Rebecca May Weddings Photo Shoot

On Monday, the 8th of August, I traveled to the exquisite Dromoland Castle Hotel & Country Club to model in a vintage photo shoot for Rebecca May Weddings. Prior to making the journey to Co. Clare, I had my hair styled by Sonia Danaher of the Hugh Campbell Hair Group and my make-up done by Mandy O'Loughlin in Melo Yelo on Shannon Street in Limerick city.

The whole team, which included Photographer Sean Curtin, Photographer Ken Coleman, Creative Director Richard Lynch, Rebecca May of Rebecca May Weddings, John Fitzgerald of FunIreland.com and model Georgia May Power among many others, then gathered at the Castle.

The shoot saw many hair, make-up, location and outfit changes (including several dresses from my favourite boutique, The Ivory Closet) as well as many of the props that Rebecca May Weddings is known for, including her amazing jeweled bouquets (which my friend's sister who is soon to be married will not stop raving about)!

A huge thank you to everyone involved in the shoot, in particular to:


Production and Stylings: Rebecca May Weddings,
Photography: Sean Curtin,
Post Production: Ken Coleman,
Creative Director: Richard Lynch,
Hair: Sonia Danagher for Hugh Campbell,
Make Up: Mandy O Loughlin,
Fellow Models: Georgia May Power and Louise O'Sullivan,
Location: Dromoland Castle, Co. Clare.

Check out the rest of the final shots:

Until Next Time,
xxx Sami xxx

Harvest Charity Day in aid of the CRF & Down Syndrome Limerick

Photo by Ita West

On Sunday, the 7th of August, I ventured out to Meanus in Co. Limerick for a Harvest Charity Day that was taking place in aid of the Cliona Ring Foundation as well as Down Syndrome Limerick.

The event was perfect for a family day out and featured a BBQ, model shop, bouncy castles, demonstrations by the Emergency Services, silage harvesting and live music. I had a great time despite forgetting my wellies and having to hobble around in high-heeled boots for the afternoon (in my defense, harvest days when I was in school were held inside and featured an auction of products).

I was there to support the Foundation and to choose the winning raffle tickets which included a first prize of €800 cash! Unfortunately I didn't pick myself, but then again I guess that would be considered unfair...

Until Next Time,
xxx Sami xxx

Dublin Zombie Walk 2011 Official After Party

On the 23rd of July, following the extremely successful and breathtakingly terrifying Dublin Zombie Walk, we zombies gathered in the Button Party for the official after party in aid of the Irish Cancer Society and the RNLI. The event featured stalls, make-up artists, caricatures and a giant zombie cake. I was there to celebrate the success of the Walk as well as performing in a surgery act with Grim Squeaker and judging the Best Dressed Zombie competition which took place during the Gorelesque Show.

Check out a video of our act below:

Until Next Time,
xxx Sami xxx

Dublin Zombie Walk 2011

Photo by Jason McDonald

On Saturday, the 23^rd of July, the scary and rather gruesome fundraiser that was the Dublin Zombie Walk 2011 took place. From 12 noon onwards, St. Stephen’s Green in Dublin city centre was taken over by the walking dead – the point of which being to raise much-needed funds for two charities; the Irish Cancer Society and the RNLI i.e. a charity fundraiser with a twist!

Photo by Jason McDonald

As grand marshal of the Walk, I was up bright and early to have my make-up done by the amazing Terri Pinnell (the same make up artist from the Dublin Zombie Walk promotional photo shoot) who transformed me into a zombie beauty queen capable of leading the walk. Meanwhile, make-up artists were busy in St. Stephen’s Green transforming the general public into zombies in exchange for a small donation.

Photo by Amy Plant

The day saw volunteers dress up as a huge variety of zombies, from “zombie Jesus” to a zombified bride (complete in beautiful white wedding gown) to zombie toddlers. There was, of course, an army of zombie killers armed with guns attempting to restrain the zombie hoard from escaping from Stephen’s Green Park and contaminating the streets of Dublin city.

Photo by Ian Keegan

At 2pm, we set off from the Leeson Street entrance of Stephen’s Green and continued down Dawson Street and around onto the river until we arrived at our final destination of Temple Bar. At this point, the crowd dispersed into the pubs and restaurants around the area to refuel before the gore-tastic official Dublin Zombie Walk After Party in the Button Factory.

Both before, during and after the Walk, the place was littered with photographerss all there to capture the weird and wonderful zombie characters.

Check out some more of the photographs taken on the day: 

Photo by Jason McDonald

Photo by Jason McDonald

Photo by Jason McDonald

Photo by Jason Clarke

Photo by Jason McDonald

Photo by Jason McDonald

Photo by Jason McDonald

Photo by Jason McDonald

Photo by Jason McDonald

Until Next Time,
xxx Sami xxx

P.S. For those of you suffering from withdrawal symptoms, Outbreak - Limerick Zombie Festival is taking place during the first weekend of October. Check out the fan page here. 

Dublin Zombie Walk 2011 Launch Party

On Tuesday, the 19th of July, the official launch party for the Dublin Zombie Walk 2011 took place at Lockdown Dublin in the Lost Society on South William Street. I was invited as the Guest of Honour (and Grand Marshall of DZW).

The event saw three floors of the venue transformed in order to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society and the RNLI with collections taking place throughout the evening while make-up artists transformed the staff and party-goers into brain-craving zombies.

What I wore
I opted for not being made up as a zombie and instead wore a fab Rachel Gilbert black sequinned dress from the Ivory Closet teamed with a half-upstyle done in the Salon Hair & Beauty IFSC and make-up by Harriet Clerkin.

The amazing photographer I worked with for the shoot that subsequently appeared in Flawless magazine (which you can check out by clicking here), Jason McDonald, was there to capture the night which was a great success and raised much-needed funds for both charities.

Until Next Time,
xxx Sami xxx

Aware's Daisy Days Munster Launch

On Tuesday, the 19th of July, I helped launch Aware's Daisy Days Campaign. Daisy Days is an annual national fundraiser which this year takes place on the 15th, 16th and 17th of September.

Proceeds from Daisy Days go to maintaining and developing Aware’s vital services for the individuals and families affected directly or indirectly by depression. These include the network of support groups, both nationwide and online, the loCall helpline (1890 303 302, open 365 days a year), the email support service and the 'Beat the Blues' nationwide secondary schools awareness programme.

Daisy Day Bracelets

I did some collecting for Daisy Days last year and, this year, when I was told about Aware's regional launch, I couldn't wait to take part. I was asked to help recruit some familiar Limerick faces and so I asked my good friend Madeline Mulqueen. We were joined by Munster Rugby players Denis Leamy and Mick O'Driscoll and Jeremy Perrin and Sandra Hogan from Aware who traveled down from Dublin to attend the photo call which took place in UL Sports Grounds. Pat Browne & Theo Kennedy from MunsterImages.ie were also good enough to come along and snap some shots. 

Photo by MunsterImages.ie

What I wore
In keeping with the Daisy Days theme, I wore a turqoise shift dress from the Ivory Closet along with my Carol Shaw Jewellery crown and my sash (in some shots). 


To get involved in this year's Daisy Days Festival, click here. 


Until Next Time,
xxx Sami xxx