Pancake spectacular heating up

KILLARNEY SOROPTIMISTS’ ANNUAL CHARITY FUNDRAISER HAS PROVEN A HUGE HIT FOR A DECADE AND A HALF

THE KILLARNEY branch of Soroptimist International is rightly proud of its annual charity pancake morning fundraiser. It’s now into its 14th year, and its growth in popularity in that time has seen it moving venues more than once.

The event has a reputation for raising much-needed funds for good causes, and over the last number of years, the organisation has placed a particular emphasis on supporting local charities. That’ll be the case again on pancake Tuesday, February 25, when the South West Counselling Service and the Kerry-Cork Health Link Bus will get the branch’s backing at the Killarney Avenue Hotel.

“It has proven a very popular event since first being hosted in the Royal Hotel 14 years ago,” branch President Teresa Irwin explained to The Kerryman.

“It has grown and grown in popularity, and the day is often an opportunity to meet friends you haven’t met for a while, or even to make new friends.

“All the funds we raise will go to the two charities involved. Tickets cost €15 and are available from branch members.”

It will be possible to pay at the door on the day, which gets underway at 10.30am, but it’s advised to have a ticket sorted beforehand.

Once you have your ticket, you can look forward to a day of musical entertainment, raffle prizes and, of course, pancakes.

The Killarney branch is part of an international movement advocating human rights and gender equality. The global membership, of which Teresa is one of 72,000 across 121 countries, work to help women and girls around the planet achieve their potential and an equal voice.

Teresa is proud of her involvement with the movement, best reflected by an involvement that stretches back 34 years.

“This year is my fifth term as President of the Killarney branch,” she said. “I was also President nationally two years ago, and I started out with the soroptimists 34 years ago.”

To find out more about the movement, visit www.soroptimistinternational.org.

To join the local branch or book tickets for the pancake morning, phone Teresa at (087) 683 6995; Sheila Casey at (086) 814 9677; Catherine Gleeson at (086) 175 4353; Bridie Brosnan at (087) 291 0565; or Eileen Foley at (086) 832 8472.

Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin. Chef Kathleen McCarthy with members of Killarney Soroptimists (front) Teresa Irwin, Ann O’Connor (back) Bridie Brosnan, Catherine Gleeson, Anne Wrenn, Sheila Casey and Kathleen Keane.