Limerick St. Patrick's Day Parade with Share a Dream

Hi Everyone,

I should probably start this entry by apologising for the lack of updates and blog posts recently. I've been extremely busy and hate having to neglect my blog, facebook fan page and twitter account but it has been necessary in the last few weeks.

The last entry I wrote was about the filming of the Pier Hotel Limerick viral video advertisement and how the launch is taking place this Thursday evening. I hope to see some of my facebook friends/fans there! I'm really looking forward to it and tickets have just dropped to only €5 so you really have no excuse no to be attending, especially since that entitles you to a champagne reception, finger food and heaps of entertainment, as well as the chance to win €1,000!

I would like to take the opportunity to wish everyone a very belated Happy St. Patrick's Day, especially all of my friends from all over the world who I met in Jamaica.

www.shareadream.ie

Back in January, I met with Shay Kinsella and Ciara Brolly of the Share a Dream Foundation. Shay set up the Share a Dream Foundation in 1989 after meeting a very special little girl who inspired him to vow to do everything he could to bring a little magic into the lives of sick and disabled children all over Ireland. Each year, the Share a Dream Foundation helps hundreds of families throughout Ireland to escape from their everyday lives and just have fun, whether that be through concerts, trips to Disneyland, the National Children of Courage Awards and Dream Ball, family holidays and helping to make many individual dreams come true for terminally ill children.

It was at this meeting that I was asked if I would like to participate in the Limerick St. Patrick's Day Parade with the Share a Dream Foundation. The parade would mark the launch of the Foundation's "Dream Machine" - a magical machine, the purpose of which would be to travel to the children confined to their homes to bring a little happiness into their lives. I, of course, said yes and so on the 17th of March, I could be found marching in the Parade dressed as a Fairy Princess, accompanied by two other little princesses - Amy and Megan. The Share a Dream's segment also included a group of dancers and two little boys, one of whom showed off his amazing Michael Jackson dance skills, as well as Shay and some of the Share a Dream volunteers.

I felt incredibly honoured to be asked to participate in the Limerick St. Patrick's Day as I adore the atmosphere that is present in every inch of our fantastic island (and all over the world) on the 17th of March. Plus, I love the colour green! A huge thank you to Shay and Ciara for asking me to take part and also for attending my Mayoral Reception in February. The Share a Dream Foundation is a charity that I have admired for years and I was lucky enough to attend the Annual Ball in 2006.

Photo by Munsterimages.ie

Photo by Munsterimages.ie

Photo by Munsterimages.ie

St. Patrick's Day also marked a huge celebration for Limerick City as it was crowned 2011 EU City of Sport. Rich Lynch and the ILoveLimerick.com team were there to cover Limerick's largest ever Parade with over 4,600 participants taking part and to discover what sport means to Limerick. I was interviewed prior to the parade about the importance of sport to Limerick. You can check out the video here:

I finished off my St. Patrick's Day celebrations in non other than the Pier One Bar at the Pier Hotel, of course! It really is one of my favourite places in Limerick and if you haven't stopped by for a drink or to try their €5 specials, you're really missing out!

Until Next Time,
Sami Long
Miss United Nation Ireland 2010
Miss United Nation Europe 2010

The Pier Hotel, Limerick Viral Video

Hi Everyone,

If you keep an eye on my Facebook fan page then you'll know that my favourite place to spend time in in Limerick city is the Pier Hotel on Sarsfield St. Some of the events I have attended there include my Homecoming Party, Raquel Rocca's CD Launch and the Cliona Ring Foundation Operation Transformation Night Out.

Photo by Maggie Red Blog

More recently, I was asked if I would like to act as an extra in the filming of a viral video advertisement for the Pier Hotel. I of course said yes and so on Wednesday, the 9th and Thursday, the 10th of March, I could be found in the Pier Hotel dressed as a member of staff along with Stacey, Susan, Kathy, Jeremy, Lisa, Paddy, Danny, Audrey, Antoinette, Janet, Claire, Caroline, Chrystian, Ilona, Wojtek and Gillian - some of the Pier and Pier One's Facebook fans and some actual members of staff. This will have been my second commerical (you can check out the commercial I shot with Jewellery Ireland modelling Carol Shaw Jewellery by clicking here).

The launch of the Viral Video will take place on Thursday, the 31st of March. This will coincide with a very special event - "Probably the Best Facebook Party in the World!" which will feature a champagne reception, finger food buffet, DJs Richie & Dean as well as the chance to win €1,000 in cash! Tickets cost €15 and all proceeds go to the Cliona Ring Foundation, one of the main charities I support (check out the documentary I filmed with the ILoveLimerick.com crew here).

I am really looking forward to the party and hope to meet as many Facebook fans as possible on the night, especially since it is to support a great cause. Don't forget to add The Pier Hotel, Limerick as a Facebook friend by clicking here. They are offering a special room rate of €35 on the night of the party for their Facebook fans and regularly have competitions online so it's definitely worth your while!
You can also check out the Facebook Event Invitation by clicking here.

See you there!

Until Next Time,
Sami Long
Miss UN Ireland 2010
Miss UN Europe 2010

Cliona Ring Foundation Documentary for ILoveLimerick.com

Hi Everyone,

On Friday, the 11th of February, the ILoveLimerick.com team in the form of Rich Lynch, Sean Wrenn, Gary O'Donnell and Photographer Pat Browne and I made the trip out to the Lough Gur/Bruff area to meet with the founders of the Cliona Ring Foundation, Breandan and Terry Ring.

You may or may not know that on the 22nd of January I attended the Fourth Annual Cliona Ring Foundation Commemorative Night. Brendan Ring was good enough to meet with me earlier that day to explain what the Foundation does - support families of children with life-threatening illnesses with their non-medical expenses. I was shocked that the organisation had not received the recognition it deserved and decided to make it my mission to raise as much publicity for it as possible.

Whilst being interviewed for ILoveLimerick.com (which you can view here), I spoke about the Cliona Ring Foundation. Cliona's story had a big impact and the crew decided that they too wanted to help. It was for this reason that we could be found on that Friday afternoon in the home of Brendan and Terry Ring, strolling down the road in Lough Gur (me in my new Wacky Shoes booties and 7 Camicie shirt), visiting Cliona's resting place , disrupting the classes of Lough Gur National School in order to talk to Cliona's former schoolteacher, Carmel, and taking a walk around beautiful Lough Gur.

For more information on the Cliona Ring Foundation and how you can help, please visit the organisation's Facebook page here.

Until Next Time,
Sami Long
Miss UN Ireland 2010
Miss UN Europe 2010