The second annual Castletroy Town Centre Fashion Show took place on Thursday, October 16, in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. The event was held as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which runs from October 1 to 31.
The event was supported by the Limerick Dragons, a group of breast cancer survivors and supporters. The Limerick Dragons participate in a team paddling sport on a 40-foot dragon boat. You will often see them paddling down the River Shannon on a Saturday morning to the beat of a drummer on board.
The event was hosted by Spin South West’s Valerie Wheeler. Wheeler spoke to several guests throughout the event, including: The 2025 Limerick Rose, Leah McMahon, interior designer, Geri Designs, Michelle Fitzpatrick and Dragons Club secretary, Louise Keogh.
The University of Limerick Fashion Society was on hand throughout the evening to showcase the looks from Ivory Lane, DV8, Pamela Scott and Meadows & Byrne.
Chef George Casey from George Casey Catering also did a cooking demonstration during the event.
The event drew a predominantly female audience who enjoyed a range of treats and glasses of prosecco upon their arrival. The guests were serenaded with music by Adam Moloney as they entered the event.
The fashion show is one of five taking place at different shopping centres around the country, under the Urban Green umbrella group. All the shows are in aid of breast cancer charities. The Limerick event was organised by the team at Castletroy Town Centre, including Centre Manager Lisa Kearney and Marketing Executive Hannah Meyler.
Kearney described the event as a nice way “to give something back…. it’s nice to do something for charity and not always be about profit and loss and costs and everything else”.
Kearney also praised local businesses that helped out for the special event.
“I wouldn’t be able to do an event like this without the support of all the businesses in the centre. SuperValu has been amazing, they always are, they donate all our alcohol, then you have all the food vendors, then the fashion vendors are involved with the models…. everybody under one roof is all somewhat involved”.
The funds raised the previous year were donated to the UHL local breast clinic. This year, the funds raised will support the Limerick Dragons, who were helping out with food, drinks and spot prizes throughout the evening.
Club secretary of the Limerick Dragons, Louise Keogh, gave a powerful interview during the event. She spoke of the benefits that paddling the dragon boat can have on those who have battled breast cancer.
The Limerick Dragon outlined how a Canadian doctor made the direct correlation between upper body movement and “an exercise that can provide support to women who had lymphedema”, one of the common issues that people would endure after breast cancer.
Keogh also spoke of the two minutes of silence that the club introduced when they are out on the water. She describes it as a moment where members can take time to reflect on “who they are as a person”. She noted that “you are not just a cancer survivor, you’re a warrior”.
She also emphasised that “no matter where you are with the Limerick Dragons or the dragon community, you have support. That’s one of the main reasons why people join us”.
Keogh mentioned how they have also had men join the Dragon community in recent times to help understand and support their wives who have received a diagnosis.
“But the one place that you’re going to find the real experience from people that have been through it is in the dragon community. No matter whether you’re in Limerick or Donegal, those women and men are there.”
