Fashion, Fun and Good Causes Sum Up Ballymac’s Big Night at Ó Riada’s

Models, management and photographers throwing a pose before the fashion show at Ó Riada’s in Ballymacelligott on Friday evening. Included are, front from left: Maeve Carey, Christine Leahy, Lorraine Horan, Naoimh Whelton, Hazel Prendiville, Amanda Mannix, Deanna Quirke and Aishling O Connell. Back row from left: John Walsh, Orla Diffily and Robert O’Mahony. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Castleisland women, Oorla Casey (left) with Carol Browne and Carmel Prendiville pictured before the fashion show at Ó Riada’s Bar and Restaurant in Ballymacelligott on Friday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy

No nerves here: Divas and Dudes models chilling out before their big catwalk debut at the fashion show at Ó Riada’s Bar and Restaurant in Ballymacelligott on Friday evening. Included are: Óisín Tarrant, Bláithín O’Mahony and Charlie Tarrant. Back from left: Mairéad Allman, Aoife Reidy and Róisín O’Mahony. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Posing in their finery before the fashion show at Ó Riada’s Bar and Restaurant in Ballymacelligott on Friday evening were: Sharon Shannon, Mary Jones, Cllr. Norma Foley, Mayor of Kerry; Jean Foley and Eleanor Shanley. ©Photograph: John Reidy

A job well done: Host, Mary Jones (left) pictured with guest compère and 1983 Rose of Tralee, Brenda Hyland, Suzanne Monroe, Sharon Shannon and Gary Monroe. The Monroes are the founders of the Rosabel’s Rooms Foundation in memory of their little girl. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Rosabel’s Rooms co-founder, Suzanne Monroe, Galway (left) pictured with host, Mary Jones, Sharon Shannon and Corina K, singer before the fashion show at Ó Riada’s Bar and Restaurant in Ballymacelligott on Friday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy

The East Wing: The audience gathering and settling in before the fashion show at Ó Riada’s in Ballymacelligott on Friday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Caroline Hickey, Ballyfinnane (left) and Bernadette Brosnan, Farranfore arriving for the fashion show at Ó Riada’s Bar and Restaurant in Ballymacelligott on Friday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Sharon Shannon, with singers, Eleanor Shanley and Corina K before the fashion show at Ó Riada’s Bar and Restaurant in Ballymacelligott on Friday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Sharon Shannon and Eleanor Shanley pictured before the fashion show at Ó Riada’s Bar and Restaurant in Ballymacelligott on Friday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Mags Kissane, Connect Magazine (left) with Marie Baker, Tralee and Helen O’Rourke, Abbeydorney at the fashion show at Ó Riada’s Bar and Restaurant in Ballymacelligott on Friday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Norma O’Connor from Cordal was presented with the ‘Best Dressed Lady’ award by Mags Kissane, Connect Magazine at the fashion show at Ó Riada’s Bar and Restaurant in Ballymacelligott on Friday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy

It was all the go one time, and fashionable even, to say that things were selling like hot cakes – even if it was only half true.
Talking about fashion and things selling like….. you know:

Tickets for Friday night’s fashion show at Ó Riada’s Bar and Restaurant in Ballymacelligott sold out nearly as soon as the plans for the event were announced back in the depths of the days of the dark evenings.

Over €12,00 Raised
The gala event, at which over 150 sat down for an evening of high fashion, entertainment, food and music, is now expected to clear over €12,000 for its nominated charities, the Palliative Care Unit at University Hospital Kerry and Rosabelle’s Rooms.*
There was a feeling of something special about the evening. Ticket toting patrons arrived by cars and taxis and a magnificent group of seven locals walked down the side road to the venue and they dressed to the nines.
The beautiful spring evening brought its own magic as people were able to mix and mingle around the pleasant grounds of the venue until the serious business of the night poured down along the stairs and throughout the catwalk converted bar-room floor.

Cordal’s Best Dressed Lady
Most of the attendees dressed very appropriately for the occasion and there was a prize for the best gúna on show – also known as the Best Dressed Lady Award and it went to Scartaglin native, Cordal resident, Norma Boyle-O’Connor.
However, I’m sure if there were fashion police on duty, arrests would have been made.

Considerable Expertise
The event was compered by 1983 Rose of Tralee Brenda Hyland while Orla Diffily, Upfront Model Management and Mags Kissane of the Connect magazine had all been roped in to lend their considerable expertise by Mary Jones of the host venue.
The equally considerably talented Sharon Shannon and singers, Eleanor Shanley and Corina K joined the proprietors of the ‘fashion houses’ from Castleisland – The Fashion Capital of Kerry on the occasion.

Palliative Care and Rosabelle’s Rooms
Representatives of the Palliative Care Unit at University Hospital Kerry and the founders of Rosabelle’s Rooms, Suzanne and Gary Monroe of the well-known Galway city entertainment landmark, were also there in support of the event.
“We’re all delighted the way it turned out and with the support we got from the fashion shops in Castleisland and from the people of the locality and well beyond,” said Mary Jones on Saturday morning.

Great Night Was Had….
“The fact that people made a point of thanking us and those who worked on the event on the night – I think that says it all,” said Mary.
There will be a presentation of the proceeds at a later date. In conclusion, I’ll just reach out for another time worn cliche: A great night was had by all.

Information on Rosabel’s Rooms Foundation*
For more on Rosabel’s Rooms Foundation see the RTÉ report by Teresa Mannion with a click on the link here: https://www.rte.ie/news/connacht/2018/1130/1014281-galway-breaved-parents

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