TV3 honors James Morris

At the TV3 dinner for James Morris were: 1. Mary Finan and James Morris; 2. Harry Crosbie and Jim Sheridan; 3. PJ Mara and Eamon Dunphy; 4. Sinead Desmond; 5. Kathy Gilfillan and Olive Braiden; 6. Denis O'Brien, Paul McGuinness, Lorraine Keane, Eamon Dunphy and Noel Pearson.

Sign this..

At the Smirnoff Signature party were: 1. Emma Roche and Marisa Mackle; 2. Jayne Harrison and Patricia Field; 3. Aoife Cogan and Ruth Griffin; 4. Richard Stearn, Rebecak O'Neill and Eoin Kavanagh.

TV PM

So many parties, so little time. So little time for anything these days really but I guess everyone is in the same boat. I took a well earned break recently and sampled the delights of Italy, so apologies for not reporting.

What’s been going on lately? Well it’s all about TV, or “the idiots lantern” as an old teacher of mine used to refer to it as - but I’ll bet he didn’t know what Jo Lo, et al, were up to or which country is the cool place to adopt a child from. And now, dear readers, you can get all that information from TV3’s new entertainment show, Xpose, which will be beamed into your living room every evening.

In true TV3 style, Xpose was launched with a swanky party in City Hall which was attended by a host of well-known faces as well as the TV3 posse, natch. Debbie O’Donnell, former head honcho at Ireland AM, has been given the top job on Xpose so expect great things during the week from the 6pm slot.



Speaking of TV3, the new CEO Dave McRedmond recently hosted a gala dinner in The Shelbourne Hotel (look out for the new courtyard which will be opening there soon) for the founder and retiring chairman of the station, James Morris. It was a veritable who’s who of the business, film, TV and arts world as the guests gathered to pay homage to the man responsible for breaking the state monopoly and bringing variety into Irish homes.

Some of the guests included Denis O’Brien, film director Noel Pearson, Olive Braiden of the Arts Council, U2 manager Paul McGuinness and his wife Cathy Gilfillan, Eamon Dunphy, Sinead Desmond of Ireland AM, Dave Fanning and his wife Ursula Courtney, Jim Sheridan and political spin doctor PJ Mara.

On the evening, Doughty Hanson, the new owners of the television network, handed over a (substantial) cheque to a charity nominated by James Morris and his wife Fionnuala. Expressing his gratitude to all involved, Morris detailed the rocky road to the start of TV3 and made reference to all those who helped establish the independent station. Bravo Mr. Morris, this country needs more visionaries like you.

In other TV news, Smirnoff recently hosted a party in the Clarence to celebrate the launch of the latest ad campaign from the vodka brand (remember kids, drink responsibly). The slick commercial takes you on a trip throughout the world as it tracks the origins of the brand through the ages. Marisa Mackle, Rebecca O’Neill and Nicolas Nannetti (who is set to leave Dublin for Miami soon) were among the guests.



Ever wondered where the “in” crowd will be setting up home in the near future? When they get sick of the city they surely will have Belmayne on their list of possible habituées. This new mega-development will eventually encompass over 90 acres and come complete with a town centre.

Special guests on the evening were Jamie and Louise Redknapp who flew in from the UK for the party. She set the fashion stakes high and looked stunning in a simple Stella McCarthy navy baby doll dress teamed with this season’s must-have Christian Louboutins. Susan Stanley wife of Michael Stanley exuded simple elegance in a little black wrap dress with Louise Doheny of LM Developments supporting a super funky leopard print dress accessorised with Cavalli.

Other stylish guests included celebrity Belmayne garden designer Diarmuid Gavin, the ever beautiful Miss Ireland Sarah Morrissey, top model Andrea Roche, RTE favourite Derek Mooney and the popular TV3 presenter Alan Hughes. The ever glamorous Avila Lipsett was also there and spent the evening chatting with Karl Broderick. Ireland’s uber couple, Rosanna Davison and Wesley Quirke were also there, as were Richie Stokes, Nadine Wai – O’Flynn and Fiona Roche, who is looking forward to the White Tie & Diamonds Ball in Marbella on the 7th of July.

Gorgeous Living (as the provocative ad campaign for Belmayne declares), indeed.

People

Out and about with... 1. Glenda Gilson at the launch party for the new Yamamori Restaurant; 2 & 3. The latest collection from fashion designer Helen Cody; 4. Actor David Kelly, Senator David Norris, TV3’s news anchor Colette Fitzpatrick and Den 2’s Kathryn McKeown and Barretstown campers pictured at Smyth’s Toys in Dublin City at the launch of Barretstown's Bandana Day which takes place on May 12th; 5. Sandra Byrne and Katie Jane Goldin at the Walkers Sensations TV Now Awards.

Xposed

TV3 recently hosted a mega bash to celebrate the launch of their new entertainment show, Xpose, in City Hall. Pictured are: 1. Lorraine Keane; 2. Rosanna Davison and Wesley Quirke; 3. Louis Walsh, John Reynolds and Celia Holman - Lee; 4. The Xpose team - Lisa Cannon, Aisling O'Loughlin, Lorraine Keane, Karen Koster and Sybil Mulcahy.

Most Stylish Woman in Ireland

Winner of the 2007 VIP Peter Mark Style Awards, the stunning Lisa Fitzpatrick.

VIP scenes

Scenes from the VIP Style Awards: 1. Emily O'Donnell and Nadine Wai - O'Flynn; 2. Wayne Cronin and Andrea Roche; 3. Katie Jane Goldin and Sandra Byrne; 4. Astrid Brennan and Michael O'Doherty; 5. Karen Koster.

VIP Peter Mark Style Awards

The red carpet was rolled out at the newly opened (and very impressive) Shelbourne Hotel for one of the social highlights of the year. Outside it was a miserable wet evening as the doormen ran with umbrellas to and from the line of black chauffeur driven cars which snaked around the corner from Kildare Street.


Inside, the glamour stakes were high as the beautiful people, all in their finery, milled about the marble foyer. The twinkle of bling, the warm glow of a tropical tan, the click clack of Christian Louboutins. Further in there was more click clacking, but this time it was the unmistakable sound of the paparazzi, shouting names, trying to get the best shot, straining at the velvet cord that kept them at bay.

Welcome to the VIP Peter Mark Style Awards!

This is the night that began months ago in the pages of VIP magazine when the 20-strong shortlist of the most stylish ladies in Ireland was announced. Since then thousands of readers voted for their favourite, with some of the nominees mounting their own personal campaigns to secure the coveted title of Most Stylish Woman of the Year.


All 20 nominees short-listed for the Award attended and looked amazing - Miriam Ahern, Rachel Allen, Claire Byrne, Valerie Craughwell, Rosanna Davison, Lisa Fitzpatrick, Glenda Gilson, Celia Holman Lee, Rachel Kavanagh, Lorraine Keane, Mary Kennedy, Karen Koster, Caroline Morahan, Jenny McCarthy, Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh, Andrea Roche, Annette Rocca, Grainne Seoige, Kathryn Thomas and Laura Woods.


At the Bollinger champagne reception the clinking of glasses, the mwah-mwahs of air kisses and the peals of laughter added to the tremendous air of excitement as the 280 guests mingled before enjoying a sumptuous 5- course dinner with Torres wines. As we entered the Shelbourne's Great Room we were astounded by the spectacular floral and crystal display, designed specially for the evening by Appassionata Flowers. Hosts for the evening Emer O’Reilly – Hyland and Michael O’Doherty kept the evening going with their banter and witty one-liners, much to everyone’s amusement.


Some of the TV stars in attendance included Pamela Flood, Anne Doyle and Eileen Dunne from RTE; Lisa Burke from Sky News; Channel 6 beauties Michelle Doherty and Jenny Buckley, TG4’s Sinead Ní Loidean, Sorcha Ní Cheide and Aine Ní Dhroighnean, TV3’s Colette Fitzpatrick, Elaine Crowley, Martin King and Laura Bermingham, to name but a few.


Caroline Morahan won the much anticipated accolade of Best Dressed on the night, which was voted by the guests. She looked stunning in a gown from Cathy de Stafford and was surprised and delighted to have won.


Other guests attending included top models Roz Lispett, Aoife Cogan and Miss Ireland Sarah Morrissey, along with Clodagh Hopkins, Vivienne Connolly, Niall McCrudden, Triona McCarthy and Leyton Denny, Mark Kershaw and Katy French, Stephen Kelly and Sandra Byrne and Gail and Hazel Kaneswaren (who are both expecting babies this summer). Peter Mark boss Barry Dempsey and the Keaveney family chatted to the many guests, most of whom are their customers!


There could only be one winner though and it was the beautiful Lisa Fitzpatrick, who was there with her husband Paul. She dazzled on the night with a sequined marine blue long dress form Lara in Dame Lane which was topped off with diamonds from Paul Sheeran jewellers. A stylist on Ireland AM and for The Gerry Ryan Show, Lisa (who really is one of the nicest people you could ever meet) also runs her own image consultancy business.


She walked away with the stunning award, designed by Louise Kennedy for Tipperary Crystal, to great cheers from all the guests. She also won Peter Mark hair care for a year, €1,000 worth of customised Lancôme products and a sumptuous weekend for two at the Penthouse in Aghadoe Heights Hotel, Killarney.


After the excitement most people continued on to Renards where the unofficial after party continued and the post match style analysis took place. Each year the VIP Style Awards goes from strength to strength (it started as a lunch event) and is now a firm favorite in the ever expanding social calendar.


Plans, I’m sure, are afoot for next year.

Strike a Pose

Looking glam at the VIP Peter Mark Style Awards were 1. Karen Koster, 2. Celia Holman - Lee and 3. Caroline Morahan.