Friday, September 30, 2011

Upcoming Event: Outbreak - Limerick Zombie Festival

Photo by Ken Coleman
In the lead-up to the hugely successful Dublin Zombie Walk 2011, I took note of the fact that a similar event was being planned for the streets of Limerick in early October, "Outbreak - Limerick Zombie Festival". Not only would there be a zombie walk, but the event encapsulated an entire weekend of zombie goodness. Needless to say, I was extremely interested. Then, when I discovered that the organisers were looking for a charity for the event to be in aid of, I knew I had to get involved.

Following a bombardment of e-mails by myself about the amazing work that the Cliona Ring Foundation does, Mike McLoughlin - organiser of Outbreak - agreed to hold the event in aid of the Cliona Ring Foundation. Needless to say, I was absolutely thrilled - not only would I get to dress up as a zombie for the second time this year but it would all be in aid of the CRF, which I am an ambassador for.


The event itself is currently taking place this weekend and the event schedule for the remainder of the festival is as follows:

Friday 30th

Event – Zombie Film Night
Venue – Daghdha, St. John’s Square
Start time – 8pm
Admission: Free (but a donation to The Cliona Ring Foundation may be given on the door, and would be greatly appreciated!).
Kicking us off will be a screening of Limerick film-maker Dermot Petty’s short ‘Zombie Waltzing’, a documentary about the new and disturbing phenomenon of Gothic Country’n’Irish music, filmed locally in Lough Gur.
This will be followed by a screening of Dan O’Bannon’s delirious and demented 1985 zombie-comedy classic Return of the Living Dead, which will be introduced by film writer and critic John Byrne.
BYO snacks and supplies
Following this, After-party in Bourke’s Catherine St.
Saturday 1st October

Hunt Museum at 2pm plays host to the Spooky Tour! A specially themed tour of the museum for our little zombies. It’s FREE in for any kids (or kids at heart) who turn up dressed as Zombies!

YOUTHFEST 2011 takes place in Dolans from 1pm, Its a Huge All day All ages non alcoholic event, with Lots of bands, dancers, magicians and yes, plenty of Zombie goings on too! The event benefits the local Youth Cafes

Melt Cafe If you’re about town and looking for a good coffee, pop in to Melt on Catherine st. , and 10% goes to The Cliona Ring Foundation!

THE ZOMBIE SHUFFLE!! This is the one you’ve been waiting for! The party starts around 6pm At the Bottom of Bedford Row, outside Foxy’s Bar. We’ll have music, facepainters, photographers, and some special performances before we set off on our slow parade of the city at 7.30pm. The route will continue up Thomas st, along Little Catherine Street, back down William street, onto Cruises Street. From there, there is Official Outbreak themed Events in Nancys, Cobblestone Joes, and Mickey Martins.

The Official Shuffle Afterparty takes place in Nancy Blake’s Directly after the Shuffle concludes, with Drinks promos and special entertainment laid on for us!

FILTHSTEP takes place in Dolans, doors at 22.30pm Limerick’s Original Dubstep Night returns to lay down some heavybass sounds for all the heads back in limerick looking for something different.

Midnight Feed! Later that night, those hungry zombies can grab a late night feed at Lulu’s Cafe on Catherine Street, where there will be a special deal for all Zombies that turn up! Its open til 4am, so plenty of time to get that feed in!

Sunday 2nd October

The Zombie Hangover feast! Pier One Hotel Offer a zombie feast, late Breakfast with movie screenings, and proceeds going to Cliona Ring Foundation. Recover in comfort!

SKAZZOMBIE Skazz bring their unique Ska Punk Sounds to Foleys on Lower Sarsfield St. for our Wind down party! Gigs starts at 9pm.

Photo by Ken Coleman
I am particularly looking forward to the Zombie Shuffle, its afterparty and the Hangover Feast taking place on Sunday in the Pier Hotel - I'll definitely be indulging in a Vegetarian Corpse Surprise!

For those of you travelling to Limerick for the weekend, the Pier is offering a special room rate of only €49. Contact them on 061 317179.

Please come along and support the Cliona Ring Foundation this weekend and join in the festivities. For more information on the Foundation, visit http://www.clionaringfoundation.com/ or check out the ILoveLimerick.com documentary I did with the ILoveLimerick crew below;




Until Next Time,
xxx Sami xxx

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Outbreak - Limerick Zombie Festival Press Shoot


Copyright: Ken Coleman

On Saturday, the 10th of September, following the Limerick Pride 2011 Parade, I participated in a press shoot for Outbreak - Limerick Zombie Festival in aid of the Cliona Ring Foundation. (To find out how I got involved in the festival, click here.)




The shoot involved my (rather crap) attempts to flee from a hoard of zombies - taking refuge on the Treaty Stone, legging it down the street (with Councillor Tom Shortt in tow at one point) and barracading myself into the newly-opened Edinburgh Woolen Mills on Bedford Row. The Pier Hotel acted as base camp for us and a room was kindly provided so that the volunteers could be zombified.


Image by Ken Coleman


What I Wore
I wore a multi-coloured dress from the Ivory Closet Dress Hire Limerick along with my Carol Shaw Jewellery crown and my Miss UN Europe sash. My hair extensions were by hotloxshair.com .



Image by Ken Coleman

For more photos, check out my new facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MissSamiLong


Until Next Time,
xxx Sami xxx

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Limerick Lourdes Charity Cycle/CRF Cheque Presentation


On Wednesday, the 17th of August, I attended the Limerick Lourdes Charity Cycle cheque presentation at which the Cliona Ring Foundation was presented with a cheque for the sum of €13,008 at Bobby Byrne's Pub, Limerick.

The fundraising cycle saw a team of 12 cyclists and 4 back-up team members travel 800km from Nantes to Lourdes to raise money for three charities - the Cliona Ring Foundation, Limerick Lourdes Invalid Fund and the Irish Motor Neuron Disease Association.

A huge congratulations to everyone involved in raising such an amazing amount!


Until Next Time,
xxx Sami xxx