A hot contender for my party of the year accolade goes to the Social & Personal Top 100 Party People of the Year bash which was hosted by dashing publisher PJ Gibbons last night in Café en Seine. The guest list was a veritable who's who of Irish society, turned out in their most glamorous threads (the Christmas theme called for OTT Glam).
The judging panel of socialite Richard Kavanagh, PR guru Joanne Byrne, restaurateur Ronan Ryan, model Gail Kaneswaran and columnist Jason O'Callaghan had a difficult task selecting the top 100 from a prospective list of over 700 champagne quaffing, canapé scoffing, dancing, prancing par-tay people.
The top 5 Party People of 2005 are….
1. Cecelia Ahern (author)
2. Robbie Keane (footballer)
3. Gráinne Seoige (broadcaster)
4. Brendan Gleeson (actor)
5. Kian Egan (Westlifer)
Unfortunately Cecelia was unable to attend the event as she was promoting her latest book in the UK, but the Taoiseach's daughter was represented by her mother Miriam and sister Georgina.
Others making the list included Former Miss World Rosanna Davison, A1 Team Ireland boss Mark Kershaw, John McKibbon, William Doyle of Newbridge Silverware, Stephen Gately, Hazel Kaneswaran, Debbie O'Donnell of TV3, DJ Hugh Scully, Colin Farrell, Glenda Gilson, Samantha Mumba and yours truly!
Model Andrea Roche caused a stir with the paparazzi as she arrived with her fiancé PJ Mansfield, her new rock of an engagement ring glistening in the flash bulbs. Smiling for the cameras, the happy couple (who are both on 'the list') have not yet set a date for the wedding.
Also enjoying the night were Amy Buckeridge and singer Fionnuala Sherry of Secret Garden, Leann De Cerbo and Marie - Louise Kenny, Niall McCrudden, Laura Slattery, Astrid Brennan and Corinna Field, agents Sean Montague and Brendan Scully with actor and dancer Kevin Ryan, who has just returned from L.A. where he was working on The Fast & The Furious 3. He will also be participating in some of MTV's productions next year. Watch that space (you know how talented I am at making predictions).
TV presenter Alan Hughes told me what a fantastic time he had in London at the X-Factor last weekend (Sharon Osbourne and Simon Cowell are lovely people). Alan Amsby, gallery owner Noelle Campbell - Sharpe, the original party girl Terry Keane, Sinead Ryan and Malachy Geelan, Dara Boyd, a blooming Amanda Brunker and Danielle Hayes with her new husband Jean - Luc Laydevant were all full of festive spirit.
Party veteran Peter Stringfellow, who opens his Dublin lap-dancing club soon, popped in to say hello and the elusive celebrity chef Jean - Christophe Novelli also made an appearance.
Jason O'Callaghan, there with girlfriend Etain Boyd, informed me that he is becoming a partner in Eddie Irvine's Cocoon bar, where he plans to open Ireland's first media club. Also in party mood were Lisa Harrison, Joanne Rochford, Niall O'Farrell of Blacktie, Cindy Caffola, Peter Mark's Gary Kavanagh, Elisabeth Fitzpatrick, model Dearbhla Hogan, designer Virginia Macari, with her sister Sonia, and Mitch Healy.
A plethora of guests retired to Lillies for more dancing and drinking till the early hours, where every table in the member's bar was occupied. Not bad for a wet Tueday night in Dublin - but then again, it was a very Social and Personal night.
