So many parties, so little time. So little time for anything these days really but I guess everyone is in the same boat. I took a well earned break recently and sampled the delights of Italy, so apologies for not reporting.
What’s been going on lately? Well it’s all about TV, or “the idiots lantern” as an old teacher of mine used to refer to it as - but I’ll bet he didn’t know what Jo Lo, et al, were up to or which country is the cool place to adopt a child from. And now, dear readers, you can get all that information from TV3’s new entertainment show, Xpose, which will be beamed into your living room every evening.
In true TV3 style, Xpose was launched with a swanky party in City Hall which was attended by a host of well-known faces as well as the TV3 posse, natch. Debbie O’Donnell, former head honcho at Ireland AM, has been given the top job on Xpose so expect great things during the week from the 6pm slot.
Speaking of TV3, the new CEO Dave McRedmond recently hosted a gala dinner in The Shelbourne Hotel (look out for the new courtyard which will be opening there soon) for the founder and retiring chairman of the station, James Morris. It was a veritable who’s who of the business, film, TV and arts world as the guests gathered to pay homage to the man responsible for breaking the state monopoly and bringing variety into Irish homes.
Some of the guests included Denis O’Brien, film director Noel Pearson, Olive Braiden of the Arts Council, U2 manager Paul McGuinness and his wife Cathy Gilfillan, Eamon Dunphy, Sinead Desmond of Ireland AM, Dave Fanning and his wife Ursula Courtney, Jim Sheridan and political spin doctor PJ Mara.
On the evening, Doughty Hanson, the new owners of the television network, handed over a (substantial) cheque to a charity nominated by James Morris and his wife Fionnuala. Expressing his gratitude to all involved, Morris detailed the rocky road to the start of TV3 and made reference to all those who helped establish the independent station. Bravo Mr. Morris, this country needs more visionaries like you.
In other TV news, Smirnoff recently hosted a party in the Clarence to celebrate the launch of the latest ad campaign from the vodka brand (remember kids, drink responsibly). The slick commercial takes you on a trip throughout the world as it tracks the origins of the brand through the ages. Marisa Mackle, Rebecca O’Neill and Nicolas Nannetti (who is set to leave Dublin for Miami soon) were among the guests.
Ever wondered where the “in” crowd will be setting up home in the near future? When they get sick of the city they surely will have Belmayne on their list of possible habituées. This new mega-development will eventually encompass over 90 acres and come complete with a town centre.
Special guests on the evening were Jamie and Louise Redknapp who flew in from the UK for the party. She set the fashion stakes high and looked stunning in a simple Stella McCarthy navy baby doll dress teamed with this season’s must-have Christian Louboutins. Susan Stanley wife of Michael Stanley exuded simple elegance in a little black wrap dress with Louise Doheny of LM Developments supporting a super funky leopard print dress accessorised with Cavalli.
Other stylish guests included celebrity Belmayne garden designer Diarmuid Gavin, the ever beautiful Miss Ireland Sarah Morrissey, top model Andrea Roche, RTE favourite Derek Mooney and the popular TV3 presenter Alan Hughes. The ever glamorous Avila Lipsett was also there and spent the evening chatting with Karl Broderick. Ireland’s uber couple, Rosanna Davison and Wesley Quirke were also there, as were Richie Stokes, Nadine Wai – O’Flynn and Fiona Roche, who is looking forward to the White Tie & Diamonds Ball in Marbella on the 7th of July.
Gorgeous Living (as the provocative ad campaign for Belmayne declares), indeed.
