Social Dublin

A bit of coverage from outside of Dublin now (but remaining within The Pale). Last night saw the Fashion Focus event launch at the brand spanking new Whitewater Shopping Centre in Newbridge, Co. Kildare. It’s the biggest shopping centre outside Dublin. So there.

Ireland’s fashion ambassadors, Caroline Morahan and Pam Flood, were on hand to act as a pair of well informed, glamourous MCs. I hope those girls like their jobs. Can you imagine being pushed out to front every fashion event in the country when in actual fact your favourite outfit is a tracksuit?

But I digress, as Terry Keane used to write (or did she?). Running from Friday 28^th April to Monday 1^st May Whitewater’s Fashion Focus event will celebrate all things fashion and beauty related. Fashion conscious shoppers can look forward to fashion shows each day from featuring Ireland’s top models. Customers can preview Spring Summer lines from retailers including a|wear, Bershka, Clarks, Coast, Debenhams, Espirit, H&M, Jane Norman, Karen Millen, Oasis and Pull and Bear.

Not only are the good folk of Newbridge lucky enough to have the second largest shopping centre outside Dublin (AND the HQ of my favourite luxury brand, Newbridge Silverware), but phase two of the centre will be launched in September 2006. This will comprise a first for the Irish market with the introduction of a new specialist boutique promenade known as ‘The Avenue’. This will run along one external side of the centre and will act as a dynamic civic space for both the residents of Newbridge and visitors to the centre. Swanky.

There were a pleathora of VIPs there last night, but as I actually wasn’t there myself I can’t say who they were. But, dear readers, top Irish models Corina Grant, Gail Kaneswaren and Jenny Lee Masterson were all there, and that’s all we really care about, isn’t it?

I hope your bank holiday weekend will be as good as mine.