Friday, July 19, 2002

Dublin was celeb packed last night for two classy premiers.

Down at the Point theatre the great and the good assembled for the Irish premiere of the smash hit Miss Saigon. Among those enjoying the pre drinks reception were Pat Kenny and his delishous wife Cathy (who was rather miffed when a photographer didn't know who she was!), pop king Louis Walsh with his clatter of girls from Six and Bellefire, joined by Popstars judges Bill Hughes and the stunning Linda Martin and former Boyzoner Stephen Gately (what is with that boy and hats - is he hiding something?!). Other RTE representatives were Maxi, Larry Gogan and Gerry Byrne of Fair City.

Forget having a stunning model on your arm - the new fab guest to bring is your mother....TV gal Caroline Morahan, singer Liam Brady, radio presenter Bronagh Dorian and yours truly all brought our mammies. At the after party in the swanky new bar The Vaults, the crowd enjoyed a constant flow of champagne and danced till the early hours.

Accross town, the Irish premier of Men in Black 2 was on in the Savoy. Guests included SM:TV hostess Tess Daly, Film buff Jonathan Ross with his wife, the flame haired Jane Goldman and their 3 children. At the post part in Lobo, in the Morisson, Big Brother evictee Adele DJed and Popstars reject Nadine Coyle was overheard saying that she thought that Six had no future. What about your future sweetie?

Thursday, July 18, 2002

London, New York, Paris. Stylish men abound. Dublin? Of course! Last Thursday evening saw the awarding of the now annual Louis Latour Man of Style Awards in the luxurious confounds of the plush Merrion Hotel. Among those enjoying the lush Louis Latour wines were Gavin Lambe – Murphy, who was on his first outing after his departure from VIP magazine, buxom Amanda Brunker (boy she gets around!), Julian Benson, who was pretty in pink and PR mum Sonia Reynolds.

Rumours were abounding on the night. The winner was Derek Boyd, who coincidentally is friends with last years man o’ style, gallery owner Jerome O’Driscoll. Coincidentally indeed, as O’Driscoll was on the panel of judges. Also up for this years prize was coffee entrepreneur Brian Kennedy….as he was last year. C’mon guys smarten yourselves, we need new faces.


As the wine disappeared in the Merrion, the young and trendy were heading off to the launch of Dublin’s newest radio station, Spin 1038. Held in the uber-stylish venue, Spirit, the party kicked off early and by the time we arrived it was packed. VIP wristbands in place we were escorted up to the mezzanine area to enjoy the free bar and fab food.

Enjoying music by those funksters Hugh Scully and Shay Hannon, were U Magazine’s Frances Winston, former MTV babe turned Spin presenter Emma Ledden, TV gal Caroline Morahan and multi-millionaire Denis O’Brien. Also movin’ and shakin’ were Shane Byrne from Sony, PR chic Andrea Dillon – Horan and letting his hair down again GL-M with buddie Lee Bradshaw.

The great and the good all enjoyed a fantastic goodie bag on the way out. An event to remember thanks to Prior Communications who organised.


Also over the weekend was the Witnness music festival in Fairyhouse. We did venture down on the Sunday but it was all rather muddy and hot. Even the free Guinness in the VIP tent couldn’t tempt us to stay. Rock festivals are so last season sweetie.

Thursday, July 11, 2002

It's been a week since the 4th July party....we thought around 450 guests....it was more like 2,000! Neil Diamond did play. Nothing else of note happened.

Last night there was an abundance of parties on....Trevor White launched his book of the top 100 restaurants in Dublin in the Westin Hotel.....Social & Personal threw an awards bash in the Morgan....and Coors Light launched their new draught product in Dakota. Among the coors Light throng were Francis Winston and Derek Foley, Amanda Brunker and her beau Keith Redmond, Jane Devitt, Sinead Ryan and Andrea Roche. Check out the beer guzzling guest at the Summer snaps part of the XSS website.

Spin fm are holding their first party tonight in Spirit and of course the Witnness music festival is on this weekend. We're sure a few music celebs are bound to surface in Lillies at some stage.

Thursday, July 04, 2002

The crowd landed on Connolly Train Station en masse, for the recent launch of The Vaults, Dublin's latest addition to the already swelling number of drinking establishments. Among the great and the good were many politicos including newly elected Barry Andrews and his lovely partner Sinead McGrath (their first launch of many we think), and of course Taioseach Bertie Ahern. For international flavour there was the Mexican Ambassador Dr Agustin Basave and the Portuguese Ambassador JP da Silveire Carvalha. Regular socialites included rock chick Karla Elliott, designer Antonia Campbell - Hughes (double barrell names, we love 'em), Francis Winston (who was fresh from a relaxing time at some spa down the country), and a load of other beautiful people. Of course everyone was talking about the shenannigans of Dwight Yorke at the recent Budweiser Derby, where he apparently assaulted Mairead Egan, wife of Lillies owner Dave. Needless to say he is barred - for life.

Today being July 4th, things just wouldn't be right unless there were a multitude of USA themed parties going on. King of the crop surely must be US Ambassador HE Richard Egan's (nothing to do with Lillies) bash at his residence in Pheonix Park. Around 450 VIP guests are expected to be entertained by the likes of Neil Diamond and a firework display. Yee haaa!

Monday, July 01, 2002

Well it was certainly a wet and wind swept day for one of the major social events of the year, the Budweiser Irish Derby, at the Curragh racecourse. As expected, High Chapparral, the aidan O'Brien trained horse, romped home to win the Derby prize of €1,300,000. Also winning the Epsom Derby recently, he becomes the fiftheenth horse to complete the Epsom - Derby double win.

The other major event of the day was of course the prizes for best dressed ladies. Sponsored by Powerscourt Townhouse, the judging was assisted by stylist Sonia Molich. Pocketing vouchers worth €3,000 was Michelle Clifford from Cork, who wore a pink dress from Karen millen, with a feather in her hair. Tara O'Leary, also from Cork, came second place and Howth lady Chanelle McCarthy came third.

Among those drinking the endless supply of free Budweiser, wine and champagne were the BBC's Clare Balding, former Boyzone lads Keith Duffy and Stephen Gately, footballer Dwight Yorke and sundry politicians, models, media moguls and pr babes, a veritable who's who of Irish society. Entertained by David Cassidy it certainly was a day to remember.

In fact, one of the aforementioned was so drunk that he proceeded to man handle a few girls and was taken away by the Gardai after several complaints were made.