Friday, May 15, 2009

Galway Knees-Up launch



1. Cathy O’Connor & Alan Hughes; 2. Gillian & Ruby Walsh; 3. Darren Kennedy, Sandra Byrne and Norman Pratt. Pics.: Sharpix

Details of the inaugural “Galway Knees Up” event were announced this week at Residence Members Club, Stephen’s Green. The “Galway Knees Up” – Ladies Day After-Party takes place on Thursday, 30th July at Hotel Meyrick in Galway with all proceeds going to The Irish Hospice Foundation.

The event takes place after “Ladies Day” at the Galway Racing Festival, one of the most popular events in Ireland for racing and non-racing fans alike. It is set to become an annual event closely tied in with the racing community and wider audience who descend on Galway each year for the races.

The evening kicks off with a drinks reception – to help celebrate the day’s winnings! The dress code for the event is “from races to after-party”. For those who wish to freshen up after the long day at Ballybrit, there is a Spa refresh zone offering a little pampering for the ladies with expert make-up artists and hair stylists on hand to refresh make-up (and remedy any signs of hat head!). Dinner is followed by a charity auction to raise much needed funds for the Irish Hospice Foundation. A percentage of the funds raised will also be donated to the Galway Hospice. Guests will be entertained by the infamous Cheltenham 21 Club DJ Richard Davies.

Guests who attended the launch party included The Apprentice’s Brian Purcell, Sandra Byrne (who is planning her upcoming birthday bash), Marion Deegan of Meditech Clinics and former Miss Ireland Linda Duffy. The racing set were also represented by Tamso Doyle, Paul Carberry and Jackie Mullins.

The “Galway Knees Up” – Ladies Day After-Party is also sure to attract some well known faces. The guests already confirmed include MCs, Xpose’s Karen Koster and Hector O’hEochagain. Champion jockeys Ruby Walsh and AP McCoy will also attend and will host tables on the night. AP McCoy is a patron of the event and is supporting it with great gusto encouraging the racing fraternity to let their hair down on the Thursday evening all in aid of a good cause - racing the next day does not start until 5.30pm so there’s no excuse not to party!

Tickets for this event cost just €100 per person to include drinks reception, a three course meal, entertainment etc. For further information and bookings, please log onto http://www.galwaykneesup.com/ / http://www.hospice-foundation.ie/.