Secret Art

Art Attack: 1. Lisa Fitzpatrick and Adi Roche; 2. Sile Seoige and Ryan Tubridy. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

The Chernobyl Children's Secret Art Campaign is an exhibition of work by national and international celebrities as well as students from the prestigious art college NCAD.  The launch took place at The RHA Gallery in Ely Place Dublin, with the show running from November 21st -25th 2012. 

All artists were given paintings materials and a board and were let loose to be as creative and innovative as they could, with one catch - the front of the art must remain anonymous.  Famous celebrities and artists include; international designer John Rocha, REM singer Michael Stipe, Spice Girl Mel C, renowned artist  Guggi, chart-topper Ed Sheeran and Red Hot Chilli Pepper drummer Chad Smith …. to name but a few!

The exhibition will begin on Wednesday November 21st when there will be a big gallery opening. This will be attended by some of the celebrity artists and all of the invite-only guests will have an exclusive opportunity to view paintings and have the chance to purchase. All pictures will retail at the same price of €150 and lucky buyers may either get a celebrity picture or an art students or a famous artist’s painting – luck of the draw!

The exhibition will then run until Sunday the 25th during which time the public can view the display and purchase remaining paintings.

Upper Baggot Street

Village people: 1. Charlie Chawke and Nicola Williams; 2. Grainne Murphy and Cyril McAree; 3. Johnny and Maeve Plower. (Pix. Kieran Harnett)

The Upper Baggot Street area of Dublin is synonymous with writers and artists and now too as a dynamic and thriving hub of retail businesses and professional services supported by financial institutions.  Traders in the area hosted a celebratory dinner at the beautiful Dylan Hotel to launch their newly formed Association.

Proving a long established fact that opening a new business during a recession is not only possible but successful, the last year has seen more than a dozen new businesses open in this historic area, and enjoying successful trading, bucking a national trend. Along with existing businesses reporting an upsurge in trade, a small group of traders and business decided to form an Association calling it The Village at Upper Baggot Street to help strengthen and unify activities and services to benefit all traders which in turn benefits the locale and its customers.

Special guest at the inaugural dinner is Charlie Chawke who has reopened Searson's which lay vacant for over a year.  Charlie had previously bid on the establishment some 20 years ago so this is a personal and business win for him.

Association chairperson Nicola Williams of Bergins auctioneers is supported in her efforts by a panel of representatives from the area, including Karen Kirby, of AIB, Oonagh O'Hagan of Meaghers Chemists, Catherine Doyle of Donnybrook Fair, Róisín Ní Mhórdha of Impression PR, and Maeve Brocklesby of Weirs.

Halo 4

Halo Effect: 1. Tara Talbot and Malcolm O’Kelly; 2. Jackie Brannigan; 3. Trevor Rigley and Melanie Morris. (Pix. Kieran Harnett)

Former Irish rugby players Malcolm O’Kelly and David Wallace lined out at the launch of the most anticipated blockbuster Game of the Year, Halo 4.  More than 200 fans flocked to the launch party at 4 Dame Lane to be amongst the first to experience the Xbox 360 game.

Halo 4 is the next blockbuster installment of the iconic franchise that has shaped entertainment history and defined a generation of gamers. Developed by 343 Industries, Halo 4 continues the story of the series’ iconic hero the Master Chief as he returns to confront his destiny and face an ancient evil that threatens the fate of the entire universe. 

Just Mary

Oh Mary: 1. Mary McAleese and Mary O’Rourke; 2. Norma Smurfit; 3. Michael McDowell and Charlie O’Connor. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

Mary O’Rourke is known as someone who always speaks her mind. This forthright approach has made her one of Ireland’s best-loved public figures and is very much in evidence in her highly anticipated memoir, Just Mary.  The book was officially launched by former President Mary McAleese at the National Library recently at a reception that was well attended by the political elite.

Beginning with the February 2011 general election, the day her active political career ended, Mary O’Rourke reflects on key events in her working life, including her brother Brian Lenihan’s bid for the presidency, the Eircom sell-off, the infamous ‘St Valentine’s Day Massacre’ when Albert Reynolds took power, and party tensions in the run up to the most recent election. 

She describes life as a woman in the male world of politics, the sexism she sometimes had to deal with, and the difficulties of balancing her busy career with raising a family. Devastated as she was by her defeat in 2011, losing an election does not compare with losing loved ones and Mary has had more than her fair share of tragic losses over the years: the untimely death of her beloved husband Enda, her brothers Brian and Paddy, and more recently her nephew and former Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan - all of whom she remembers here.

Although they have become more frequent in recent years, Irish political memoirs are still relatively rare.  Even rarer still are political memoirs that are frank, newsworthy and fun, like this one from Mary O’Rourke.

Just Mary: A Memoir is published by Gill & Macmillan and is in shops now.

Star Car

Clio: 1. Keith and Mairead Barry; 2. Lucie Bollaert, Frank Nitim and Diana Alves; 3. Bairbre Power and Duncan Minto. (Pix. KH)

Renault Ireland rolled out the red carpet at The Convention Centre to launch its brand new design fourth generation Clio. The sexy design will definitely turn heads when it hits Irish roads in early 2013.  Over 12 million Clios have been sold since it first launched in Paris in 1990, and this latest model design is a real stunner!

Dublin footballer Alan Brogan, model Alison Canavan, Elaine Butler Doolin and mentalist Keith Barry and his wife Mairead were there for the new reveal on the night. Guests sipped Clio Royale cocktails and dined on mini gourmet plates as the FourPlay DJs encouraged guests to hit the dance floor.