By Sean Moriarty

Some of the best known faces from the Kerry hotel industry gathered on Wednesday night for their first Kerry Hotelier's Ball since before the pandemic.

Niall O'Shea (Hugh Jordans) Kate O'Shea (Dream Jobs) Melinda and Peter Guban (Dream Jobs) pictured at the Dromhall Hotel on Wednesday evening at the IHF Ball. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

The O'Donoghue family Gleneagle Hotel Group (left to right) Patrick Margaret Sinead and Eamon enjoying the IHF Ball at the Dromhall Hotel on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Bernadette Randles (President of the Kerry Branch of the Irish Hotels Federation) pictured with Denyse Campbell (President of the Irish Hotels Federation) enjoying the IHF Ball at the Dromhall Hotel on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Enjoying the IHF Ball on Wednesday evening at the Dromhall Hotel Marie and Pat Chawke. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

TD Michael Healy Rae Katie Carroll and David Dooley (Dooley's Seafood & Steak House Waterville) enjoying the IHF Ball at the Dromhall Hotel on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Padraig Casey (Killarney Park Hotel) pictured with his wife Maura (Aghadoe Heights Hotel) enjoying the IHF Ball at the Dromhall Hotel on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Sharon Dineen (Brehon Hotel) pictured with Valerie Steinbeck (Gleneagle Hotel Group) enjoying the IHF Ball at the Dromhall Hotel on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

The Dromhall Hotel Killarney host to the Irish Hotels Federation Ball on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Vernerable Lumby pictured at the Dromhall Hotel enjoying the IHF Ball with his wife Noelleen on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Cllr Niall Kelleher Mayor of Killarney pictured with his wife Linda enjoying the IHF Ball at the Dromhall on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Jason Clifford The Dunloe Hotel enjoying the IHF Ball at the Dromhall Hotel with his wife Jacqui Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Paul O'Neill and Gemma Ring (O’Donoghue Ring Collection) pictured with Catriona and Mark Scally (Hayfield Family Collection) enjoying the IHF Ball at the Dromhall Hotel on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Margaret Cahill National President of Skal International pictured with her husband Jimmy Dunne on Wednesday evening enjoying the Irish Hotels Federation Ball at the Dromhall Hotel. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Enjoying the IHF Ball on Wednesday evening at the Dromhall Hotel were Mari Kelleher and Cllr John O'Donoghue. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Darren Looney (Cahernane Hotel) pictured with Evan Quinn enjoying the IHF Ball at the Dromhall Hotel on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Michelle Rosney Killeen House Hotel (left) and Katie Horgan Castlerosse Hotel (right) pictured at the Dromhall Hotel enjoying the IHF Ball on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Hosted by Kerry branch chair Bernadette Randles at her family-run Dromhall Hotel on the Muckross Road, over 200 people enjoyed a festive get-together to mark the season.

Guests of honour, under the expertise of MC Geraldine Rosney, included the Mayor of Killarney, Niall Kelleher, Deputy Mayor Cllr John O’Donoghue, Conor Hennigan Acting President of Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce, Denyse Campbell who is President of the Irish Hotel Federation, Moira Murrell, Chief Executive of Kerry County Council, Order of Innisfallen inductees Donal Ring and Michael O’Donoghue, and Jenny DeSaulles of Fáilte Ireland.

Local clergy included Bishop Ray Browne, Fr Kieran O'Brien and the Venerable Simon J Lumby Rector of Killarney.

Guests were treated to a drinks reception sponsored by the West Cork Distillers and Bibendum Ireland.

Entertainment included a jazz trio, traditional music and a magician while the attendees enjoyed a five-course meal.

Fundraisers on the night raised at least €6,000 which will be divided between Kerry Mountain Rescue and Kerry Mental Health.

“It was an amazing night,” said Emer Corridon of the Cahernane Hotel. “It was wonderful to see so many colleagues and suppliers after three full years.”

Emer was a member of a committee that included, Sinead McCarthy (Brehon), Tracy Coyne (International), Michael Jacobi (Great Southern), Garrett Power (Muckross Park) and Brian Lawlor (O’Donoghue Ring Group).