Having a ball with the Kerry Stars at annual Black Tie Ball

KERRY Stars Special Olympics Club welcomed almost 250 people to The Malton Hotel on Friday night for its tenth annual Black Tie Ball, a milestone that was celebrated with unbounded festivity.

The event banded together athletes and supporters from Kerry and further afield, and as Kerry Stars’ Fundraising Officer Tom Tobin explained, the club members themselves deserve no little thanks for the brilliant occasion.

“Our athletes ran the show,” he said. “Emma Doolin was emcee on the night, and she took to her role seamlessly after another athlete, Martina McCarthy, had gotten the night underway in Killarney.

“Our athletes were also central to organising the event, both on the night and in the weeks leading up to it. Having them so heavily involved in the running of the ball builds their independence and confidence, and that’s why this event is so close to the hearts of all our Kerry Stars,” he added.

The ball also serves as an excellent opportunity to promote Kerry Stars and its athletes.

“Our Stars compete across four sports: athletics, soccer, swimming, and golf. A lot of hard work goes into these, and it’s nice to put our stars at the centre of such a glamorous occasion; it’s the least they deserve,” Tom said.

The black tie ball wasn’t short of entertainment. The much loved Celtic Steps rattled the stage with their brilliant dancing, before Niall ‘Botty’ O’Callaghan took over as DJ and kept the show on the road ‘till late. There was also fine musical fare on show from ‘The Singing Waiter’ and ‘The Deer Hunter.’

“It was a great occasion, as it always was,” Tom added. “The athletes and our supporters had a great night, and we’d like to thank everyone who helped to make this event another success.”

Photos by Michelle Cooper Galvin LEFT: Margaret, Lisa, Margaret, Bernadette (back from left) David, Marie, Donal Geaney, Peter Slattery, Alisha Finery, Niall Durkin, Dr John Geaney and Dr Fiona Gallagher.

ABOVE: Chloe O’Connor, Oisin and Linda O’Mahony, John Lieghil and Megan O’Connor at the Kerry Stars Black Tie Ball in The Malton, Killarney on Friday.

BELOW: Breda and Timmy Dan O’Sullivan, Marie Sweetman, Lorraine and Eóin Ó Beara, Claire Rohan, Catherine O’Brien and Sharon O’Sullivan

Joanne and Shauna Looney, Ciara and Sinead Nagle (back from left) Noreen and Sarah Nagle, Una O’Leary, Kathleen Devane, Julie and Miriam Looney

Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin Margaret O’Sullivan, Maura and Kathleen Murphy with Katie Gleeson at the Kerry Stars Black Tie Ball in The Malton, Killarney on Friday.

Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin Tom Tobin, Vincent Lacke and Emer Corridan at the Kerry Stars Black Tie Ball in The Malton, Killarney on Friday.

Breda Healy with Eilis and John Coakley

John Paul and Della Doyle