Colette O Connell, Maria Carmody, Joan Colbert and Mattie Carmody pictured at the fashion show in Duagh on Sunday which was in aid of the Palliative Care Unit in Tralee. Photo by John Kelliher.
Miriam Gaire and Geraldine McNamara pictured at the fashion show in Duagh on Sunday which was in aid of the Palliative Care Unit in Tralee. Photo by John Kelliher.
Shelly, Liz and Katie Elliott pictured at the fashion show in Duagh on Sunday which was in aid of the Palliative Care Unit in Tralee. Photo by John Kelliher.
Karina Stack and Catherine Kennedy pictured at the fashion show in Duagh on Sunday which was in aid of the Palliative Care Unit in Tralee. Photo by John Kelliher.
Aleornora Micozzy, Anna Cotter, Sarah Donoghue, Olivia Murphy, Jackie Cotter & Benjamin (Teddy) pictured at the fashion show in Duagh on Sunday which was in aid of the Palliative Care Unit in Tralee. Photo by John Kelliher.
Rose Costello, Siobhan Gould, Ann Sheehy, Helen Casey, Mary O Sullivan and Angela Kelly pictured at the fashion show in Duagh on Sunday which was in aid of the Palliative Care Unit in Tralee. Photo by John Kelliher.
Liz Keane, Tony Collins, Andy Keane, Mairead Dowling, Eileen Sheehy, Neilus Collins, Miriam Gaire, Geraldine McNamara and Rose Collins pictured at the fashion show in Duagh on Sunday which was in aid of the Palliative Care Unit in Tralee. Photo by John Kelliher.
Michael Healy-Rae, Kadie Hartnett, Speedy Nolan and Yvonne Carmody pictured at the fashion show in Duagh on Sunday which was in aid of the Palliative Care Unit in Tralee. Photo by John Kelliher.
Model pictured on the cat walk at the fashion show in Duagh on Sunday which was in aid of the Palliative Care Unit in Tralee. Photo by John Kelliher.
Model pictured on the cat walk at the fashion show in Duagh on Sunday which was in aid of the Palliative Care Unit in Tralee. Photo by John Kelliher.
Margaret Reidy with her grandchildren, Hannah, Megan, Julie and Aine Reidy pictured at the fashion show in Duagh on Sunday which was in aid of the Palliative Care Unit in Tralee. Photo by John Kelliher.
Model pictured on the cat walk at the fashion show in Duagh on Sunday which was in aid of the Palliative Care Unit in Tralee. Photo by John Kelliher.
Model pictured on the cat walk at the fashion show in Duagh on Sunday which was in aid of the Palliative Care Unit in Tralee. Photo by John Kelliher.
The generosity of local people astounded organisers of a charity ‘fashion event’ that took place at the Duagh Sports Complex in Tralee on Sunday afternoon and which was in aid of the Palliative Care Unit in Tralee.
Billed as “more than a fashion show” by Esther O’Connell, one of the organisers of the event, when she spoke to The Kerryman this week, the event saw local models taking to the catwalk in clothes from shops such as Annbury’s in Tralee, Annette’s Adare, Mairead’s Shoes Abbeyfeale and Scanlon’s Menswear Newcastle West, to name but a few.
Danny Leane from Annbury’s in Tralee was the MC on the day and Esther said that he made the event something that little bit more special and different to just a normal fashion show.
One of the highlights of the day, Esther added, was the Junk Kouture models that ended the event and this was a huge hit with the locals.
“It was a huge success. It was way more than we ever expected. I can’t even guess on a figure on how many people attended but I do know that my brother was putting out chairs and we had 220 chairs set out and sure we ended up needing more,” she laughed, adding “we had a great turnout.”
“The generosity of people on the day was huge and the atmosphere was fantastic. We’ve heard from several people since Sunday who were saying that they really enjoyed the day and they were even asking if there was any chance that we’d do it again! So, yeah, it was brilliant,” she continued.
Going on, Esther said that even after the event, people were still coming up to her on street handing her money to be added to the donations with one man even giving her €100 while another woman even doubled back on her walk to meet Esther just so she could hand her €10.
“I met my sister too last night and she works for Home Help. She had money and it was from mostly elderly people who were living alone who couldn’t go to the event but who still wanted to give money to it. Even though the tickets were €15, they were giving €20 and telling us to keep the change. You have no idea of the generosity, it was amazing,” Esther said.
Finally, she said that there’s no final figure yet on how much was raised but that it was way above anything they ever thought they’d make.