Aware/Ladies Committee Galbally GAA Cheque Presentation

Hi Everyone,

By now you probably know that I want to dedicate my life to the subject of Mental Health and that the charity that aims to defeat depression in Ireland, Aware, is one of two main charities that I am very involved with (the other being the Cliona Ring Foundation). 

 

On Saturday, the 9^th of April (the day of the Enable Ireland Bridal Photo Shoot), I travelled to Galbally in County Limerick to accept a cheque on behalf of Aware. 

The Galbally GAA Ladies Committee had raised an incredible €3,000 by holding a fashion show fundraiser. The fashion show featured professional models and some people from the local community. As an ambassador for Aware, I was delighted to go along and thank the ladies for their dedication and the huge difference this money would make.

I wore a beautiful little black dress from the Ivory Closet, Limerick which featured embellished shoulders with my Carol Shaw Jewellery-commissioned crown. 

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

Enable Ireland/ILoveLimerick.com Bridal Photo Shoot

Hi Everyone,

On Saturday, the 9^th of April I was up bright and early for a photo shoot in aid of Enable Ireland which took place in the Strand Hotel, Limerick. The whole thing was organised by Pat Browne and Theo Hayes of Munster Images and ILoveLimerick.com.

Photo by MunsterImages.ie

Enable Ireland’s mission is to work in partnership with those who use its services to achieve maximum independence, choice and inclusion in their communities. The organisation provides free services to children and adults with disabilities and their families from 40 locations in 14 counties. Covering childhood to adulthood, its expert teams work with the individual and their family on a plan for each life stage. The services for children and their families cover all aspects of a child's physical, educational, and social development from early infancy through adolescence. For adults, a range of services covering personal development, independent living, supported employment, social and leisure activities is offered.

Photo by MunsterImages.ie

The purpose of the photo shoot was to raise publicity for the Enable Ireland bridal shop in Limerick city centre and saw both bridal wear and debs wear being modelled. Sarah Mulcahy was there to do the make-up. 

Photo by MunsterImages.ie

The shoot was great fun for everyone involved. You can view all of the photographs by visiting the Enable Ireland Limerick facebook page here or the Munster Images facebook page here.

If you would like to make a donation to Enable Ireland, click here. 

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

Ps. Check out the gorgeous Carol Shaw Jewellery earrings, bracelet and ring I am wearing.

Specsavers/Gok Wan Range Fashion Show

Hi Everyone, 

Saturday, the 26^th of March saw Cruises Street in Limerick transformed when the Specsavers Fashion Show took place with models wearing the new Gok Wan range of glasses available. I decided to go along as Rich Lynch of ILoveLimerick.com was hosting the event with Haunty Beor. 

Photo by Cian McNamara

Upon arrival at the event, I was invited to join the models on the red carpet catwalk. The event saw a competition for the most stylist glasses wearer take place which the public were given the choice of entering. I hit the catwalk in a pair of retro-inspired specs while my personal make-up artist and best friend Claire Kelly rocked a more geek-chic look. 

Photo by Dolf Patijn

Olivia O’Sullivan of the Limerick Post was also there along with photographers Pat Browne of Munster Images, Cian McNamara and Dolf Patijn. A photograph of Claire and I subsequently appeared in the Limerick Post, as did a photo of myself for the Limerick Post Fashion Section on Street Style – for once, I was not wearing one of the stunning dresses from the Ivory Closet on Shannon Street but had instead opted for a more casual style. 

Photo by Dolf Patijn

The whole ILoveLimerick.com team were there to film the event. Watch the feature here:

Until Next Time,

Sami Long

Miss United Nation Europe 2010

Miss United Nation Ireland 2010

Pier One Facebook Party & Viral Video Launch

Hi Everyone,

On Monday, the 31st of March, Pier One Limerick held its first ever "Facebook Party" in aid of the Cliona Ring Foundation and to thank all of its facebook fans and friends for their support since the hotel reopened under new management in November. The event coincided with the launch of the hotel's new viral video advertisement in which I played a member of staff.

 As you probably know by now, the Pier Hotel, Limerick and its bar, Pier One, is my favourite place to spend time in Limerick city. The hotel not only offers incredibly reasonable prices for a double room (as low as €39) but you can also avail of €5 breakfast and lunch deals in the fantastic city-centre location. If I have an event in Limerick, chances are you'll find me staying in the hotel that evening and in the restaurant the following morning indulging in their Vegetarian Surprise for breakfast.

Photo by Maggie Red

The Facebook Party was all in aid of the Cliona Ring Foundation, an organisation which is very close to my heart and which the Pier Hotel is a great supporter of. The Cliona Ring Foundation was set up by Brendan and Terry Ring after they lost their daughter, Cliona, to an inoperable brain tumour. The Foundation is unique in that it provides support for the families of children suffering from life-threatening illness through their non-medical expenses.  If you haven't done so already, check out the documentary the ILoveLimerick.com team and I filmed out in Lough Gur with Brendan and Terry Ring by clicking here. Cliona's and their story really is such a moving and inspirational one. You can find out more about the charity by visiting the website here.

Sami Long & Brendan Ring

On the night in question, guests attending the party saw Pier One transformed by means of a Facebook theme which featured a Poking Room, cocktails named after the social network site (including Add as a Friend, Poke Me and It's Complicated). Magician Steve Spade was there to entertain the crowd. Everyone who attended was also entered into a draw to win a whopping €1,000 cash prize on the evening, the winning ticket being picked by Brendan Ring. Typically, the gentleman who won wasn't even there to buy everyone a drink in celebration (although that would have been the grand gone pretty quickly)!

Photo by Maggie Red

Us participants/extras in the viral video were presented with Easter Eggs as a thank you for our hard work over the grueling two-day shoot! You can check out my blog post on the filming of the advertisement here.

I wore another stunning Rachel Gilbert dress from the Ivory Closet, Limerick and my make-up was done by Claire Kelly. Maggie Red was there to cover the event under the "Seriously Social" segment of her blog, which you can check out here. 
   

Sami Long & Diarmuid Ring

The party, as nights in Pier One always are, was a great laugh. Don't forget to add the Pier Hotel Limerick and Pier One Limerick as a facebook friend! 

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

Mayhem at the Milk Market

Hi Everyone,

Sunday, the 20th of March marked the end of the Limerick St. Patrick's Day Festivities 2011 but also saw the first major event taking place in the new all-weather Milk Market - the first in a series of ‘Mayhem’ and other events being created for the market and for the city.

The Limerick Milk Market is known for its Saturday market and, more recently, the establishment received the addition of a large tent-like structure making it an all-weather venue.

"Mayhem at the Milk Market" was the first event to take place and I was absolutely delighted to be a part of it.

The event, which was organised by www.FunIreland.com, took place from 11am to 4pm and featured a special Sunday market, two wizard shows, jugglers, a balloon contortionist, a unicyclist and Leon Anderson, one of Ireland's greatest magicians. The whole event was free and I was there to be interviewed about my experience in Jamaica onstage by D.J. Dara Fahy and also to meet and greet lots of the lovely little children who came out with their parents to enjoy the great family atmosphere together.

I wore a gorgeous dress from the Ivory Closet teamed with a black blazer, opaque tights and red shoes as well as my Carol Shaw Jewellery commissioned crown and my make-up and hair was done by Claire Kelly.

Photo by Munsterimages.ie

The event saw over 12,000 people pass through the gates on the day and also featured a performance by Flawless Dance Team. If you missed it, don't worry - the all-weather Milk Market Limerick is continuing with its programme of free Sunday events when it stages a "Mad Hatter Tea Party" for families on Easter Sunday, (the 24th of April) from 11am to 4pm with entertainment from 11.30am to 3.30pm and with the greatest “madness” happening between 12.30 and 3.30pm.

In the time being, check out the following round-up from Limerick.ie of the great events which took place in Limerick during March, including the Limerick St. Patrick's Day Parade and Mayhem at the Market:

Hope to see you there!

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