Monday, May 30, 2005

Le Weekend

It was certainly a party weekend if there ever was one. After a family wedding in Cavan I came back to Dublin on Saturday afternoon for the 1st birthday party of Ella, daughter of Fergal Noonan and Olivia Morahan. It was almost like being in a creche, such was the activity of the little guests and a great time was had by all.

More birthday celebrations on Saturday night as I attended a birthday dinner in Frank's, on Grand Canal Street. It was my first time there, and obviously I've been missing out as the place was pretty packed, despite it's out-of-the-way location. Excellent food but the service was a bit slow, though I've been assured that it's not always this way - I'll be back. On arrival I spotted Eamon Farrell, Colin's brother, leaving with a friend in his convertible Porsche. Va-voom.

Feeling a little worse for wear, I met Jason O'Callaghan and his girlfriend Etain Boyd, with her cousin Helen and Micheál Burke for lunch in Eden restaurant. As good as always, Eden is still a popular haunt on Meeting House Square, with consistently good food (and service). While there I bumped into businessman Paddy Bollard, who was lunching with TV producer and presenter Bill Hughes and Scott Maxwell. Paddy, who is a business partner and advisor to designer Louise Kennedy, has launched his own events company and is busy as ever.

Meanwhile, Bill is still bathing in the glory of the success of his recent documentary celebrating the birthday anniversary of Oscar Wilde, which was picked up by U.S. channel PBS. His next project will be about the works of Shakespeare.

Later on that evening I went over to Caroline Morahan's new apartment to celebrate the debut of her new TV series, Chance to Dance. A reality show, it will run over 7 weeks, with the winner securing a place at a prestigious dance school, representation by the Pineapple Agency and the chance to dance with Kylie. Among those gathered for the screening were actresses Ciara O'Callaghan and Hilary Cahill, writer and broadcaster Quentin Fottrell and fashionista Ciara Elliott.