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Olympians “row-in” as goodwill ambassadors mental health fest

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Killorglin's two Olympians have rowed-in with their support for the 2021 Kerry Mental Health & Well-being Fest by coming on board as ambassadors for the event.

Taking place from tomorrow (Saturday) to next Saturday (October 16), Monika Dukarska and Aileen Crowley, who recently competed for Ireland in the rowing at the Tokyo Games, are asking people of all ages to get involved in the festival for the good of their mental health.

The Kerry Mental Health and Well-being Fest aims to create awareness of, and schedule events that empower people to engage with, the Five Ways to Wellbeing – Connect | Give | Take Notice | Keep Learning | Be Active.

Monika Dukarska said one of the Five Ways to Well-being was of particular benefit to her during her Olympic preparations.

"When things were getting tough with selection or training sessions, I was journaling and writing down things that went well rather than putting pressure on myself constantly to perform. I was picking very small targets or things that I enjoyed about my day to detach from the pressure of performing all the time. That worked for me superbly. It gave me things to enjoy that I wouldn’t necessarily have taken notice of before.”

The Olympic Rowers, as women in sport, are delighted to see that many of the events during the Kerry Mental Health and Well-being Fest will be geared towards women and girls.

"I can only see a workplace environment from a sporting perspective and I’m definitely aware that it is different for women, from what I’ve noticed in sport," Aileen Crowley, from Killorglin Rowing Club and Rowing Ireland, said.

"So, to see female-specific events is fantastic because there is a difference, unfortunately, in most workplaces between men and women, and for kids from an early age up to adulthood, but that is starting to balance out.”

WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY

Organised by an interagency steering group, the Kerry Mental Health and Well-being Fest is held annually to highlight World Mental Health Day October 10.

The organising committee is a collaboration between Connecting for Life Kerry, Healthy Kerry, Kerry County Council, the HSE, NEWKD, SKDP, Kerry Mental Health Association, Jigsaw Kerry, Munster Technological University/Kerry, and Kerry Volunteer Centre.

The Chair of the Steering Committee and Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention in Kerry, Donagh Hennebry, added that "wellbeing is when you’re feeling good and functioning well".

"Our event ambassadors know that it’s not just about being in good physical condition, but it crucially includes the state of your mental health. We are grateful to Monika Dukarska and Aileen Crowley for sharing their knowledge and experience with everyone involved in the 2021 Kerry Mental Health and Well-being Fest.”

Visit HealthyKerry.ie to see the full event schedule.
All events are free, registration is required for some activities and can be done by contacting the organiser directly or use the registration links provided in the brochure.

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Kerry coaches firm honoured with All-Ireland title

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Kerry Coaches named All-Ireland All-Star Bus & Coach Company of the Year 2025

Killarney-based Kerry Coaches has been named All-Ireland All-Star Bus & Coach Company of the Year 2025 by the All-Ireland Business Foundation. This recognition also marks Kerry Coaches’ second Business All-Star Accreditation, having received its first accolade in 2024.

Founded in 1957, Kerry Coaches has established itself as a leader in the Irish transport industry, known for its exceptional service and commitment to quality.  With a fleet of over 100 modern chauffeur vehicles, mini-buses and coaches the company provides a wide range of transport services, including corporate travel, executive golf transportation and bespoke tours throughout Ireland and Scotland.

 Speaking on the achievement, Mike Buckley, Director of Kerry Coaches, said:

“We are incredibly proud to receive this national recognition from the All-Ireland Business Foundation. It’s a true reflection of the dedication, professionalism, and passion shown by every member of our team. Our mission has always been to deliver exceptional travel experiences, and this award reaffirms our position as a leader in the industry.”

Announcing the news of Kerry Coaches’ achievement, Deputy Chair of AIBF’s Adjudication Board, Kieran Ring, said: “It is my pleasure to commend Kerry Coaches for its outstanding performance in achieving the Business All-Star accreditation. After a thorough review, the firm has been honoured with All-Ireland All-Star Bus & Coach Company Of The Year 2025. Kerry Coaches is distinguished not only for its superior fleet but also for its exceptional team, some of whom have been with the company for over 25 years. This seasoned team brings an extraordinary level of knowledge and expertise, ensuring that every client experience is exceptional.”         

Managing   Director   of   the   All-Ireland   Business   Foundation, Kapil   Khanna, said:  “The accreditation, which is now held by over 700 firms, is needed by the thousands of small and medium businesses which operate to their own standards but have nothing to measure them by.”

He   added: “We   evaluate   a   company’s   background, trustworthiness and performance, and we speak to customers, employees and vendors. We also anonymously approach the company as a customer and report back on the experience. The business goes through at least two interviews and is scored on every part of the process against set metrics.”

About The All-Ireland Business Foundation

The All-Ireland Business Foundation is an autonomous national accreditation body tasked with enterprise development and the promotion of Best-in-Class Irish businesses.

As the accreditation body for the Business All-Star mark, the AIBF recognises Best-In-Class Irish 

businesses.   Companies   that   merit   recognition   based   on   an   independent   audit   of   their performance, reputation, and customer-centricity.

Business All-Star Accreditation Is The Nation’s Symbol Of Trust. Currently, there are over 700 

companies that are accredited by AIBF. Since 2014, over 5000 companies have participated in their programmes.

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Trainee Blacksmith forging a career at Muckross Traditional Farms

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Phillip Pestor-Young, a trainee blacksmith from County Kildare, is currently gaining experience under Master Blacksmith Tom Allison at Muckross Traditional Farms.

Pestor-Young is enrolled in the All-Ireland Heritage Skills Programme. This programme is a cross-border educational initiative by the King’s Foundation, The Heritage Council, and the Historic Environment Division in Northern Ireland. 

Prior to moving to Ireland in 2019, Phillip trained as an engineer and fabricator in the UK. He is now developing his blacksmithing skills in Kerry.

For more information on the program, visit https://kings-foundation.org/study/all-ireland-heritage-skills-programme/.

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