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Geraldine is Waterford’s CAREGiver of the Year

Geraldine Grant was announced as the overall winner of Waterford’s Home Instead Senior Care’s CAREGiver of the Year awards. Geraldine will now go on to represent Waterford in the national final which will take place at the Home Instead Senior Care National convention on Saturday, 8^th October.

Geraldine has cared for over 30 Home Instead Senior Care clients and has shown great dedication and commitment to her clients.

In fact her dedication to her job was particularly evident during last winter’s challenging weather conditions. Geraldine attended all of her visits in the areas of South Kilkenny and not one of her clients was without her care over the winter months.

The premise of the local competition was to recognise and reward the work of its CAREGivers. According to Danette Connolly, Director of Care, Home Instead Senior Care, “The work of the CAREGiver is invaluable and often goes unrecognised. Home Instead Senior Care views these awards as an opportunity to realise and value the work of our CAREGivers. In many cases the CAREGiver is simply there; there to be a friend and companion, there to help with mundane day to day tasks and there to allow our clients to enjoy a much better quality of life in their own home.”

“Geraldine is a shining example of carers at their very best. She is very friendly, helpful, accommodating and a real people person. Not only is passionate about caring she shows a genuine interest and concern for her clients. Geraldine is truly deserving of this award.”

Other awards on the evening included the presentation of FETAC Certificates, the CAREGiver Award for the most promising new recruit, the CAREGiver Award for the caregiver who is currently a Student and Length of Service Pins to sixteen recipients.

To find out more about the Home Instead Senior Care CAREGiver awards or the work of Home Instead Senior Care call Danette Connolly of Home Instead Senior Care on 051 333966 or visit www.homeinstead.ie

From the Irish Examiner - August 26th, 2011

Tuning up: Kim Kelly from France, Ciara Kelly from Dunmore East, Co. Waterford, John Waldron from Dunmore East and Elijah Kelly from France, at Dunmore East in preparation for the Bluegrass festival this weekend.

(Pic: Mary Browne)

The 17^th Guinness Dunmore East International Bluegrass Festival will feature some well known bluegrass names, but the stages will be heaving to the strains of festival veterans, Knotty Pine, Molly Hicks, Little Ass Birds, and Bending the Strings amongst others.

Other bands on stage include Desert Aces, Dunmore Festival veterans.

Having made a big impression at last years Electric Picnic, Galway band Mikey and the Scallywags are new to the Dunmore bluegrass scene.

Well Enough Alone is a Dublin based four piece bluegrass band. Known for the energy and rawness they bring to traditional and contemporary bluegrass, Well Enough Alone delivers a mix of original songs to classics to hot instrumentals.

Another much anticipated addition to the line-up is Hanway & Murray.

For more information about the 17^th Guinness International Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival in Co. Waterford visit www.discoverdunmore.com

This year’s complete line – up for the 17^th Guinness International Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival is:

· BENDING THE STRINGS

· KNOTTY PINE

· MIKEY & THE SCALLYWAGS

· MONS WHEELER BAND

· LITTLE ASS BIRDS

· DESERT ACES

· MOLLY HICKS

· GYPSY REBEL RABBLE

· SOUTHERN WELFARE

· HANWAY & MURRAY

· WELL ENOUGH ALONE

“………..and they say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”

The Waterford Harvest Festival takes place from September 3^rd to September 11^th and features a packed itinerary celebrating Waterford’s rich and diverse culinary heritage. Over 9 jam-packed days, visitors to the city and locals will be able to enjoy food markets, taste workshops, cookery demonstrations by celebrity chefs, street parties and open air picnics.

2011’s Waterford Harvest Festival will enjoy a new dimension as three of Waterford’s top restaurants have joined forces to host a Singles Restaurant Trail.

La Palma, Sabai and L’Atmosphere restaurants have compiled this fun frivolous food trail that combines flavoursome food, an inviting atmosphere, exciting company and perhaps the opportunity to find love!

The Singles Restaurant Trail takes place at 7pm on Wednesday, September 7^th and will entail a tour of the three award winning restaurants.

The idea is the brainchild of Sabai proprietor, Catherine Heffernan who said,

“Obviously the focus over the Harvest Festival will be on high quality locally- produced food. This year we plan to introduce a food-focused fun evening. The Singles Restaurant Trail will combine some of the best produce in the South East, in three of Waterford’s favourite restaurants and give single men and women the chance to enjoy all of these elements and perhaps meet somebody special on the night.”

“It’s going to be quite an intimate evening and we are hoping to find twelve single men and twelve single women who will book the trail. In fact we have no shortage of single women signing up for the trail. The men, however, need a little more persuading.”

Catherine added, “It’s going to be a really great evening, full of good fun, company and of course, food. Three groups of eight will meet a guide at their allocated restaurant to start their culinary tour where they will be treated to a different course in each restaurant. At the end of the night the groups will meet up at Sabai Restaurant where there will be live music, and, who knows, love may blossom amongst some of the participants.”

Deirdre Molloy, Waterford Harvest Festival Manager added “The Waterford Harvest Festival has earned the reputation of one of the most eclectic food festivals in the country with a culinary schedule that has something for everyone, not just for foodies.”

“The Singles Restaurant Trail is a wonderful way to combine great food in three of Waterford’s most prolific restaurants and to hopefully introduce twenty four men and women to new friends. The women of Waterford have shown great enthusiasm for the night, it seems our menfolk are a little shyer about getting out there!”

“Places are limited and are on a first come first serve basis, so for anyone who wants to experience great food and the chance to enjoy interesting new company, I would advise them to book today.”

Tickets for the Singles Restaurant Trail cost €30 each and are available from Sabai Restaurant on the Mall or by calling 051 858002. You can also check out all the details about Waterford Harvest Festival on Facebook.

Stephen Hunt and Jim Power supporting the Solas Centre Run for Life

Jim Power lives in Ard Na Greine in Waterford City and is an ardent supporter of the Solas Centre. This is following the “enormous” help the Solas Centre gave him when he was diagnosed with cancer. At first Jim coped by himself and kept up a front but soon found that this was not working and contacted the Solas Centre.

There he could let down his guard and open up to people. As he entered the Centre and was greeted at reception he says he broke down, “She sat me down and got me a cup of tea and put her arms around me like a mother.” Jim availed of counselling and reflexology at the Solas Centre and believes that this service was invaluable in helping him deal with his illness.

“I can only say that I love this place because I feel secure here. The fright is gone when I come here. I can take off my hat here and I don’t even do that in the pub”.

Jim still uses the Solas Centre and says that he is “indebted” to everyone there.

About the Run for Life 2011:

With the Run for Life 2011 we are calling for 1,000 people from all over the South East to take up the challenge to support 1,000 people affected by cancer, in the South East Run For Life 2011 on 16^th October. That’s one runner or walker supporting one person each!

We’re asking each participant to try raise €200 so we can reach our race target of €200,000 to help us support 1,000 people next year.

This year we are expanding the Run For Life throughout the South East and are delighted to welcome our new media sponsors BEAT 102-103 FM and Waterford Today who will keep you up to date on what’s happening. Sponsorship cards are available below (simply fill in the form and well post them on to you!) and at branches of AIB and Sam McCauley Chemists in the South East.

Registration for the race takes place at the Solas Centre from Wednesday to Saturday 12^th-15^th October, 11am – 6pm, where sponsorship funds will be processed by AIB staff. You can also collect your info pack, race number and running shirt (sponsored by Sam McCauley Chemists).

Why not join us for the race! It will be a great day and your support will help us to support many more people affected by cancer across the South East in the months ahead.

Evie and Lucy are Tramore Race Day Winners!

Based in the Riverstown Business Park in Tramore, Co. Waterford Partyworld is owned by the Acheson family and has been supplying costumes to kids and adults for every occasion for the last five years.

Party World, spread out over 5,000 sq. ft., is the South East’s leading supplier of fancy dress costumes and party accessories. Not only does the store cater for partygoers, adults and children, theatre groups, schools and festival organisers, it is unique in that the range of products is unprecedented not only in the South East, but in the island of Ireland.

Partyworld recently sponsored the prizes for the Fancy Dress Competition at the Family Day at the Tramore Races were:

Mickey Mouse and Sonya Kelly of Partyworld presented the prizes for the Best Kids Fancy Dress Competition to Evie Dowling and Lucy Vaughan

17th Guinness International Bluegrass Festival line – up gets better and better!

The Guinness International Bluegrass Festival is delighted to announce two more acts to the line up of what is regarded as Ireland’s largest free Bluegrass Festival.

Taking place in the picturesque fishing village of Dunmore East, Co. Waterford from August 25^th to August 28^th the Dunmore East festival is bringing together an enviable line up of bluegrass artists.

Two more acts that have just confirmed their appearance at the festival are Well Enough Alone and Hanway & Murray.

Well Enough Alone is a Dublin based four piece bluegrass band. Known for the energy and rawness they bring to traditional and contemporary bluegrass, Well Enough Alone delivers a mix of original songs to classics to hot instrumentals.
The band consists of Hugh Taggart on guitar and lead vocals with Martin McWhorter on mandolin and tenor vocals. Ben Goodbody plays bass and baritone vocals, while Conor Daly lends his talents on the five-string banjo.

Another much anticipated addition to the line-up is Hanway & Murray. When New York banjoist, Tom Hanway, was jamming in a hotel lobby with guitarist Kieran Murray from Belfast, their talent was immediately recognised by an RTE radio producer. That was a significant moment as Hanway & Murray was officially formed and since then the duo has featured often on national radio.

Murray is regarded as a “genius tunesmith” who can churn out one amazing song after another, while Hanway is one of the most ferocious and versatile banjo players on the planet. They share lead and harmony duties and cover a vast musical terrain, mixing popular and original songs with soaring instrumentals.

Tom Hanway is no stranger to the Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival having jammed in previous years with Galway three piece Molly Hicks and The Jack Grace Band, aka The Martini Cowboy. In 2005, Hanway won the European Bluegrass Music Association’s “European Bluegrass Band of the Year” award as a member of the Bluegrass Ravens.

Festival organiser, Mick Daly, is delighted with the addition of the two acts to the Dunmore East Festival line – up.

“Year on year the Dunmore East Bluegrass has brought a wide and varied bluegrass and blues vibe to the South East. This year, the line–up is as talented as ever and the addition of Well Enough Alone and Hanway & Murray really is the icing on the cake.”

“We are very conscious that bluegrass has quite a select following, however at the Dunmore East festival we endeavour to bring together an eclectic mix of bluegrass, rhythm, folk, blues and roots. The mix of traditional bluegrass with slightly more mainstream country makes the festival appealing to anyone who has an interest in music. And because all the gigs are free, it’s even more appealing!”

For more information about the 17^th Guinness International Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival in Co. Waterford visit www.discoverdunmore.com

Home Instead Senior Care searches for Waterford’s CAREGiver of the Year

Home Instead Senior Care is looking for Waterford’s CAREGiver of the Year, who will go on to represent Waterford in the national final. The winner will be announced at the Home Instead Senior Care National convention on Saturday, 8^th October.

Since Home Instead Senior Care opened its doors in Waterford in early 2009, it has brought a new level of homecare and companionship to clients in Waterford and the South East.

The premise of the local and subsequent national competition is to recognise and reward the work of its CAREGivers. According to Danette Connolly, Director of Care, Home Instead Senior Care, “The work of the CAREGiver is invaluable and often goes unrecognised. Home Instead Senior Care views these awards as an opportunity to realise and value the work of our CAREGivers. In many cases the CAREGiver is simply there; there to be a friend and companion, there to help with mundane day to day tasks and there to allow our clients to enjoy a much better quality of life in their own home.”

The criteria for the awards includes showing evidence that caring is a passion and not just a job, that the CAREGiver is prepared to go above and beyond the call of duty, that the CAREGiver has helped the client to reach and maintain independence and that the CAREGiver has adhered to the stringent Home Instead Senior Care and HSE procedures and regulations.

Ms. Connolly added “We have been working with a wonderful panel of independent adjudicators including The Mayor of Waterford, Cllr. Pat Hayes, well known Waterford Hospice Chairwoman, Marie Cummins and Barbara Murphy, Director of Nursing at St. Patrick’s Hospital.”

“The feedback from the panel was pretty unanimous; all of the carers nominated have shown an amazing amount of compassion, energy, responsibility and pride in their work and have forged some genuine friendships with their clients.”

The Waterford award ceremony for the Home Instead CAREGiver of the Year takes place at 7pm on Thursday, 25^th at Home Instead, Cleaboy Business Park, Old Kilmeaden Road.

To find out more about the Home Instead Senior Care CAREGiver awards or the work of Home Instead Senior Care call Danette Connolly of Home Instead Senior Care on 051 333966 or visit www.homeinstead.ie

Rotary Club of Waterford welcomes its first female president

It’s all change at the top as Kathleen Fitzgerald takes up the reigns as president of Waterford Rotary club.

Kathleen was welcomed as the new president of Rotary Club of Waterford on Friday July 8^th by outgoing President Derek O’Byrne.

Kathleen has been a Rotarian for six years and her commitment to the club has earned the respect of fellow members who were only too pleased to vote her in as their new president for the forthcoming year.

Kathleen said: “I am delighted to become the president of Waterford Rotary Club, It’s going to be a very exciting year. This year, we are planning to continue the great annual activities the club in Waterford is known for while introducing some new ideas. I am looking forward to meeting and working with local groups and really getting people involved with Rotary. There is so much to do and enjoy.”

Kathleen Fitzgerald is a well known business woman and director of Georges Court Shopping Centre in the city centre, along with a number of other business interests. She is also a Past President of Waterford Chamber. Kathleen has two children (Bill and Lisa) who are keeping the family tradition going as they are also in business in the city.