Connect with us

News

Smiles all round as Deenagh Lodge Tea Rooms reopens

Published

on

0255082_Deenagh_Lodge_Tea_Rooms_1.jpg

The sun and the buzz of the Bank Holiday weekend brought many visitors to the National Park where The Deenagh Lodge Tea Rooms just reopened for the tourist season.

Proudly supporting Down Syndrome Kerry, they also support local, where I enjoyed a delicious Killarney coffee and homemade apple pie.

I put in a call to Catherine Doyle who I know gives her time generously to Down Syndrome Kerry and the operation of the Deenagh Lodge Tea Rooms.

On a well deserved school break, Catherine put me in touch with Ann Ladden (Family Liaison Coordinator) and Norma Doherty (Tea Rooms Manager).

The ladies gave me the run down on operations before I had the pleasure of meeting employees James Doyle and Ann Marie Ladden.

What is the goal of the Deenagh Lodge Tea Rooms?

"The main aim here at the Deenagh Lodge is to set up training for our young Down Syndrome adults who are 18+ years, to eventually move out into mainstream work in their communities. There are approx 30 Down Syndrome adults employed at the lodge where they are all paid, working two to four hour shifts where we are now open seven days per week from 9am to 5pm. It is a fantastic facility providing a welcoming environment where they can interact with customers and gain confidence in safe surroundings. The social aspect of dealing with people is hugely important. This year there will be a Instructional Coach on board, hands on in reaching that goal of employment for our Down Syndrome adults, whose parents travel to The Deenagh Lodge Tea Rooms from as far as Listowel, Causeway, Limerick and Cork," Norma explained.

What's on the menu?

"We are fortunate to be supported hugely by the community of Killarney, tourists arriving off the horse and carts as well as tour groups in the evenings. All our produce here at the Lodge is home baked. We have hot and cold drinks, toasties, sandwiches, an array of cakes, ice cream and snacks. It's a welcome stop for dogs and their owners to rehydrate after a run or walk in the Park. Norma is a fantastic manager. She and the staff worked hard through COVID and they are the creators of the great atmosphere that is Deenagh Lodge Tea Rooms. Together with Norma and her team, the OPW work hard in making it the only facility of its kind in Kerry.

Hello James Doyle...

"I am James from Beaufort and I've been working here for five years. Some days I do two hour shifts but mostly four hour shifts. My favourite thing is the wash up, meeting people, I love carrying trays and thankfully there have been no catastrophes so far! I am lucky to have great strength to carry the trays because I go to Owen Browne for personal training at his gym 'Farm Athletic' in Beaufort," James said.

What is your dream job James?

I attended MTU in Tralee and I spent four years on the Skills4Life course there. I think if I was to pick any job in the world, I would love to go back there to work in one of their offices one day. That would be the dream."

Hello Ann Marie Ladden....

"I am Ann Marie from Castlemaine and my parents bring me to work most days. I am the same as James, I work two to four hour shifts every week. My favourite thing is making new friends here in Killarney and I love to chat to the customers. I get on well with everyone here so it has given me confidence and experience that I can do it!" Anne Marie explained.

What is your dream job Ann Marie? I think you'd make a fantastic model!

"Do you think so? Maybe I would like to be a model one day, but my dream is to become a classroom assistant. I would really love that to help people every day.

The young adults at The Deenagh Lodge Tea Rooms are paid directly by Down Syndrome Kerry. Like every young person, they love the independence of spending and learning the value of their own money. Their tips go directly to Down Syndrome Kerry where they are pooled for needed services. The artwork that hangs in the Lodge is the creation of Betty Rohan who sells her work donating a percentage to Down Syndrome Kerry. There is also a beautiful painting at the Lodge by popular local artist Phil O'Grady, currently being raffled where all the proceeds will go to Down Syndrome Kerry.

Advertisement

News

Rotary Club’s Wine & Art Night raises €25,000

The Killarney Rotary Club’s annual Wine & Art Night, held before Christmas, was another resounding success, raising a grand total of €25,000 for local community projects. President Ciara Irwin Foley […]

Published

on

The Killarney Rotary Club’s annual Wine & Art Night, held before Christmas, was another resounding success, raising a grand total of €25,000 for local community projects.

President Ciara Irwin Foley expressed the club’s delight with the amount raised, thanking club members and everyone who contributed to this impressive sum. She highlighted that this popular annual event directly supports vital local initiatives such as schools, clubs, and charities in the Killarney area.

Ms. Irwin Foley extended particular thanks to the event’s long-standing key sponsors: Daly’s SuperValu, Killarney Brewing & Distilling Co, and Killarney Credit Union, acknowledging their crucial and consistent support over the years. The team at The Great Southern Killarney was also thanked for ensuring the smooth running of the event. Appreciation was also given to the businesses that sponsored door prizes and competitions, including The Rose Hotel, M.D. O’Shea’s, CRL, and The Lake Hotel, as well as to Mike Neeson for providing entertainment.

The Wine & Art Night provides a valuable platform for local artists and craftspeople, with up to fifty showcasing their work. Some artists have been involved since the event’s inception, making it a wonderful networking opportunity. There is always significant interest from artists to participate in this worthwhile cause, with a percentage of their sales donated on the night. Many also generously donate their artwork for the auction, where 100% of the proceeds go directly to the beneficiary fund.

The beneficiaries themselves play an active role by selling tickets for the event in advance, using this as a key fundraising method for their own projects. The schools, clubs, organisations, and charities involved put in tremendous effort, and it is always inspiring to hear how the funds raised have positively impacted them. For example, the Hospice sells their Christmas cards at the event, and the Irish Pilgrimage Trust sells raffle tickets to help bring local people to Lourdes at Easter.

Organising the Wine & Art Night is a significant undertaking for the Killarney Rotary Club, with extensive preparations happening well in advance. Many individuals contribute their time and effort, with numerous volunteers ensuring everything runs smoothly on the night. It is this collective effort that makes the event such a success.

The €25,000 raised this year has been distributed to the following deserving beneficiaries: Faha N.S., Fossa N.S., Gaelscoil Faithleann, Knockanes N.S., Loreto N.S., Loughquittane N.S., St. Brendan’s (Sem), Hospice, Irish Pilgrimage Trust, Kerry Stars Club, Killarney Athletic, and Killarney Valley AC.
The Killarney Rotary Club is already looking forward to hosting their next Wine & Art Night at the end of November.

Attachments

Continue Reading

News

Kerry Jobs Fair to connects job seekers and employers

Job seekers and employers in Kerry will have a chance to meet at the Kerry Jobs Fair 2025 on May 20, at the Rose Hotel in Tralee. Over 30 companies […]

Published

on

Job seekers and employers in Kerry will have a chance to meet at the Kerry Jobs Fair 2025 on May 20, at the Rose Hotel in Tralee.

Over 30 companies from the county will be there, offering hundreds of job openings across different sectors.
The free event is organised by NEWKD Local Development Company, in partnership with The Rose Hotel and Tralee Chamber Alliance. Anyone interested can attend by registering on the day.
People looking for work can explore opportunities in areas like office administration, IT, accounting, finance, hospitality, manufacturing, food production, and retail.
The event aims to link job seekers and employers with useful information and support related to employment.
Alongside employer stands, there will be a careers clinic offering help with CV writing, interview skills, and information on training and career development.
There will also be workshops for both employees and employers about employing people who are not Irish citizens.
Robert Carey, NEWKD SICAP Programme Manager, said that bringing together many employers, services, and speakers will give job seekers a great chance to talk directly to potential employers, join workshops on career progression, and learn about employment schemes like Tús, CE, and WPEP. He added that employers will get to meet job seekers face-to-face and get information on employing people from abroad, which is important for business growth.
Efforts are being made to help Ukrainian refugees and those seeking international protection attend the fair, with information provided beforehand and interpreters available on the day. NEWKD, as part of the Kerry Community Response Forum, highlights that employment is key for refugees integrating into the community.
During the event, employers can learn about the specifics of employing migrants, get answers to common questions, and raise any concerns. A workshop for employers will be led by Frank O`Boyle from the Irish Refugee Council.
In addition to the job fair, there will be information sessions for all visitors on topics such as CV preparation (led by Sean Connell, HR at NEWKD), interview skills (presented by Lydia Oboryna from the Open Door Initiative), employment law for migrants, accessing the labour market for those with temporary protection, and entrepreneurship workshops on starting a business and finding funding.
The Newkd Kerry Jobs Fair 2025 is supported by the Rose Hotel and the Tralee Chamber Alliance, with funding from the SICAP programme, which is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC).

Continue Reading

Last News

Sport