Limerick Animal Welfare Fashion Show

On Thursday, the 8th of September, I attended the fashion show in aid of Limerick Animal Welfare which took place in the Fitzgerald's Woodlands House Hotel.

Limerick Animal Welfare is a registered charity which was founded in 1983 and is dedicated to caring for abandoned and neglected animals in the Limerick area. Over the last five years alone they have saved more than 2000 animals. The aim is to promote the humane treatment of all animals, working towards a more compassionate society.

The event saw pieces being modelled from shops such as The K Boutique, Adare and The Ivory Closet - Designer Dress Hire, Limerick (two of my fav boutiques) by models from the Holman-Lee Agency.

My sister and I at the Fashion Show

What I wore
I wore a dress from the Ivory Closet Designer Dress Hire, Limerick. I also debuted my new hairstyle (ie my Hotloxs Hair Extensions) which I wore straightened. I paired the Rachel Gilbert dress from the Ivory Closet with some knee-high socks and black heels as well as a black clutch.

Until Next Time,
xxx Sami xxx

"This is Limerick"

Photo by Dolf Patijn.

On Saturday, the 21st of May, I travelled back to Limerick from Dublin to attend "This is Limerick" - the networking event by www.ILoveLimerick.com which took place in the Georgian House. The Georgian House & Garden was restored by the Limerick Civic Trust during the period of 1996-1999. www.ILoveLimerick.com is dedicated to highlighting the positive about Limerick and the afternoon certainly did exactly just that.

En route, I stopped by the Ivory Closet to pick up a dress to wear to the event. I wasn't the only one - almost every where you looked, you could see one of the boutique's gorgeous dresses.

Photo by MunsterImages.ie

The invite-only event was designed to encourage the organisations of Limerick to come together and work together as well as celebrating the ordinary people who do extraordinary things for their communities. Representatives from Special Olympics, Friends of the Elderly, the Parkinson’s Association Mid-West, the MS Society, the Northside Learning Hub, Polish Youth, Doras Luimní, Pieta House Mid-West, Limerick Youth Service, Insight Magazine, Limerick Regeneration, St Munchin’s Area Centre, PAUL Partnership, Southill Area Centre, Limerick Communications Office, Red Ribbon Project and Creative Limerick were all present. I was there on behalf of the Cliona Ring Foundation along with Tom Tierney, a trustee of the Foundation and the gentleman who played the role of MC at the Fourth Annual Cliona Ring Foundation Commemorative Night.

Photo by MunsterImages.ie

Key speakers included Maria Byrne, Mayor of Limerick and Senator David Norris, who I was absolutely delighted to meet. The ILoveLimerick crew was there of course to capture the day and representatives from the various organisations were invited to speak about their own. Flawless School of Dance also performed.

Photo by MunsterImages.ie

For more information on the afternoon, check out the Limerick Leader Article here or watch the www.ILoveLimerick.com feature here and see Tom talking about the Cliona Ring Foundation at 22:37:

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

ILoveLimerick.com Interview

Hi Everyone,

When I was at the opening of the LAW Retail Outlet at the end of January, I met Richard Lynch, managing director of ILoveLimerick.com and Sean Wrenn and Gary O'Donnell, Associate Partners of ILoveLimerick.com.

The ILoveLimerick.com team aims to highlight everything positive about Limerick through documentaries, lifestyle programming and interviews. It is Limerick's own TV channel and has over 190,000 Total Upload Views on Youtube. The amazing people behind ILoveLimerick.com provide a platform to promote the interesting, talented and motivated people who live, work and create in Limerick.

Rich, Sean and Gary were at the official opening with photographer Pat Browne of Munster Images filming a documentary about the work Limerick Animal Welfare does (which you can watch here).  

When I was asked if I would like to do an interview for ILoveLimerick.com, I absolutely jumped at the chance. I really admire the work they do and felt hugely flattered to be asked.

You can check out the interview here:

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

Mayoral Reception by Cllr. Maria Byrne, Mayor of Limerick

Hi Everyone,

On Monday, the 7th of February, the Mayor of Limerick, Cllr. Maria Byrne held a Mayoral Reception in City Hall to mark my achievement in winning Miss United Nation Europe 2010.

Photography by Kevin Wallace

I was incredibly honoured to receive the reception, especially from Maria Byrne who is an amazing woman and a great role model for the people of Limerick.

Photography by Munsterimages.ie

I was joined by some of the most wonderful people I have had the pleasure of meeting over the past few months including Brendan and Terry Ring of the Cliona Ring Foundation, Claire Kirby of Limerick Animal Welfare and Shay Kinsella of Share a Dream. Other guests who joined me in the celebration included Clive Power of Xtreme Occasions, make-up artist Claire Kelly and Diarmuid Ring and Louise Clifford of the Pier Hotel as well as some of my closest family and friends.

Photo by Munsterimages.ie

As always, I chose my dress from The Ivory Closet's extensive range and selected a mint green Rachel Gilbert number, which I teamed with a purple blazer, grey tights and neutral shoes in order to make it more "daytime" as well as my sash and Carol Shaw Jewellery crown. My hair and make-up was done by Claire Kelly.

Photography by Kevin Wallace

A couple of days later, I met up with Maggie Red Blog to let her know what I have been up to since I featured as her September Star of the Month. Check out the interview by clicking HERE for all my news as well as some more details of the civic reception.


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

L.A.W. Retail Outlet Official Opening

Hi Everyone,

On Friday, the 28th of January I attended the Official Opening of the Limerick Animal Welfare Retail Outlet on Roches Street.

Sami Long & Richard Lynch, Ilovelimerick.com

Limerick Animal Welfare was founded in 1983 to care for abandoned and neglected animals in the Limerick area and aims to promote the humane treatment of all animals. Phase One of the Limerick Animal Welfare Sanctuary at Moorestown, Kilfinane, was completed in December 2007. Phase Two of the Sanctuary Building Project (the main building) has now commenced. It is estimated that this will cost approximately one million euro. The building will incorporate a rehoming area for dogs and another for cats. The plans also include offices, a veterinary clinic and living accommodation for staff. Phase Three, the final building, will be the isolation kennel for cats and kittens. 

Photo by munsterimages.ie

The Sanctuary currently provides shelter for up to sixty dogs and puppies, fifty cats and kittens, numerous rabbits, goats, pigs, horses, ponies and donkeys. The Retail Outlet on Roches Street has been set up to help fund the construction at the Sanctuary. 

Photo by Munsterimages.ie

  
The official opening featured an appearance by special guest Jerry Flannery. Guests were treated to a champagne reception, lots of Ferrero Rocher choccies and several gorgeous little pooches to spoil with attention. Pat Browne of Munster Images Sports and Event Photography was there to capture the cutting of the ribbon, among other things. The team from ILoveLimerick.com were also present to film the day to include in the documentary on Limerick Animal Welfare, some of which was filmed at the Sanctuary earlier in the week. You can watch it here:

 
The day was a great success which a huge turn-out of people who queued down the street in eager anticipation to see Jerry officially opening the shop. I even found the perfect party dress for an event I was going to that night!

Photo by Munsterimages.ie

You can donate to Limerick Animal Welfare by clicking here.

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