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Staff awarded for their hard work and dedication
The hard-working teams of the Great Southern and Killarney Royal celebrated their annual employee awards evenings last week.
Pictured at the Great Southern Killarney annual awards from left were: Milandi Basel (HR Director) Michael Jacobi (Managing Director) Denise O'Sullivan (Manager of the Year) Mark Scally and Kamile Lyne (GSH Hotel Manager). Photo: Don MacMonagle
Long Service Awards at the Great Southern Killarney front from left: Kamile Lyne (GSH Manager) Prianka Saha Mark Scally Kathleen Bhuiyan Milandi Basel (HR Director) Christina O’Connor Eamonn Canty David Mulvihill Rory Gabriel Sean McAllister Michael Jacobi (Managing Director) Stephen Quinlan Bogumila Bierdzio and Katarzyna Odwazna. Photo: Don MacMonagle
Pictured at the Great Southern Killarney annual awards from left were: Milandi Basel (HR Director) Michael Jacobi (Managing Director) Bogumila Bierdzo (Employee of the Year) Mark Scally and Kamile Lyne (GSH Hotel Manager). Photo: Don MacMonagle
LONG SERVICE AWARDS: Pictured at the Killarney Royal Hotel from left were: Michael Jacobi (Managing Director) Jevgenijs Kuksenkovs Joe Scally (Proprietor) Aoife Ross Alex Slabkovskis and Milandi Basel (HR Director). Photo: Don MacMonagle
EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR: Hayden Coffey received the 'Employee of the Year' award at the Killarney Royal Hotel. Photo: Don MacMonagle
Pictured at the Killarney Royal Hotel annual awards from left were: Michael Jacobi (Managing Director) Joe Scally (Proprietor) Joanne Brosnan (Manager of the Year) Alex Slabkovskis and Milandi Basel (HR Director). Photo: Don MacMonagle
Pictured at the Killarney Royal Hotel annual awards in front were: Michael Jacobi (Managing Director) Joe Scally Jelena Bivka (Employee Choice Award) Alex Slabkovskis Milandi Basel (HR Director). Back: Michael Cronin (Guest Choice Award) Aoife Ross (Positive Peer Influencer) Patryk Komosa (Team Player Award) and John Harrington (Constant Contributor). Photo: Don MacMonagle
Pictured at the Great Southern Killarney annual awards from left were: Milandi Basel (HR Director) Michael Jacobi (Managing Director) Denise O'Sullivan (Manager of the Year) Mark Scally and Kamile Lyne (GSH Hotel Manager). Photo: Don MacMonagle
Long Service Awards at the Great Southern Killarney front from left: Kamile Lyne (GSH Manager) Prianka Saha Mark Scally Kathleen Bhuiyan Milandi Basel (HR Director) Christina O’Connor Eamonn Canty David Mulvihill Rory Gabriel Sean McAllister Michael Jacobi (Managing Director) Stephen Quinlan Bogumila Bierdzio and Katarzyna Odwazna. Photo: Don MacMonagle
Pictured at the Great Southern Killarney annual awards from left were: Milandi Basel (HR Director) Michael Jacobi (Managing Director) Bogumila Bierdzo (Employee of the Year) Mark Scally and Kamile Lyne (GSH Hotel Manager). Photo: Don MacMonagle
LONG SERVICE AWARDS: Pictured at the Killarney Royal Hotel from left were: Michael Jacobi (Managing Director) Jevgenijs Kuksenkovs Joe Scally (Proprietor) Aoife Ross Alex Slabkovskis and Milandi Basel (HR Director). Photo: Don MacMonagle
EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR: Hayden Coffey received the 'Employee of the Year' award at the Killarney Royal Hotel. Photo: Don MacMonagle
Pictured at the Killarney Royal Hotel annual awards from left were: Michael Jacobi (Managing Director) Joe Scally (Proprietor) Joanne Brosnan (Manager of the Year) Alex Slabkovskis and Milandi Basel (HR Director). Photo: Don MacMonagle
Pictured at the Killarney Royal Hotel annual awards in front were: Michael Jacobi (Managing Director) Joe Scally Jelena Bivka (Employee Choice Award) Alex Slabkovskis Milandi Basel (HR Director). Back: Michael Cronin (Guest Choice Award) Aoife Ross (Positive Peer Influencer) Patryk Komosa (Team Player Award) and John Harrington (Constant Contributor). Photo: Don MacMonagle
A wonderful night was had by all, enjoying their first celebration in over two years. During the events the hotels management teams celebrated their businesses, with long service and customer service excellence awards.
Monday evening last saw the Great Southern awards held in the Dromhall Hotel, followed by the Killarney Royal awards which were held in Great Southern on Tuesday evening.
The Great Southern event saw a range of awards presented, including Employee of the Year which went to Bogumila Bierdzo, Manager of the Year, which went to Denise O’Sullivan, Events Manager.
The Guest Choice Award went to Shubert Furtado, while the Employee Choice Award went to Goran Dijakovic.
Positive Peer Influencer was Marko Sarac, Team Player Award went to Liam Palmer and Constant Contributor to Pal Palfi.
There was over 20 Long Service Awards also presented on the evening with Restaurant Supervisor Kathleen Bhuiyan celebrating an incredible 30 years with Great Southern Killarney.
The Killarney Royal event saw awards go to Employee of the Year, Hayden Coffey, Manager of the Year, Joanne Brosnan, Guest Choice Award, Mike Cronin, Employee Choice Award, Jelena Bivka, Positive Peer Influencer, Aoife Ross, Team Player Award to Patryk Komosa and Constant Contributor to John Harrington.
Long Service Awards were also presented on the evening with Jevgenijs Kuksenkovs and Aoife Ross celebrating 10 years and Maura Gallivan celebrating a fantastic 20 years.
“We were delighted to welcome our teams together to celebrate in the same room and thank everyone for their hard work over the past two years,” Hayfield Family Collection Managing Director, Michael Jacobi, said.
A special commemoration took place at Fitzgerald Stadium to mark the 50th anniversary of the sudden passing of former Dr Crokes player, officer, and selector Tim (Timmy) Keogh.
All-Ireland winning Kerry and Dr Crokes manager Pat O’Shea unveiled a memorial plaque in honour of Mr Keogh, who died suddenly at the stadium on 24 May 1976 while watching the East Kerry Under-12 final between Dr Crokes and Legion.
Pat O’Shea, who played in that fixture as a nine-year-old, delivered a moving address reflecting on the tragedy and his memories of Killarney half a century ago. He described Mr Keogh as a dedicated family and community man who led the way for the Dr Crokes club.
O’Shea recalled how the match was halted and the young players were brought into the dressing rooms, leaving an indelible mark on the town. He also paid tribute to Mr Keogh’s late wife, Kathleen, and noted the bittersweet memory of neighbours and Legion icons Weeshie Fogarty and Johnny Culloty rushing to his aid on the sideline.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Eamonn Keogh detailed his father’s extensive contribution to the black and amber. Timmy Keogh served as club treasurer through the 1950s and 1960s alongside Donie Sheahan and Michael O’Connor, and was a selector for the famous Dr Crokes senior team that won seven consecutive O’Donoghue Cups between 1956 and 1962.
Eamonn thanked Fitzgerald Stadium Chairman Der Brosnan and his committee for permission to erect the monument. He welcomed members of the Keogh, Fogarty, Culloty, and Randles families, alongside several players from the 1976 under-12 panel and MC Denis Coleman.
Eamonn paid tribute to Pat O’Shea’s legendary status in the GAA, noting he remains one of only five managers to win both an All-Ireland senior inter-county championship and a senior club title.
Fr Tom Looney spoke of receiving the tragic news via a letter from his mother while serving in Peru 50 years ago, praising Mr Keogh’s legacy with Dr Crokes and local employer Hilliards. Fr Tom performed a blessing alongside Franciscan Friary Guardian Br Pat Lynch and Fr Billy Hoyne.
The commemoration concluded with a musical performance of ‘Buachaill ón Éirne’ and ‘The Parting Glass’ by Timmy’s son, Don Keogh, on concertina, and his cousin, Máire Breathnach, on guitar.
The large attendance included Mayor of Killarney Martin Grady, Kerry GAA Chairman Patrick O’Sullivan, East Kerry Board officials Dermot O’Connor and Noel Kennedy, Dr Crokes President Jackie Looney, Chairman Eoin Brosnan, and Juvenile Chairman David Byrne.
Two young local girls showed great business initiative on Saturday ahead of the Kerry v Donegal match at Fitzgerald Stadium.
Erin McSweeney and Jessie Doolin set up a sweet stall outside a house on Lewis Road, catching the thousands of football fans walking towards the grounds.
The enterprising pair did a busy trade selling soft drinks, sweets, and chocolates to the passing crowds before throw-in.
Their match-day venture also caught the attention of the national sports media, with a photograph of the girls at their stall captured by Sportsfile photographer Stephen McCarthy ahead of the game.
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