Celtic Rising - The Show

Showstoppers: 1. Andrea Hayes & Emily O’Donnell; 2. Lindsay Cavanagh & Jesus Perez; 3. Valerie Roe & Laura Donohoe. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

Celtic Rising – The Show premiered on Saturday night at the Burlington Hotel to a room full of invited guests eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new show. A new and exhilarating production that celebrates the best of Irish heritage and culture, it fuses the traditional spirit of innovation that is modern Ireland.

The evening began with a sparkling champagne reception which was enjoyed by H.E. Mr. Khalid Nasser Rashid Lootah Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates, fashion designer Claire Garvey (who designed many of the show costumes) as well as bestselling author Marisa Mackle and hair stylist Michael Doyle.

Following the reception, guests were treated to a delicious 4 course dinner ahead of the show. TV3’s Celebrity Salon star Virginia Macari, Maria Fusco, TV producer Andrew Byrne, Anna Lavery and Valerie Roe were also there enjoying the atmosphere.

The Julian Benson production in association with the Burlington Hotel will run throughout the summer months until the 25th September 2010 and is terrific value for money. The show promises to take the audience on a toe-tapping, foot stomping journey through eclectic mix of Irish/International music, song and dance.

M&S Summer

Summer style: 1. Nuala Carey & Sinead Lynch; 2. Janice Butler, Darren Kennedy & Sandra Byrne; 3. Amy Madden & Elaine Stenson. (Pix. Kieran Harnett)



In the Navy: 1. VIP editor Elaine Prendeville; 2. Dee Breen of Harvey Nicks; 3. TV3’s Sybil Mulcahy with Alan Hughes. (Pix. Kieran Harnett)



Marks & Spencer unveiled its 2010 Summer Collections at a stylish garden party at Ely Place featuring a stunning showcase of M&S alfresco homeware, BBQ and cooking demonstration by Rachel Allen.

The soundtrack was courtesy of DJ Mo Kelly who entertained the crowd while they relaxed in the evening sunshine. Food blogger Donal Skeehan discussed cooking tips with Ms. Allen while Collette Fitzpatrick and model Michelle McGrath enjoyed the fun Photobooth that was on hand to capture the moment.

Darren Kennedy swapped style tips with fellow stylist Sonja Mohlich and had everyone green with envy about his upcoming trip to Australia. Also enjoying the summer atmosphere were Sandra Byrne, who recently got engaged to her beau Phil Assaf, Alan Hughes and Karl Broderick, Bairbre Power, Melanie Morris and Trevor Ridgely, Carmel Breheny of M&S and FMI Sarah Morrissey.

Interiors stylist Claire Wyse set the scene for the event, featuring lots of bright colours and soft lighting to re-create that holiday vibe. Stand out pieces included brightly lit Mardi Gras themed tables and loungers and the cool Puccini Gazebo which covered the trendy living room set up.

All produce on the night of the BBQ was provided by all M&S Irish producers and expertly prepared by the M&S Grafton St Restaurant team headed by executive chef Steven McGuire.

Driving the news

Any news? 1. Joanne Sheehan and Mairead Maher; 2. Ruth Griffin and Aisling Cronin; 3. Maurice Gubbins and Claire Nash. (Pix. Gerard McCarthy)

To Cork, and specifically the penthouse at the Clarion Hotel, for the official launch party of the Ford Ireland permanent news site in the city. This billboard style fixture on St. Patrick’s Bridge is powered by a live RSS feed from Thomas Crosbie Media, with a continuous LED ticker tape that will provide news, politics, sports, arts and entertainment updates.

The LED site, the first of its kind in Ireland, will keep Cork residents and visitors up to date on matters and has the ability be interrupted in case of any emergencies such a fire, flood or traffic in order to update and direct people of the best course of action.

Attendees at the launch event included models Ruth Griffin and Aisling Cronin, Lord Mayor of Cork Darragh Murphy, Eddie Murphy, CEO of Ford Ireland and Tom Murphy, Chief Executive of The Irish Examiner. Cork is, after all, the home of Murphy’s.

In keeping with the cosmopolitan theme of the night the guests sipped champagne and dined on miniature burgers and wok fried noodles while delicious desserts included Cork themed cupcakes with slogans such as “Up Cork” and “I’m a rebel” proving a real hit on the night.

Racing Ahead

A Berry good time: 1. Marcus Goodwin & Aisling Tobin; 2. Aine O'Connor, Stephanie Caffrey & Jenny Higgins; 3. Laura Cahir & David O'Connell. (Pix. Kieran Harnett)


Almost 5,000 showed up to rock to the Fun Lovin’ Criminals at Bulmers Live at Leopardstown at Leopardstown Racecourse on Thursday night last. The band brought their unique brand of alternative hip hop/rock and guests enjoyed the atmosphere of a boutique music festival with the best in horse racing on a sunny evening.

Next up are Mundy, Aslan, Duke Special, Paul Brady, Delorentos, Alabama 3, Sharon Shannon Big Band featuring Shane MacGowan to soundtrack this years series of summer nights out with a difference.

Orlaith Fortune, Marketing Manager at Bulmers said, “It was great to kick off the Bulmers Live at Leopardstown 2010 series with a such a cool, internationally acclaimed band as the Fun Lovin Criminals, and we're looking forward to 7 more great Thursday night's of racing and music at this great venue throughout this summer.”

For €30 the Bulmers Summer Feast ticket includes admission, a long neck Bulmers Original, Light or Pear, a race card and options from the Summer Feast menu.

Ladies Lunch

Ladies who lunch: 1. Hayley Ryan & Michelle McGrath; 2. Jenny Lee Masterson; 3. Maeve Doyle, Lisa Gallagher & Judith Rogers. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

A charity luncheon was hosted by Wright's Findlater in Swords for the Special Olympics Ireland fund this week. The guests in attendance, including Michelle McGrath, Lauren Moore and Ciara Crinnion, enjoyed a fashion show by Joni Boutique and raised over €10k.

Littlewoods Best Dressed

Fine fillies: 1. Pamela Flood; 2. Sara McGovern, Anna Daly, Pamela Flood, Triona McCarthy & Sybil Mulcahy; 3. Triona McCarthy. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)


Ireland’s leading fashionistas assembled to launch the Littlewoods Ireland Best Dressed Series at Horse Racing Ireland’s Summer Racing Season.

It was all sunshine, corsages and fascinators for Anna Daly, Sarah McGovern, Sybil Mulcahy, Triona McCarthy and Pamela Flood as they described what they are searching for in the quest to find Littlewoods Ireland’s Best Dressed Ladies.

On behalf of the judges TV3’s Sybil Mulcahy revealed “We’re looking for stylish ladies, comfortable but glamorous, someone who has fun with their outfit. It’s not about expense; it’s about individual style and dressing with personality, and there’s nothing like a bit of competition to rev up the style stakes!”

Join the attendance of over 20,000 people expected to visit these race meetings this summer where each best dressed lady will receive a €2,000 shopping spree with Littlewoods Ireland while 15 finalists at each meeting will receive a €100 shopping spree each.

Be part of the Littlewoods Ireland Best Dressed competition and meet some of the celebrity judges at the following race meets: Ballinrobe, Tuesday 22nd June; Wexford, Friday 2nd July; Roscommon, Monday 5th July; Kilbeggan, Saturday 7th August; Tramore, Saturday 14th August and Bellewstown, Thursday 16th August.

Let the style begin!

Sinead Madden

Single launch: 1. Sinead Madden & Aine Ford; 2. Katy Gannon & Helen O’Dwyer; 3. Paul Byrom & Dominique Coulter. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)


Irish singer songwriter Sinead Madden finally got to take some time from her busy touring schedule to release the official single from her debut album “Impossible Dream”.

Brian Kennedy, Moya Brennan with her husband Tim, Darren Holden, Paul Byrom and his girlfriend Dominique Coulter, Bernie and Lorenzo Cafolla, interior designer Catriona Hanly and Roy Seven's Paul Walsh are just some of those who attended the intimate official launch party at private members club Residence.

“Impossible Dream” is taken from Sinead’s current album “Honey Promises”, which is on general sale and also from iTunes, together with mail order from sineadmadden.com.

Now that a window of opportunity has presented itself in Sinead’s diary, she is not a lady for resting. She’s already working on her second album, which has a release date scheduled for Autumn 2010. The Dublin-based songstress is also currently confirming UK and Irish tours for September and October 2010.

Her vocals hint at the sincerity and warmth of Jewel and the maturity and elegance of Sarah Mclachlan. Her songs exude an air of mystery and intrigue that snares an audience like a sizzling drama and are mesmerizing and exquisite at every turn.

Celebrity Salon

Salon select: 1. Virginia Macari; 2. Pippa O’Connor, Breffny Morgan & Leigh Arnold; 3. Celia Holman-Lee & Elaine Butler-Doolin. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)


Celebrity Salon, TV3’s new celeb reality series, was launched with a bang at a party in Cafe en Seine. The stars involved are presenter and actress Virginia Macari, actress Leigh Arnold, ex-Apprentice Breffny Morgan, model Pippa O’Connor, presenter Brian Dowling and model agent Celia Holman-Lee.

Joining the Celebrity Salon crew were John Norton and Izabella Chudzicka, Glenda Gilson, Jayne O’Keeffe, Vanessa Lawrenson and Torquil Fleming-Boyd. The show, which is hosted by beautician Elaine Butler-Doolin, runs until Saturday 19th June.

Expect plenty of high jinx over the next few days!

Rihanna @ Wright Venue

Please Don't Stop the Music: 1. Rihanna; 2. Michael Wright & Pixie Lott; 3. Ruth Melody & Kamal Ibrahim. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

Pop princess Rihanna hosted her official after party at the Wright Venue after her three sell-out gigs at the O2. In celebration of the finale of her European Tour she entertained a select group of people at the super venue including rapper Tinie Tempah, Virginia Macari and Pixie Lott while Urban Friday residents Frank Jez and Tandoo sound tracked the night.

Aussie Rules

Aussie fans: 1. Cathy O’Connor & Rebecca Lawless; 2. Sinead Walsh & Ian Davey; 3. Andrea Hayes & Andrew Byrne. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

Ireland got a taste of Australia recently as Aussie hair care launched its Colour Mate Limited Edition bottles range at the magnificent house at No. 15 St. Stephen’s Green.

Roxanne Parker looked radiant from a recent shoot in Cyprus and was happily sipping on Bellini cocktails while TV producer Andrew Byrne and TV3 presenter Andrea Hayes chilled out to tunes from DJ Sinead Ni Mhórdha.

Marissa Mackle arrived with long time friend Anne Boylan while guests were wowed at the stunning floral creations by Appassionata. Before the evening ended Julian Benson made a fleeting appearance straight from rehearsals at the Burlington Hotel for his new show, Celtic Rising, which opens there on 12th June.

Guests were treated to mini-makeovers from Max Factor by make-up artist Lyndsey Cavanagh. Hair guru brothers Paul and Ian Davey flew back from Cannes (where they had been tending to Martin Scorsese’s wife Helen) to give Aussie Hair care tips on how to manage their tresses.

SATC 2

Pictured at the SATC 2 premiere at The Savoy: 1. Caroline Morahan; 2. Colette Fitzpatrick & Sean Munsanje; 3. Glenda Gilson.



Pictured at the SATC 2 premiere at The Savoy: 1. Michelle Heaton; 2. Lisa Fitzpatrick; 3. Norman Pratt & Roisin Tierney - Crowe. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)


What happens after you say "I do"?

Life is everything the ladies ever wished it to be, but it wouldn't be Sex and the City if life didn't hold a few more surprises … this time in the form of a glamorous, sun-drenched adventure that whisks the women away from New York to one of the most luxurious, exotic and vivid places on earth, where the party never ends and there's something mysterious around every corner.

It's an escape that comes exactly at the right moment for the four friends, who are finding themselves in – and fighting against – the traditional roles of marriage, motherhood and more. After all, sometimes you just have to get away with the girls.

SATC2 & Moet

SATC2: 1. Judith Kelly & Clodagh McKenna; 2. Derrick Carberry, Brendan Courtney & Colm Corrigan; 3. Nikki Harte & Laura Whiston. (Pix. Liam Murphy)

Specially invited guests and readers gathered at Movies @ Dundrum for an exclusive screening of Warner Bros’ much anticipated film, “Sex and the City 2”, hosted by THE GLOSS and Moët & Chandon Cinema Club. The movie is surely one of the most talked about in recent times and the champagne fuelled atmosphere on the evening of the screening was electric.

The assembled guests were treated to snipes of Moët and a feast of canapés from Neil Shirt Catering, followed by delicious Lindor chocolates from Swiss chocolate makers, Lindt. The crowd included TV3 presenter Anna Daly, Brendan Courtney from Off the Rails, models Baiba Gaile and Irma Mali, Ciara Egan of Quintessentially (the concierge Dublin is in love with), Kathryn Thomas and celebrity chef Clodagh McKenna who has just established a new cookery school at the luxurious Village At Lyons in Kildare.

The movie is as over the top as one would expect with a level of high camp and innuendo that’s through the roof – wouldn’t want it any other way! Judging by the gasps, laughs and giggles from the (mostly female) audience SATC2 definitely met their approval.

It was the third such event hosted by The GLOSS and Moët & Chandon Cinema Club, which are taking place throughout the year to mark the glamorous role the champagne brand has played in the history of film, both on and off screen. It’s been the champagne of cinema since the early days of Hollywood, supporting several hundred films since the 1930s including iconic ones such as Love in the Afternoon, Pretty Woman, Titanic, Ocean’s 12 and of course Sex and the City 2.

Good Heart

Happy Hearts: 1. Sinead Kavanagh; 2. Adrian Cummins & Aoife Conners; 3. Eimear Cotter & Caroline Cullen. (Pix. Anthony Woods)

Saba Restaurant on Dublin’s Clarendon street played host to the official launch of ‘Happy Heart Eat Out Month’, a joint initiative with the Irish Heart Foundation, Safefood and the HSE which encourages restaurants to offer “heart healthy” menu options for the month of June (for the rest of the year you’ll just have to suffer in silence!).

Each dish of the delish four course menu was especially created by Saba’s executive chef Taweesak Trakoolwattana with a focus on the fresh, healthy ingredients with the rich authentic flavours that Saba is renowned for.

Incidentally if you are worried about cholesterol then check out Ateronon pills. Dr. Rob Hicks was in Dublin this week to launch the revolutionary new lycopene, tomato based supplement.

Diary Date

This weekend ...

Bloom, Ireland's largest gardening, food and family event, takes place in the Phoenix Park Dublin during the June bank holiday weekend for 5 days (Thursday 2nd - Monday 6th June 2011). There's plenty to see including showgardens, a chef's kitchen and the Arnott's Style Stage.

www.bloominthepark.com

InDublin Awards

At the InDublin Awards: 1. Noelle O’Reilly & Nikki Wan; 2. Sinead Brady & Ray Egan; 3. Lydia Coleman & Maura Prenderghast. (Pix. Brian McEvoy).


To Suite 54 nightclub in Blackrock where InDublin magazine hosted a glitzy party to announce the winners of the 2010 InDublin Best Of Awards. Restaurants, bars and nightclubs all over Dublin competed over 2 months for the much sought after annual title in their category, with Suite 54 picking up Best Cocktail Bar.

Guests on the night included Rangan Aruchelvan, Conor Buckley, Brian O’Malley, Sara Kavanagh, Michelle McGrath, Brian Fallon and many top names from the service industry in Dublin.

“The Awards are an opportunity to give something back to the ‘Best’ of Dublin’s bars, pubs and restaurants,” said Editor Noelle O’Reilly, “it can often be the simplest things that can make or break any night out in Dublin, which is why we recognise not only the overall ‘Best’ in each category as voted by our readers and the public, but to also those extra efforts made by publicans and restaurant owners, like the beer gardens and the dance floors.”

Among the winners were Dandelion for Best Nightclub; The Wright Venue for Best Dancefloor; Krystle for Best Beer Garden and The Bailey for Best People Watching. Best GastroPub went to The Exchequer, Saba picked up Best Asian Restaurant while Pearl Brasserie won the Best Restaurant 2010.

Life in 3D

3DTV is go: 1. Romy Carroll & Etain Boyd; 2. Rosanna Davison & Craig Doyle; 3. Andrew Rudd & Niall O’Farrell. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

Samsung Ireland hosted an exclusive reception to celebrate the availability of Ireland’s first 3D TV’s in the stunning surroundings of the Circle Room at the new Grand Canal Theatre. TV presenter Craig Doyle acted as master of ceremonies with well known comedian Oliver Callan (of ‘Nob Nation’ fame) and DJ Mo Kelly entertaining guests in attendance.

Rosanna Davison looked stunning in blue as she officially unveiled Samsung’s latest 3D TV innovation, the C9000. The TV was flown in especially for the event and will be available in Ireland from June.

Spotted enjoying the 3D TV experience hubs were Irish rugby legend Malcolm O’Kelly and Leinster’s Shaun Berne and Nathan Hines. Louise Osbourne and model Laura Toogood looked as glam as always and were clearly bowled over by this season’s hottest accessory a - pair of 3D TV glasses!

Other 3D TV lovers at the event included Niall O’Farrell, Katie Jane Goldin, Italian fashionista Maria Fusco, Nuala Carey, stylist and presenter Darren Kennedy and Xopse’s Sean Munsanje.

The Samsung 3D TV line-up, apparently the greatest innovation in TV history, includes LCD, Plasma and the new LED 7,000, 8,000 and 9,000 models with screens ranging from 40” to 65” all featuring the latest 3D technology.