will they do to assist small and medium sized businesses?

NB: 2016 is the centenary of 1916, so it is important to vote and have your say.

What to Expect Post Election • •

Government will tackle Irish Water debacle once Dail seats are secured for new term.

We will be told election promises will be delivered during the term of the new government but not in this year’s Budget.

Any change to economic growth will dramatically affect government policy and spending power.

New governments generally promise a crackdown on the black economy. Revenue has increased emphasis on Audits and Interventions in 2015; this is likely to continue throughout 2016.

Investment There has been some significant land and development sites sold in recent times. The appetite for investment in Kerry appears to be on the rise both locally, nationally and internationally. This could see a significant rise in development in Kerry in the next few years and is a huge cause for optimism.

Some Specific Sectors

more development and building expected as investment and incomes starts to rise again. The construction sector remains ideally positioned to deliver some real growth both within Kerry and nationwide.

Retail Sector

Increased employment, strong economic growth and increased consumer incomes suggest that 2016 will be a thriving year for the retail sector.

The growth of online transactions will however continue to drive changes in the sector during the year.

Farming

2016 is likely to be another tough year in farming. Weather is already wreaking havoc in many areas, while beef prices in particular are expected to fall. Increased production in Dairy sector should see farm incomes rise despite modest milk prices.

Tourism

After two good years, there is plenty of optimism within the sector, with growth rates of up to 6% being expected. This could well be over optimistic as Euro 2016 may affect domestic tourism, while Paris attacks and ISIS could impact on international visitors travelling to Europe and the US.

Construction

After a positive start, on reflection 2015 represented a solid year, which disappointed somewhat. This year has similar optimism, with

John Canty & Co. Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors 3 Denny Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry. T: 0667127802 M: 087 9431998 | E: info@jcantyaccountants.ie | www.jcantyaccountants.ie

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ELECTION SPECIAL Unless you have been under a rock or on a foreign cruise over the past few weeks you will know there is an election on the way so this month Gillian caught up with some of those participating for the much sought after seats in the county to see what their mission should they be elected into government is.

ARTHUR SPRING TD

Since I was first elected a TD I have worked hard for you, your family and our community while always putting the people of Kerry first over the last 5 years.

I first entered national politics at 34 years of age in the middle of a period of enormous economic chaos and collapse. The economy is now recovering and additional investment in public services, tax cuts and increased social welfare payments are now possible. I want the opportunity to continue to work for the people of Kerry as your local TD and the father of a young family. I want to ensure that stable and realistic policies implemented by this government, which were the basis of the turn-around in the economy, are adhered to into the future and that we are not diverted off the pathway to recovery.

As a member of government, I campaigned on a wide range of economic, social and educational issues with the intention to make Kerry a better place to work and live. I need your number 1 vote to continue to serve the people of Kerry with honesty and commitment.

MICHAEL HEALY RAE

Post Offices - Our Post Offices are of major importance to our communities, not just because of the excellent service they provide but the social aspect of in particularly elderly people meeting with friends and availing of all the great services provided, Jobs- many small businesses who are struggling at present to keep their doors open, the Government speak of a recovery, there are actually two economy’s in Ireland today, one is Dublin and one is the rest of the country. Health Service - Everybody knows of the chronic waiting list in our hospitals at present, weather it is for operations, and many other procedures which should be carried out without delay Agriculture and Fishing SectorFarm families have seen their income fall dramatically over the last number of years. There is a monopoly on beef prices which makes it not profitable for farmers to finish cattle for the factory. They are not being paid properly for their work. Infrastructure - Major investment is required in our county to upgrade our infrastructure; many roads in Kerry are in a deplorable state.

Indeed in recent times having travelled all of the roads in North Kerry, they are in absolutely arthrosis condition and have suffered years and years of neglect. The voters of Kerry now have a clear choice to make, do they want people who will do to Dublin and go into a coma and blindly support their political parties or do they want an Independent who will work for them and represent the issues that are of importance at a National level.

VOTE

NO1

Michael Healy-Rae T.D. Office Number: 01-6183363 Email: Michael.healyrae@oireachtas.ie

Your Kerry T.D. working Locally and Nationally for you.

Working With: Danny Healy-Rae MCC: Mobile (087) 231 6055 Phone: 064 668 5782 Fax:064 663 7175 Johnny Healy-Rae MCC: Mobile (087) 235 4793 Email: johnnyhealyrae@gmail.com Fax: 064 663 7375

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CONNECT MAGAZINE February 2016

VOTE

NO1 JOHN BRASSIL

"Protecting and enhancing rural Ireland so that our rural communities are vibrant and viable places to live"

Vote No.2 Norma Moriarty

T: 0872362330 E: cllrjbrassil@gmail.com Main Street, Ballyheigue, Co. Kerry

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The lifestyle magazine for Kerry

DELIVERING FOR KERRY NEW GARDA VEHICLES GARDA STATION UPGRADES WILD ATLANTIC WAY SOUTH KERRY GREENWAY TRALEE-FENIT GREENWAY €5 MILLION FOR NEW WATER TREATMENT PLANTS

€14 MILLION FOR NEW SEWERAGE SCHEMES IDA FACILITY FOR TRALEE KERRY-DUBLIN PSO PROTECTED

€44 MILLION FOR SCHOOLS 9 NEW SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECTS

€1M 1M DINGLE HARBOUR WORKS

€62 MILLION TO PROVIDE 1,058 NEW HOMES BY 2017

€13.2 13.2 M KERRY GENERAL HOSPITAL

VOTE 1

Arthur J.

SPRING JOHN BRASSIL

TRALEE BY-PASS DINGLE RELIEF ROAD N86 UPGRADE

€7.5M KERRY SPORTS ACADEMY

066 7125337 arthur.spring@oir.ie

Job creation and proper investment in business and enterprise supports reducing the numbers on the live register by attracting new investment and encouraging enterprise both indigenous and foreign to locate in Ireland.

This requires proper supports to enterprise and business start-ups, reforming business rates, addressing the issue of accessibility to credit for businesses and ensuring the IDA works to bring investment to rural counties. I will advocate for the self-employed to receive the same PRSI benefits and tax treatment as PAYE workers.

Broadband and ensuring a top service across all of Kerry as it is essential for business development and expansion, rural counties should have the same opportunities as urban areas to create new jobs and attract investment.

Tourism contributes massively to the Kerry economy and provides vital employment for the county, I will advocate for proper investment and promotion of our tourism industry including overseas marketing, better accessibility to the county for visitors, investment in recreational infrastructure and enhanced provision of training and skills development programmes for the tourism industry. Rural Services such as Post Offices, Schools, and Garda Stations are all vital and integral parts of ensuring that rural communities remain vibrant, safe and attractive for people to live in.

Functional, viable rural communities require rural services to remain open and I will work hard to ensure that we keep services in our small towns and villages. Farmers Protecting and enhancing farm incomes I will lobby to protect and enhance the income of our farmers, supporting agriculture, which is at the heart of the rural economy, is paramount to ensuring that our rural communities are viable. Farmers should receive a fair price for their products, face less red tape and be provided with proper supports to diversify. health a fair health service with well-resourced front line services for all, making certain that our hospitals are properly resourced and that Community Supports and front line services most especially the ambulance service.

GRACE O DONNELL MY PRIORITIES ARE: • Working parents – Extended and shared paid maternity/ paternity leave, affordable childcare and afterschool care, tax deductible childcare.

• Easing burden on families – For more than seven years the squeezed middle of Irish society has silently shouldered the burden of getting our economy back on track. It is time to ease that burden, a process started in the budget.

• Our senior citizens – Working with families to ensure the elderly are safe and can remain living in their homes and local communities as long as possible.

• Crime - I support the establishment of local policing forums to provide community input and official accountability when it comes to tackling crime in our constituency.

CONNECT MAGAZINE February 2016

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ConneCt | BUsiness

CONNECT ONLINE BIN

by KEN iaTO – Social WeeBiz Med Media Consultants

The lifestyle magazine for Kerry

Legal Compliance

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE FIRMS It has long been acknowledged that businesses focused on a consumer market (retail, hospitality, leisure) have adopted Social Media into their marketing mix, the same cannot be said for Professional Service Practices.

Many Professional Services such as Accountants, Solicitors, Architects and Consultants are at a loss as to how, or even why, they should integrate Social Media into their Marketing.

Professional Service providers are cautious in their move away from the traditional modes of communication and marketing, whether • it’s a misguided assumption that there is a ‘risk’ of exposure on Social Media, or • the uncertainty as to who will manage their Social Media communications, or • lack of clarity as to the real benefits that can be gained, or • reliance on the tried and tested referrals and ‘word-of-mouth’ marketing The reality is, that your clients and prospects are using Social Media, and in ever increasing numbers your competitors are also using it!

At WeeBiz Media we work with a variety of Professional Practices, which is why we know for certain that Social Media is a necessary component of your marketing mix.

Be The Expert!

Every consultant has their area of expertise, that something extra that they believe they can provide as added value to their clients. Social Media is a proven tool for relaying great content to your audience, in particular content created by you in your own blog, which emphasises your level of expertise, knowledge and training. Show your clients why you are the best!

Listen and ‘Earn’ Social Media is the ideal resource for your practice to monitor conversation as it happens so that you are up to date with your current and future client’s needs, enabling you tailor or develop new services to meet a growing demand. It is also the key source for new opportunities, product launches, competitor news and networking opportunities.

Brand Meaning A firm’s brand can be transformed through Social Media. A company’s logo should represent much more than just colour on a headed-paper.

Through careful management, with a focused communication strategy and professional website, your brand can represent so much more to a potential client online that will differentiate your practice from those around you.

Social Media is more than just marketing, it can be the transforming factor in your business. Improving awareness of your practice to a wider audience and representing your practice as leaders in their field, are fundamental to your Social Media strategy. The privacy of your practice is not being exposed, rather you get to control what message is presented.

WeeBiz Media are a Kerry Based Social Media Consultancy, offering Training and Social Media Management for Businesses weebizmedia@gmail.com 0868162105 (Ken) www.weebizmedia.com

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CONNECT MAGAZINE February 2016

Your HR in 2016 Are you ready for NERA? NERA inspections are a common occurrence for many employers. The National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) was established by the Government in February 2007 to make sure employers comply with employment rights legislation and to promote a culture of compliance in Ireland in the areas of employment. NERA ensure this through announced and unannounced workplace inspections where they review employee files, take copies of documentation and interview management and employees as necessary. Inspections can be initiated for a number of reasons for example: routine inspection, on foot of a complaint received about noncompliance or as part of a NERA campaign focusing on a specific sector or piece of legislation.

The HR Suite can help you in 2016 by conducting a pre audit to ensure that you are compliant. We can also help you put in place any outstanding documentation.

Employee Training in 2016

Improving well-being at work helps people be more creative, loyal, productive and to provide better overall customer satisfaction.

How can you as an employer ensure well-being at work?

At the HR Suite we believe that Workplace Wellbeing begins with sharing knowledge and creating awareness.

Focusing on policy, culture and engagement means that people will be less likely to suffer from presenteeism if an environment supports their life challenges and strives to engage them.

Considering this many organisations have started office wellness programmes which offer staff the opportunity to engage in health-related tasks, learn more about workplace wellness and share ideas with their colleagues.

The HR Suite can provide the following training opportunities to help create awareness and build a positive company culture in your organisation.

• • • • • • • •

Dignity & Respect training - half day Wellbeing awareness training (Employees/Managers) half day Time management training - half day Assertiveness training - half day Culture training - half day People management - full day Performance management - full day Manual Handling training – half day

***All training courses are tailored to suit company needs.

For information on pre NERA audits or full training details please do not hesitate to contact us on 0667102887.

Caroline McEnery, The HR Suite, Pier 17, Dingle Road, Tralee, Co. Kerry, Ireland Tel: +353 (0)66 7102887 / +353 (0)86 7752064 Email: info@thehrsuiteonline.com

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VOTE NO.1 O.1 GRACE

O’DONNELL Continue your preferences for fellow party representatives, Minister Jimmy Deenihan, Brendan Griffin TD.

Grace O’Donnell Campaign office: 087 239 9940 Contact me: To assist with my campaign please ring the campaign office number above.

AT A CAREER CROSSROADS? WANT TO CHANGE LIFE OR CAREER DIRECTION? Contact us for a 4-session Career Coaching package to get you on the right road.

20% DISCOUNT for packages booked between Sept. 1st and October 15th mention Connect magazine when booking.

WHIC WILL

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CALL CAREER DEVELOPMENT SPECIALISTS: Mairead O'Carroll, Tralee, T: 087 626 2503 or Mary Beary, Listowel, T: 087 688 9850

Adrienne Dowd Bookkeeping and Training Services DO YOU WANT TO SAVE TIME & MONEY? ARE YOU CURRENTLY DEALING WITH A BACKLOG WITHIN YOUR BUSINESS OR NEED A BETTER PURCHASE PRICE? WHY NOT OUTSOURCE YOUR BOOKKEEPING? Adrienne Dowd Bookkeeping provides high quality, affordable bookkeeping including the following: • Purchases & Sales processing for VAT returns • Year-End & Backlog resourcing • P&L accounts & Analysis • Budgeting & Planning Assistance • Payroll processing including P30 returns & Wages queries • Med 1 & Med 2 returns View Adrienne’s website www.adriennedowdkerry.com to see some testimonials from satisfied customers to date.

www.managemycareer.ie CONNECT MAGAZINE February 2016

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Connect | Diary

The lifestyle magazine for Kerry

Connect DIARY Live Life National Film

In May 2013, Donal Walsh lost his cancer battle at 16 years of age. Prior to his passing he managed to get people, most especially young people, thinking and talking about how good life is and to focus on the positives rather than the negatives.

Donal’s family began to receive donations from all over the world so that they could continue spreading his positive message and in turn in any way prevent suicide. To date any monies received have been used to support teenage cancer patients and to help prevent teenage suicide.

His family wanted to continue spreading his message without people feeling obliged to provide donations and that is how the live life film competition concept was born. The competition is a national one, open to all, the idea is to create a two minute clip of what living life means to people. This year the title for the competition is Live Life “Our World”.

The competition culminates with an awards ceremony where the shortlisted movies are screened and the winners announced. Awards are presented to winning students and adults who took part in the Live Life National Film Competition and the event itself is a celebration of life and love! The short films produced as part of this competition are of an excellent standard and provide a great insight emotionally to what Live Life means to people.

For further details: MaryLuceyLiveLife@gmail.com .

AIB SUPPORTING WOMEN IN BUSINESS

AIB hosted a lunch event for women in business in Ballyseede Castle. Mary Rose Cantillon, Manager at AIB Tralee outlined that the event was one in a series AIB is undertaking to support female entrepreneurs. The Bank wants to understand more about how they can make a positive difference to their business. Research has been undertaken on the barriers that women face when setting up and growing a business. The invited guests also contributed to the debate giving their own insights and opinions. It was a highly interactive event in the beautiful setting of Ballyseede Castle.

DENTIST WINS MUNSTER AWARD

– Dr. Mac Domhnaill wins for his outstanding treatment of a post-chemotherapy patient and his charity work in Chernobyl

Dr. Marcus Mac Domhnaill, a dentist from Tralee is the winner of the ‘Munster Sensitive Dentist of the Year Award 2015’. Dr. Mac Domhnaill was nominated by a cancer patient Ms. Bernadette Kennedy for his kindness and attentiveness in treating her after two separate diagnosis of cancer resulted in her losing most of her teeth and for his tireless charity work in Chernobyl.

Ms. Kennedy said, “Dr. Mac Domhnaill was always there for me and was always ready to help even when he was not on duty. When funds were low, he understood and never let my situation be a barrier to my treatment.

His kindness goes beyond my story as he tirelessly fundraises and actually spends some time every year working in poverty stricken Chernobyl providing treatment to those in need. His kindness has touched my life and made me a much more confident person. If everyone was like him, the world would be a better place to live in.”

Dr. Mac Domhnaill said he was “honoured and delighted to receive the award which highlights the importance of the dentist patient relationship built on respect for each individual patient which puts the patient first.”

Outstanding acts of patient care recognised at the awards include helping a female patient with a dental phobia to overcome her fears, empathy with an end of life patient, out-ofhours access to emergency treatment for a new patient and the compassionate approach shown to a vulnerable patient in recovery from an addiction, among others.

Hundreds of nominations were received from patients across the country with a total of eighteen dentists honoured at the awards which were held in the RDS Concert Hall, Dublin

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CONNECT MAGAZINE February 2016

ConneCt | BUsiness

The lifestyle magazine for Kerry

BESPOKE BUSINESS SUPPORT – BECAUSE YOUR BUSINESS IS UNIQUE Brigeen O’ Sullivan and Eimear Mc Donnell are leading the way in a new approach to marketing, advertising and training in their business Bespoke Business Support. Their approach with clients is practical, innovative and in their own words “there is no marketing speak or blurb with us, we understand our clients need practical approaches to their marketing that work for them.”

They are based in both Kerry where Brigeen lives and in Tipperary which is home to Eimear. Both have come to the business with a wealth of experience from industry. Brigeen has worked extensively in marketing and sales management in the hotel and hospitality sector and Eimear has worked extensively in the advertising and newspaper sector in sales management and training.

Eimear originally took the leap in to selfemployment in January 2013 leaving her career in regional press to start an advertising and marketing consultancy business. In September 2013 she and Brigeen began working together when they both consulted to a group of hotels. Brigeen had taken the leap from industry in to self-employment in late summer 2013 as she recognised there was a gap in the market which she could fill with her skill set in marketing.

Not only had they a common approach with clients but a great friendship was soon established, both are Mum’s to young families so there was always a shared understanding of juggling everything and also carving a successful business that would work around their lives.

With an established working relationship and a full understanding of each other’s skill sets in October 2014 Brigeen and Eimear formally launched Bespoke Business Support .

The core area’s they work with clients on are Marketing, Business Planning, Advertising and Training. One of the first things they do when working with a client is carry out an audit phase as generally each business has a wealth of clients but they are just not tapping in to the exact needs of their clients.

That’s where Bespoke Business Support create persona group’s, essentially grouping your customers by age, location and their value systems so you can start communicating with each group on products or services that resonate with them. Eimear explains “throughout my year’s in advertising I noted that many clients took a blanket approach in their advertising which may have yielded some results but was

too wide to really connect with each market.” Brigeen continues “by creating persona group’s we enable clients to connect sometimes to smaller groups but with greater results.”

Bespoke Business Support always ensure their clients take an integrated approach to share the same message on all platforms in print, radio, TV, SMS marketing and online in their website, social media, blog and ezines.

Training is also a core part of their business model, as highly experienced trainers they shared “for many businesses the challenge is not always in effective marketing and advertising campaigns but in supporting their teams by ensuring they are competently trained in sales, digital media and customer care.” As they explained their approach with every client is prescriptive, small steps done regularly

will effect great changes in a business.

“We always share with our clients that the best practice approach is ensuring you take every step outlined. Firstly by ensuring your understand your market through persona groups then by advertising with compelling call to actions in all your campaigns. In addition we recommend integrating all campaigns to share your message on different platforms then track all campaigns for return on investment and finally ensure your team are competently trained to convert sales. “ If you want to connect with Brigeen and Eimear to speak to them about your business you can contact them at www.bespokebusinesssupport.com

CONNECT MAGAZINE February 2016

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ConneCt | Motoring

The lifestyle magazine for Kerry

CONNECT Motoring Ford Grand C-Max

Fords updated Grand C-Max now looks very much part of the Ford family with the signature oversized grille and bonnet bulges but has been designed to suit families in need of a more versatile space and also comes with 7 seats. The interior of the Grand C-MAX is spacious with all controls within easy reach although the dashboard is huge and the area

Hello and welcome to Connect Motoring, with the range of cars now available it makes that decision of choosing a car even harder, so we asked our expert Suzanne to give some recommendations on whats on offer out there.

Peugeot 208

Peugeot’s 208 has received a facelift and sliding into the black, red and aluminium cabin when I collected the test car was certainly a treat. On the motorway it feels like a much bigger car and on winding roads it really came to life – despite being a diesel it really does feel like you’re driving a petrol hot hatch and fuel economy was very impressive! The 208 is available in 3 and 5 door versions with 3 trim levels; access, active and allure. The model tested was a 208 GT Line with a 1.6HDi diesel engine and 100bhp. This model retails at €22,640 and comes with gloss black mirrors, chrome exhaust pipe, GT line badging, gloss black grille, aluminium pedals, 17” alloys and plenty of red detailing to make sure you know you’re driving a hot hatch. The Peugeot 208 starts from €14,845 and my pick would be one of the innovative “textured” paint options available!

capacity of 1,150 litres (4×2) or 1,000 litres (4×4), a payload of 550 kg. The commercial version handles just like the passenger model and was well able for motorways as well as the potholed roads around Kerry. There’s loads of ground clearance and a wet and muddy building site was no challenge to the 4×4 Duster. The Duster commercial starts from €16,190 and the 1.5l Diesel in Signature 4×4 costs €20,190 and will consume 5.3L/100km.

Nissan Pulsar

surrounding the touchscreen does resemble a storm trooper helmet! Storage space in the Grand C-MAX ranges from 65 litres to 755 litres depending on seating configuration and can extend to 1742 with just the 2 front seats in place.

We tested the Grand C-MAX in suburbia and the 1.5 TDCi engine was fairly nippy at traffic lights while the suspension was steady and fairly smooth even over speed ramps! The Grand C-Max was also very easy to manoeuvre in tight spaces and to park. Prices for the all-new Grand C-MAX start at €28,355 for a 1.0L Ecoboost Zetec rising to €34,900 for the 2.0TDCi Automatic Titanium version.

Skoda Octavia 4x4

Dacia Duster Commercial

The Dacia Duster may have become quite a common sight on Kerry roads in the past few years but now there’s also a commercial version to tempt buyers. It’s based on the same design as the passenger car- minus the rear seats but in fact it looks much better especially in slate grey with roof bars, alloys and plenty of chrome detailing. The commercial Duster is powered by a 1.5 dCi 110bhp diesel engine and is available in both 2 and 4 wheel drive. In the back there’s a tough plastic floor to take loads up to 1.4m long and it’s over a metre wide between the wheel arches. The Duster Commercial has a load

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CONNECT MAGAZINE February 2016

The Qashqai launch back in 2007 signalled the end of the Almera for Nissan but while the new Pulsar with its honeycomb grille and bulging bonnet may resemble the Qashqai it’s ideal for someone who needs a family sized hatchback without 4×4 looks. Inside the front seats are comfortable (although they would benefit from some more adjustment possibilities) and there’s loads of legroom in the back. The boot is a spacious 385 litres and a piano black dashboard, floating centre console and extra wide door armrests finish off the interior look. The Pulsar is available with 2 engines – The 1.2 petrol version has 115bhp and 190NM Torque and road tax will cost you €200/year (an automatic version is available for €200 extra). The 1.5 diesel has 110bhp and 260nm torque and costs just €180/ year to tax. Both engines come with a 6 speed manual gearbox. The Pulsar will start at €19,995 for the base 1.2 Petrol model, 1.5 Diesels start at €21,595 and there’s 1.2 Petrol automatic available which starts at €21,995.

The Octavia 4×4 is Skoda’s family saloon with the addition of 4 wheel drive – ideal for snow, ice and those who lead an active lifestyle. From the outside the 4×4 Octavia looks just like a standard model apart from a subtle rear badging and under the bonnet it’s powered by a 2.0L diesel with 150bhp. Inside the cabin it’s smooth and intuitive although I wasn’t a huge fan of the seats. On the road is where this Octavia really shines – the 2L diesel engine has plenty of power and it really is glued to the road – even on bends it’s extremely steady and feels like a much sportier car while on motorways it’s very comfortable. The Skoda Octavia 4×4 starts from €27,995 and the model tested will set you back €31,445 with fuel consumption at just 4.7l/100km (60mpg).

ConneCt | adVertising

The lifestyle magazine for Kerry

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SALES MON-FRI 9AM-6PM, SAT 9AM-4PM SALES: KIERAN GRIFFIN (085) 7584484 STEPHEN BENNER (085) 7584483 NICKY BENNER (087) 8370054

John Canty & Co are delighted to welcome you to our Offices on Denny Street! (opp. The Grand Hotel) Proud of our expertise in: • Specialist Tax Services • Business Start Ups

UPCOMING DEADLINE: Employers P35 15th February (23rd for ROS)

We look forward to meeting you!

nty a C n h o J

John Canty & Co. Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors 3 Denny Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry. T: 0667127802 M: 087 9431998 E: info@jcantyaccountants.ie | www.jcantyaccountants.ie

CONNECT MAGAZINE February 2016

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