Westin Wonders

Gang up: 1. Patrick Byrne and Linda Gene Finn; 2. Victoria Harris, Dee Aherne and Michelle Charles Worth; 3. Aveen Kinsella and Matthew Strutte. (Pix. MOS)

The Westin hotel Dublin hosted a gala ball, organised by the hotel team, in an effort to raise funds and drive awareness for the Barretstown Gang charity. Hosted by Matt Cooper the event raised much needed funds for the children’s charity.

Barretstown was founded by Hollywood actor Paul Newman in 1994 and modelled on his renowned Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Connecticut, USA. It serves children (and their families) affected by serious illnesses – primarily cancer and serious blood diseases – from Ireland, Britain and throughout Europe.

Ruby Ball

Pictured at the Ruby Ball in the Shelbourne Hotel were 1. Ruth Meehan and Deborah Veale; 2. Lorraine Keane; 3. Paul and Lisa Fitzpatrick.   The event was hosted in aid of Ruby Ayoub's Trust supporting MRF and ISIDA. (Pix. KH)

Newbridge Boys

Alumni: 1. Gillian and Niall Quinn; 2. Geordan Murphy; 3. Grainne Neville and Derek Martin. (pix. BMcE)

The Keadeen Hotel played host to the Dominican College Newbridge gala ball to honour the successes of some of their past pupils.  The evening, hosted by football legend Niall Quinn, honoured the achievements of former students - Irish International rugby player Geordan Murphy, top racehorse trainer Dermot Weld, Eurovision winner Brendan Graham, Newbridge Silverware owner William Doyle and triple equestrian medallist at London Olympics 2012 Helen Kearney. 

Fighting Blindness ball

The fifth annual Sporting Dinner and Awards night hosted by the Irish research charity Fighting Blindness took place at The Shelbourne. Sporting and medical professionals alike came together to celebrate 30 years of world-leading research into treatments and cures for blindness.

Pictured: 1. Sorcha Horan and Jenny Lee Masterson; 2. Caroline O Leary and Siobhan Kelleher; 3. Sinead McClusky and Barbara O’Neil. (Pix. COS / Photocall)

Maxtravaganza 2012

Having a Ball: 1. Karen Millen; 2. Jane Given and Annette Rocca; 3. Celia Holman-Lee. (Pix. Kieran Harnett)

Over 300  guests including many celebrities attended the Annual MAXTRAVAGANZA Ball at Fitzpatrick’s Killiney Castle in aid of the Baby Max Wings of Love fund. Organised by Max’s parents and founders of the charity, Declan Donnelly and Darina Ní Chuinneagáin with Max’s God Mother, Máire NíChuinneagain, the atmosphere from beginning to end was electric with the wonderful Miriam O’Callaghan playing a remarkable job as MC.

Guests in attendance included Brent Pope, Paul and Lisa Fitzpatrick, Debbie O’ Donnell, Baz and Tanya Ashmawy, Ian Galvin, Aisling O’ Loughlin and Celia Holman-Lee.

The Auction was conducted by Baz Ashmawy who managed to get most to dig deeper in to their pockets for items including Dinner for 6 with Kevin Dundon in your home sponsored by himself, SuperValu Mount Merrion and On the Grapevine wines.

The Prickly Pears Band took over to round off the evening and dancing continued ‘til the early hours! Guests were in very high spirits and delighted leaving with their goody bags from title sponsor, Cocoa Brown Tan by Marissa Carter.

Charity Ball

Puttin’ on the Ritz: 1. Rob McNaughton and Glenda Gilson; 2. Steven Gerrard and Keith Duffy.  (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

Football star Steven Gerrard hosted a charity gala recently as part of  the ‘Steven Gerrard & Keith Duffy Charity  fundraising Weekend’ in aid of The Steven Gerrard Foundation and Irish Autism Action sponsored by MACE, at The  Ritz Carlton Hotel at Powerscourt. 

The event featured a live performance by Jack L, along with a charity auction which included a corporate box for one of the Liverpool home games for ten people.  Radio presenter Siobhan O Connor was master of ceremonies on the night.

The Liverpool Captain was joined at the event by Coronation Street stars Michael Lavelle and Ryan Thomas as well as actors Danny Miller and Phillip Olivier. 

IRUPA Awards 2012

Rugby ball: 1. Jennifer Carroll & Hugo McNeill; 2. David Wallace and wife Aileen. (Pix. Leon Farrell)

IRUPA Rugby Players’ Awards 2012 took place in the Burlington Hotel recently. Guests on the night included Brian O’Driscoll, Rob Kearney, Brent Pope, Shane Jennings, Leo Cullen, Ronan O'Gara, John Hayes, Luke Fitzgerald, former Irish footballer Niall Quinn, RTE's Craig Doyle, rugby star Shane Byrne and new Chief Executive of IRUPA Omar Hassanein with his wife Bree. 

Heineken and Wolf Blass provided the juice while rugby legend Martin Bayfield MC'd and Irish rugby players from different provinces were celebrated for their outstanding performances throughout the year.  Ireland and Leinster star Rob Kearney, was voted the IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year.

Club Italiano

Ciao: 1. Rita Macari and Jane Baker; 2. Alessia Macari; 3. Italian Ambassador H.E. Maurizio Zanini and his wife Patricia. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

Club Italiano hosted its annual Irish Italian Gala Ball at the Mansion House recently, where they raised funds for the St Vincent’s charity. Guests on the night included Club Italiano president Cav. Teresa Di Nardi , the Italian Ambassador to Ireland H.E. Maurizio Zanini, Maria Fusco, Dave Morrissey of Lillies Bordello and Jane Baker.

Giacomo D' Agostino Italian 15 times World Champion Motor Grand Prix racing legend kindly donated an autographed Helmet to the prize draw and attracted much excitement. Live entertainment on the night was by Intermezzo String Trio, Patricia Higgins and boyband On The Edge as well as Connor Mc Keon and The Legends of Swing.

CARI Ball

Caring: 1. Ceclia Ahern, Miriam Ahern and Georgina Byrne; 2. Victor Burke and Fiona Roberts; 3. Sharon Falvey, Suzanne Mintern and Orla Skelton. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

As the charity ball season draws to a close for 2011 the annual CARI Ball hosted by Miriam Ahern attracted a large crowd of supporters to The Shelbourne Hotel. Miriam has been a supporter and fundraiser for CARI for over 12 years and the annual ball is the main fundraising event for the charity.

The evening commenced with a champagne reception generously sponsored by M&S, after which guests enjoyed a four-course meal with delectable wines, again kindly supplied by M&S. Alan Hughes was the charismatic MC for the evening.

After dinner a select auction took place where Pat O’Hagan from Savill’s put a number of lots under the hammer including a five star holiday to Dubai sponsored by The Bonnington Tower Hotel Group. In line with The Supper Club theme on the night guests were entertained by Frankly Sinatra with dancing until the early hours of the morning.

Guests who attended on the night included Cecelia Ahern and her husband David Geoghan and Georgina Byrne, along with Derek Mooney, Dragon’s Den star Gavin Duffy, Karl Broderick and Roz Flanagan, to name but a few.

CARI is a voluntary organisation, founded in 1989 to provide therapy and counselling to children and teens that have been affected by sexual abuse and support for the non-abusing members of their families. Over €60,000 euro was raised to help CARI’s support services.

Maxtravaganza

To the Max: 1. Karen Millen and Lisa Fitzpatrick; 2. Anne Morgan ; 3. Darina Ni Chuinneagain and Declan Donnelly with Claire Byrne. (Pix. Kieran Harnett)

Maxtravaganza, the 10th Anniversary Ball in aid of the Baby Max Wings of Love fund took place this year at Fitzpatrick's Killiney Castle. Supported by Max Benjamin and Nadim Sadek's Inish Turkbeg Island & Whiskey, the gala was one of the most successful to date.

Over 300 guests attended including design legend Karen Millen, Paul Harrington, Presidential runner up Sean Gallagher and wife Trish, presenter Emma O'Driscoll, Alan Cantwell, author Marisa Mackle, Brian and Linda O' Shea-Farren and style expert Lisa Fitzpatrick who has a new TV show making its debut this Friday on TV3.

A fantastic auction kept bidders on their toes and there was also a best dressed lady prize (judged by Karen Millen, natch) with lucky winner Vicky Higgins winning a Gucci watch from Michel Jewellers, Cork and a hat designed by milliner Susanne Oliver.

www.babymax.ie