+++ bits + pieces +++

- Irish sports star Eamonn Coughlan recently launch the latest fundraising efforts for the Children’s Lifeline Challenge 2006 at a function in the Ocean Bar. This year will see The Liffey Duck Race in June, which will have over 150,000 yellow plastic duck participants; The Shamrock Run, a 4000-mile motorbike expedition from California to New York and the Harvest Ball which takes place in the Shelbourne Hotel on the 4^th of November (the first gala ball the hotel will host since its refurbishment).

For more info go to www.childrenslifeline.ie

- Dublin Fashion Week got off to a flying start with a cocktail reception in the Morrison Hotel on Monday night. Fashionista Sonia Reynolds, the doyenne of DFW, looked amazing as she welcomed guest to stylish event. DFW, which will showcase Autumn 2006 collections, runs until Feb 8^th at the Morrison Hotel. Designers include Aileen Bodkin, Amon, Ciaran Sweeney, Louise Knatchbull, Lucy Downes and Eilis Boyle.

- The surprise news broke at the weekend that TV and radio broadcaster Ryan Tubridy and his wife, Anne Marie Power, are to split up. Subsequent reports suggested that Tubridy has been seeing journalist Larissa Nolan. While I don’t know either personally, I have met them both several times and I was, like many others, surprised to hear this bit of gossip. I was unaware of any possible dangerous liasons between the two, though I have seen them in deep conversation together at the odd social occasion …

- Harvey Nichols is getting into bed with Hugh Heffner! OK, so it’s not quite as raunchy as that, but last night Harvey Nicks launched a unique "Playboy Exposed” exhibition in the menswear department of their swish Dublin store. The largest exhibition of its kind will feature more than 150 of the most iconic images from an extensive archive of over 15 million photographs, including nearly every Playboy cover to date and runs from February 6th - February 27th 2006.

- The Dubliner magazine celebrated its 5^th birthday last Thursday night with a massive birthday bash. A well attended beano, it was the first event to be hosted in the new Laughter Lounge, which had the finishing touches applied minutes before the doors opened. Trevor White’s popular publication has grown from strength to strength since its inception and is now de rigueur for any self respecting well-informed city slicker.