News
Gleneagle Group winners take a bow at staff awards
R
ROUNDS of applause and even standing ovations saluted the nominees and winners at The Gleneagle Group’s annual staff awards which took place recently.
The Gleneagle team gathered in the Ballroom of The Gleneagle Hotel for their ceremony last Tuesday, while the awards for The Brehon, The Travel Inn and The Maritime Hotel, took place earlier in the month.
The top awards of Employee of the Year went to Trevor O’Keeffe for The Gleneagle Hotel, Ewelina Rychalk for The Brehon, Joan O’Neill for The Travel Inn, Liam Cunney for The Maritime and Gretel O’Sullivan for The Gleneagle Group, each of whom received standing ovations from their colleagues.
In The Gleneagle Hotel categories, Ita Lyne won Colleague of the Year, Sean Counihan won Best New Talent, Vance Harris won the Emerging Talent Award, Margaret Brosnan won the award for Going The Extra Mile, Pat Brosnan and Betty Tracey shared the Hero Award, Eugene O’Riordan won the Special Achievement Award, Eimear Flynn won the award for best Business or Training Initiative and Jadwiga Surmiak won Manager of the Year.
In The Brehon categories, Danielle Delaney won Colleague of the Year, Eimear Bartley won Best New Talent, Patrick O’Sullivan won the Emerging Talent Award, Ernestas Karosas won the award for Going The Extra Mile, Sinead McCarthy and the Kitchen team led by Head Chef Chad Byrne shared the Special Achievement Award, Sean Hughes won the Hero of the Year Award, and the Angsana Spa team led by Spa Manager Fiona Collins won the Business Initiative Award.
In The Travel Inn categories, Agatha Potts won Colleague of the Year, Louise Murphy won Best New Talent and Patrick Byrne won the Emerging Talent Award.
In The Maritime Hotel categories, Radek Chimielewski won Colleague of the Year, Helena Downey won the Emerging Talent Award, Aileen O’Mahony won Best New Talent, Richard Garcia won the award for Going The Extra Mile, Elaine Dempsey won the Special Achievement Award, the Leisure Centre Team led by Manager Jason O’Sullivan won the award for best Business or Training Initiative while Malgorzata Dudek and Angelika Mereszne won an award for making the Most Significant Contribution to the group.
In The Gleneagle Group category, which represents the shared departments across all The Gleneagle Group properties, the winners were Eileen Doherty who won Colleague of the Year, Michael MacSweeney who won the award for Best New Talent, Cariosa Fleming who won the award for Emerging Talent, Ann Shanahan who won the award for Going the Extra Mile, Orla Steinbeck who won the Hero Award while Gina Wickham and Ann O’Leary and The HOD team shared the Special Achievement Award.
Above: Patrick O’Donoghue, left, MD, Gleneagle Hotel Group, and Brian Bowler, General Manager, Brehon Hotel, presenting Ewelina Rychalk, with Brehon Hotel 2016 Employee of the Year at an award ceremony at the hotel, also included are category award winners, Kristine Zeige, Sean Hughes, Claire Costello, Monika Bdgek, Chad Byrne, Sinead McCarthy, Kamila O’Connor Fiona Collins, Moriez Karpea, Kimie O’Keeffe, Danielle Delaney. PICTURE: VALERIE O'SULLIVAN
Donal Cremin retires from Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra
Staff at Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra in Rathmore gathered in late May to mark the retirement of long-serving teacher and former ASTI President Donal Cremin at a function held in the Brehon Hotel.
Donal had been a member of the teaching staff since the school opened in 1998, working initially as a metalwork and technical graphics teacher before transitioning into his role as a school guidance counsellor. His career in education spans several decades, including 15 years at Scoil Mhuire gan Smál in Blarney. Prior to entering teaching, he worked as a senior craftsman at the Sugar Factory in Mallow.
Throughout his career, Donal was a prominent advocate for workers’ rights within the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI). He held multiple positions within the union, including school steward, Board of Management representative, and regional representative. In 2023, he became the first Kerry person to be elected as President of the ASTI.
Outside of his professional life, Donal has been a long-standing volunteer within the credit union movement, serving in various local and national capacities over several decades.
The retirement event was widely attended by past and present colleagues. Donal was joined at the celebration by his wife Maureen and their children, Aidan, Maria, and
Amateur drama group Four Esquires Productions has announced ambitions to record a full-length feature film, with the ultimate goal of shooting the project entirely in Kerry using a local cast and crew.
The group has been working on various side projects, including short films, and has successfully pitched a potential feature film script.
Before embarking on the film project, the group will return to the stage for a three-night summer run at Courtney’s Bar on College Street from Monday, June 22 to Wednesday, June 24.
The upcoming production features four new short comic plays focused on dark humour and off-beat reflections on human behaviour.
Tickets for the performances are available via Eventbrite, and the group has also launched a new Instagram page to provide updates on both the live shows and their film ambitions.
“The summer is here that means two things. Warm rain and Four Esquires Productions have four new theatrical plays at Courtneys,” said spokesperson Brian Bowler. “The group have been busy on side projects including short films and successfully pitching a potential feature film. The end goal is to have it shot in Kerry utilising Kerry cast and crew. But before they do that we are back with new material and performers. We encourage all to get tickets in advance to avoid disappointment. Audiences can expect off beat reflections on human behaviour.”
Donal Cremin retires from Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra
Donal Cremin retires from Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra Staff at Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra in Rathmore gathered in late May...
Four Esquires Productions’ ambitions for a full-length feature film in Kerry
Amateur drama group Four Esquires Productions has announced ambitions to record a full-length feature film, with the ultimate goal of...
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