International Womens Day
International Women’s Day 2024
For International women’s day 2024, 8th March we celebrate inclusiveness and diversity and in particular mark the strength of women’s input into economic success. At the Anner Hotel we are taking the opportunity to celebrate just a small sample of the remarkable women who have contributed so much to the ongoing success of The Anner Hotel.
If you look at the international women’s day 2024 web site the opening paragraph reads
Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality. Collectively we can all #InspireInclusion.
For international women’s day we are profiling a small cross section of the women that contribute so much to the Anner Hotel, day in, day out. Unfortunately it is not possible to profile them all , as thy are so many and varied, but we hope that this small sample represents the diversity and excellence that you all bring.
Lily Forbes Foulger
Operations Manager
Cork born Lily Forbes Foulger brings over 30 years’ experience in the hospitality industry to her role as Operations Manager for the Anner Hotel.
Having joined the Anner team in 2015, Lily, now based in Terryglass, was a key component in overseeing the hotel being awarded a prestigious Four Stars from Fáilte Ireland in 2016 - the first such honour for a hotel in Thurles.
Since her training at Cathal Bruagha Street in Dublin, Lily has worked across all aspects of the hospitality industry since starting her career with the Fitzpatrick Group in the mid 1980’s as well as overseeing the opening of the famed Shannon Oaks Hotel from a greenfield site.
As Operations Manager, Lily oversees all aspects of the day to day running of the Anner Hotel from the front of house to the food service and functions hosted at the Anner.
Lily, we salute the remarkable woman that you are and thank you for all that you do for us.
Kathryn Fitzgibbon
Front Office Manager
We have spoken previously of the pillars upon which the Anner is founded, and a stronger pillar cannot be found than our front office manager Kathryn Fitzgibbon. Kathryn is one of the longest serving team members at the Anner Hotel and has witnessed the many transitions and changes, highs and lows, and comings and goings at the Anner hotel over the past 28 years. A native of Urlingford, Kathryn was born into a hospitality business family. But rather than fall back on the family business Kathryn was determined to make her own path in this world, she is a graduate of the prestigious Alexandra college in Dublin, after which Kathryn moved to the United States where she worked in both New York and San Francisco. She also studied interior design in New York for two years. In addition, Kathryn worked and lived for several years in London where she was employed in the world-famous Harrods Departmental store, a period in her life that she has very fond memories of, not least because it was here that she bought a Mulberry handbag, a possession she admits she treasured for a great many years. When Kathryn returned to Ireland, her parents had sold the family business and moved to Thurles, so coming home was a strange event insofar as she came home to a town she did not really know and people she had never really met. But little did she know at the time that it was in this town that she would forge her career , find love, raise a family and become a central part of the community. Kathryn’s reputation had preceded her, and she was sought out by a local hotelier, Frank Mulcahy who was operating the local Hayes Hotel. Kathryn joined his team and when Frank opened the refurbished Anner Hotel a few years Later Kathryn moved here as head receptionist. The rest, as they say, is history. Kathryn has seen many changes over the years, from different owners to huge expansions, but the one constant over all these transitions has been the warmth of the welcome to thousands of guests from the lady that has become the face of the Anner Hotel. Kathryn had trained and led a huge number of talented receptionists, and her exacting standards and insistence on perfection has ensured the comfort of all our guests. Her welcome if famous and has been enjoyed by people such as Phil Coulter, Rod Stewart, Sinead O Connor and Lewis Capaldi to name but a few.
Kathryn, we salute the remarkable woman that you are and thank you for all that you do for us.
Imelda Cleary
Catering Steward
Today we would like to introduce Imelda Cleary. Imelda works as a catering steward and has worked with us for over seven years. She provides support to our chef brigade and is critical to the smooth operation of our food service operation. she also plays a major role in the hotels compliance with
Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on Hygiene of Foodstuffs ## Regulation (EC) 178/2002 on the General Principles and Requirements of Food Law
EC (Hygiene of Foodstuffs) Regulations 2006 – 2018 ## EC (General Food Law) Regulations 2007 – 2012
Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 on the Provision of Food Information to Customers ## Health (Country of Origin of Beef) Regulation 2006-07
Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act 1998 and associated Regulations ## Food Hygiene Regulations 1950-1989
IS 340:2007 & A1:2015 Hygiene in the Catering Sector ## CAC/RCP 1-1969 General Principles of Food Hygiene
Imelda is one of the most hard working and dedicated team members we have. She has been part of team Anner for over seven years and her input is incalculable in terms of our ability to operate. Imelda is a graduate of the toughest school of all, the school of life. Imelda is a proud Tipperary woman, the daughter of a traveller father and a settled mother. Her father settled when he married the love of his life, and Imelda was raised in a settled home, but was taught many of the traveller traditions. She learned from him how to cook in the open and many homeopathic remedies for ill health, never having to visit a doctor in her youth. Imelda admits that school was difficult, being excluded by other students, she and her siblings were often branded in derogatory terms. Her strongest memory was being referred to as brownie brownie, which referred to her sallow skin and dark hair, looks that in the modern world are the envy of many. Imelda attributes these feature to the Spanish hereditary that runs in her family and uniqueness of the fact that one of her grand parents was a native American. But because of the difficulties she faced she left school after her primary education, never attending secondary school. Although she lived in a loving home with proud parents who provided well for all their children, Imelda left home at 14 years of age and forged her own path. Because of the discrimination she endured as a child she did not have the confidence to work for many years. When she started working in the Anner, she quickly realised what an important contribution she was making to the business and also realised how much she was valued. Imelda has five children of her own now and tries to instil in them the importance of focusing on developing their own careers and securing their future before settling down into family life. Imelda is also a kind and caring animal lover and has helped rehome numerous kittens and puppies. Imelda, we salute the remarkable woman that you are and thank you for all that you do for us.
Joanne Hubbard
Leisure Club Manager and Safety Champion
Joanne has always been passionate about health and fitness from a very young age. Her first realisation that her passion lay in this world was as a 10-year-old girl in Leicester, England. Joanne says that she was never the most confident child but that through sport, namely her introduction to Tae Kwon Do, that all of that changed. eight years later and she was setting off to complete her sports studies degree, for a very simple reason, that 10-year-old girl wanted to give something back to an industry that had taught her so much. She has never looked back since and enjoys promoting the many benefits of exercise and fitness in what she describes as a very rewarding role.
Joanne has a long and hugely successful career in fitness. Manager of the Anne Hotel Leisure centre for the past five and a half years, she has previously worked as leisure club manager in Ballykisteen, a fitness advisor, a personal trainer, and a lifestyle consultant in various organisations in the UK. In addition to being leisure club manager at the Anner Hotel, Joanne also works as a mentor and sounding board to several sister hotels to the Anner in the Windward / TMR hotel collection. In addition, Joanne is the safety champion for the Anner Hotel, driving the internal health and safety initiatives and chairing the health and safety committee. Under Joannes stewardship the Anner Leisure club has never scored lower than 100% on internal health and safety audits. In terms of Ireland Active NQS awards, Joanne has elevated the Anner Leisure club from a silver award, when she took over the property to the highest award of outstanding for the past four years, also shortlisting the Anner Leisure club in the top ten clubs for organisational excellence in Ireland. Joanne is also a keen advocate of mental health. A regular participant in the darkness into light walk, she has also introduced mental health initiatives for the staff surrounding the areas of gratitude, coping strategies and positive affirmations.
Joanne is equally passionate about her own personal development and holds an extremely impressive list of achievements.
• Irish Water Safety Pool Lifeguard Level 1
• AED Operator
• First Aid Responder.
• Central YMCA Certificate in Fitness Instructing Gym. Level 2 Exercise and Fitness knowledge and Level 2 Gym (cardiovascular machines and resistance training)
• Central YMCA Certificate in Fitness Instructing Exercise to Music. Level 2.
• National Open College Framework: Loughborough College Advanced Diploma in Exercise Recommendations for Referred Clients.
• ASA Level 1 Assistant Teacher (Swimming).
• Basic 1 Zumba qualified January 2012 and instructing Zumba.
• Aqua Zumba qualified August 2012 and instructing Aqua Zumba
• TRX Suspension Training Course Level 1
• Phase 1 Strength and Conditioning Course May
• Internal auditing ISO 9001
• Manual Handling Instructor Level 6
• Diploma in Hospitality Management level 6
• IOSH managing safety.
• Pool Plant Management.
And she is currently studying for the NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and safety. Joanne, we salute the remarkable woman that you are and thank you for all that you do for us.
Joan Brett Moloney
Reservations Manager
The longevity of any building is a direct result of the depth of its foundations. Given this, the Anner Hotels room business is on very safe ground with Joan Brett-Moloney’s almost 24 years of service as its foundation pillar. Joan is a graduate of WIT with a diploma in business and is also a qualified accounting technician. Joan gained considerable experience in the hospitality industry working in Waterford, Kilkenny and Tipperary. She joined the Anner Hotel in 2000 as acting head receptionist and was also involved in assisting in many other roles in the hotel including events booking. In 2008 Joan moved into the role of Reservations manager and over the past sixteen years in this role has had a major input into the hotel’s financial success. Her long service makes her one of the most recognisable faces in the hospitality industry and she is the longest operative of the Hotsoft property management system in Ireland. Joan has continued her personal development recently when she graduated from the Hospitality Professionals Association Revenue Management programme. Joan, we salute the remarkable woman that you are and thank you for all that you do for us.
Amanda Meade
Group Human Resources Manager
Windward Management Limited
Amanda Meade is a graduate of the National College of Ireland and has over 20 years of Human Resource Management experience within the hospitality industry. Amanda holds a certificate in Personnel Practice and a Degree in Human Resources Management. Throughout her career Amanda has held numerous HRM roles with Hotel Groups such as Clarion Hotels, Marriott International, Fitzpatrick Lifestyle Hotels & Hilton and has also been involved in standalone hotels such as the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire and Morrison Hotel.
As part of her direction Amanda has spearheaded numerous initiatives that have enriched the working environment at the Anner Hotel allowing it to attract and retain some of the best talent in the industry
A small sample of the initiatives led by Amanda include.
• Staff appreciation events and staff recognition awards.
• Introduction of clear policies in relation to all aspects of people’s roles in a modern working environment.
• Introduction of career development training courses with recognised accreditation to allow for career development.
• Spearheaded the introduction of a living wage for all team members two years in advance of government proposals.
Sarka Palouckova
Accommodation Manager Anner Hotel
Sarka Palouckova is the accommodation manager at the Anner Hotel. When we come to celebrate remarkable women who’s determination and strength have allowed them to, not only, overcome adversity to allow them fulfil their own potential, but contribute greatly to the development of our business, Sarka’s is a remarkable story. Sarka is a citizen of the Czech Republic, but at the time of her birth, it was Czechoslovakia. Throughout her youth, Sarka grew up in a communist state that was a satellite state of the USSR. One of the outstanding memories she has of that time was that everybody was poor, but everybody had the same. But if you tried to better yourself you immediately became a target for the security services as a potential dissident. In her youth Sarka was a rebel, she was a huge fan of the punk movement and a devotee of Billy Idol. So much so, that she continuously styled her hair in his likeness using sugar as the gelling agent. Such expressions of western decadence were strongly frowned upon and as a result Sarka was a continuous target for the state police who used to arrest her and make her wash her hair. She became a single mother at a young age and lived through the velvet revolution that saw the modern state of the Czech Republic form. By 2006 the economic necessity of single motherhood and what she describes as dangerous influences that were beginning to influence her daughter’s life, forced her to emigrate to Ireland. When she arrived here in 2006, she had only two phrases that she could speak in English, one was “hello my name is Sarka” and the other was “neighbour”. She remembers that “neighbour” stuck out for her because it felt like such a difficult word and she felt if she could master it, she could take on any challenge of learning a new language. Sarka had many jobs in Ireland from working in a glass factory to being a forklift driver, a health care worker and ultimately in the hospitality industry where she rose to the position of Accommodation manager. Sarka has always been a keen advocate of personal development and has the following accreditations to her name.
· Manual and computerised payroll BTEI level 5
· ATI accounting, law, taxation, and business management
· BTEI Q.Q.I level 4 and 5 office certificate.
· Adult learning centre FETAC level 4 English
· Business Management office clerk level 6
Sarka contribute daily to the success of the Anner hotel by the exacting standards she brings to her department in the delivery of excellence to all our guests. Sarka is also a keen horse woman from childhood and is also a voluntary therapeutic horse-riding assistant for children with disabilities and children with autism and special needs. Sarka, we salute the remarkable woman that you are and thank you for all that you do for us.
Una O Dowd
Deputy Chief Operating Officer
Windward Management Limited
In late 2017 The Anner Hotel was acquired by TMR hotels, one of Ireland’s leading Hotel Brands. Like nearly all TMR hotels, the Anner Hotel operates under the professional management services of Windward Hotels. Una is a graduate of the prestigious Shannon school of hotel management, As Deputy Chief Operating officer, she has had a huge impact on the physical development of the Anner Hotel in terms of its customer offering as well as its capacity to operate at peak output. Una has also been one of the main drivers in terms of the hotel’s statutory compliance and the provision of health and safety services to ensure the safest environment for staff and guests alike. Her previous experience includes being General Manager of Farnham Estate Spa & Golf Resort, where she undertook a €5million expansion and refurbishment plan of the Resort. General Manager Hospitality in the Convention Centre, Dublin delivering events for International Associations and Corporations. Resort General Manager for Castlemartyr Hotel, a 5 * hotel, golf and spa resort. Hospitality development consultant working on the design and build of hospitality projects for hotels, restaurants, and airport retail. Clarion Hotel Group as Commercial Development Director where she project managed the fit-out budgets and design specification for new builds, acquisitions, and refurbishments of Clarion Hotels in Ireland. These included their first resort hotel in Carton House, Co Kildare. McNally Design Architects as Concept Developer where she designed, project managed and implemented hospitality business plans/concepts for clients in Ireland and worldwide locations over a 5-year period.
A small example of the impact Una has had on the operation of the Anner Hotel
· Project managed the refurbishment of 60 guest bedrooms.
· Redevelopment of Car Park.
· Introduction of fall safe systems for working at height.
· Redevelopment of Hotel corridors
· Redevelopment of 48 guest bathrooms
· Introduction of Sea Change safety for the continuous improvement of health and safety standards for guests and employees
· Introduction of smart TVs in guest bedrooms
· Introduction of energy saving capital projects for the leisure centre to reduce our carbon emissions.
· Redevelopment of Hotel Lobby and function room
Una , we salute the remarkable woman that you are and thank you for all that you do for us.
For international women’s day 2024 we celebrate inclusiveness and diversity and in particular mark the strength of women’s input into economic success. At the Anner Hotel we are taking the opportunity to celebrate just a small sample of the remarkable women who have contributed so much to the ongoing success of The Anner Hotel.
Maria Deane, Kirsty Fitz-Gerald, Elaine Fitzharris
Our Finance Team
The finance team at the Anner hotel is an all-female outfit.
It is headed up by our cluster financial controller Maria Deane. Maria is a proud Kerry woman. She is a graduate of the university of Limerick, she worked for two years in Canada. In that time she was an accounts assistant for Forex trading. When she returned to Ireland, she studied for accountancy through Grant Thornton in Cork. She began her working career with Windward hotels in our sister hotel, the wonderful 5 star Aghadoe Heights in Killarney, before transferring to The Anner in 2020. Since her appointment to the Anner Maria has taken on additional roles in several Windward properties operating as a cluster Financial Controller. She is also completing her taxation exams with Chartered accountants Ireland.
Kirsty Fitz-Gerald works in the Anner as an accounting technician, having originally joined us on our reception team. Kirsty has a wealth of experience in the hospitality business having worked many varied and interesting roles including food and Beverage associate, receptionist, banqueting manager, wedding coordinator, duty manager, deputy general manger and spa manager. She has also worked in retail and was the opening manager for DV8 in Tipperary town. She is a graduate of WIT where she gained a diploma as a beauty specialist. She also has qualifications from accounting technicians Ireland is working to get ACCA accredited.
Elaine Fitzharris is the hotel accountant at the Anner hotel and joined us in 2023. Although not a native of Thurles she did study In Mary Immaculate in Thurles for four years and then continued her studies through chartered Accountants Ireland. She brings a wealth of experience to our team have worked in a number of leading organisations such as Grant Thornton, Northern Trust and the Department of Education. An all round professional Elaine has received awards for outstanding customer service, has won a national bravery award, is a senior ladies Leinster football finalist and is a group world record holder.
Maria , Kirsty and Elaine, we salute the remarkable women that you are and thank you for all that you do for us.