Garda glitz and glamour out in force

THE KILLARNEY Oaks Hotel was the venue at the weekend for a Garda black-tie ball that did more than enough to emulate the success of last year’s event.

The 2018 ball revived the event after a 26-year hiatus, but its success last year was so great that it was always going to return in 2019, this time to raise funds for the Kerry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre, Garda Gillian Mac Eoin explained.

The event was very well attended by members of the force, business people, and members of the public, starting off with a champagne reception, which was followed by a five-course meal.

Also on the night, there was entertainment from The Bentley Boys and then a DJ set, and Garda Mac Eoin was delighted at how the night’s line-up went.

“It was a big success,” she told The Kerryman.

“We had some very generous spot prizes, and people also got the opportunity to make donations to the Kerry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre on the night.

“It was a great opportunity for the guards and stakeholders to meet in an informal setting.

“We also had speeches on the night by Cathaoirleach Cllr Niall Kelleher, Chief Superintendent Eileen Foster, and Vera O’Leary, director of the KRSAC.”

Attention has already turned to next year’s staging, which may be held in Tralee, and while donations are still coming in and the funds not fully tallied yet, Garda Mac Eoin said “we’re very pleased” with what they’re on course to raise for a great cause.

Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin John and Commissioner Anne Marie McMahon, Diarmuid O’Connell and Maria Ní Cheallaigh at the Garda Ball in the Killarney Oaks Hotel on Friday.

Frank and Geraldine Dolan with Caroline and Adrian Sheehan

Paudie and Eileen O’Callaghan with Deputy Michael Healy-Rae

Tony and Anne Sugrue with Gearoid and Sarah Keating

Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin Liam and Bridget Kealy at the Garda Black Tie Ball in the Killarney Oaks Hotel on Friday.