Inchydoney Island Polo

At the launch of the Inchydoney Island Polo tournament were: 1. Nicola Arthur and Rosalind Beere; 2. Nadine Wai-O'Flynn; 3. Ailbhe O'Reilly and Grainne O'Driscoll.

Inchydoney Island Polo

At the launch of the Inchydoney Island Polo tournament were: 1. Alan Hughes and Debbie O'Donnell; 2. Nicola Mitchell; 3. Ann Kiloyle and Emily Murray.

Details of one of the final social events of the Summer 2008 calendar were announced last week, in the St. Stephens Green Club, with the launch of the Inchydoney Island Ladies Polo Tournament in aid of the Bubble Gum Club. In its ninth year, the glamorous event attracts the top Irish, UK, American and Argentinean players to challenge for the Inchydoney Island Cup in the picturesque setting of Polo Wicklow at Ballyhenry in Co. Wicklow. After two days of qualifying, the nine teams will battle it out to play on the Ladies Day Final on Sunday August 24th.

Ireland’s Siobhan Herbst, who has just returned from the USA where she was representing Ireland and taking on Yale University and Rhode Island, is one of the Irish polo players who are attending the event. Among those who are lining up to play in August are Nicola Foley, Jasmine Mirahmadi and Denise Power from Ireland, Caroline Arnier from France, Kim Kailing and Oda Diepold from Germany, Amber Clutton Brock, Whitney Vogt, Julia de Angelis, Eileen Flint and Martha Brown from the USA, Amy Grace, Candice Kane Berman and Beth Shaw from South Africa and Heather Day from Northern Ireland.

For the third year, the Ladies Polo Event is delighted to have the support of Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa, West Cork’s first four-star hotel. With a champagne reception and BBQ in the exclusive club, the launch was a truly glamorous event with many of Ireland’s elegant ladies out to celebrate including host Jackie Rafter from the Bubble Gum Club, Ruth McCarthy from Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa, Mickey and Wendy Herbst and Joe and Marie O’Connell from Polo Wicklow. Emily Murray from Misamu, FM104’s CEO Margaret Nelson, Natasha Rocca Devine, Nadine Wai O’Flynn from Principle Management, Larissa Nolan and Ben Bringer and TV3’s Debbie O’Donnell and Alan Hughes.

Ladies Day and the Final matches commence at 12 noon on Sunday 24th August with a champagne reception. As the polo takes place, the 250 guests will enjoy a sumptuous summer lunch, accompanied by specially selected wines, prepared by Masterchefs Hospitality, after which, popular online fashion boutique, Misamu.com will showcase some of their Autumn 2008 collection, featuring brands such as Rebecca Taylor, By Malene Birger, Antik Batik, K Karl Lagerfeld and many more, with the stunning new collection of jewellery from Boodles on Grafton Street, who have also donated a stunning piece for the auction.

All funds raised from the event will go to the Bubble Gum Club, which was set up in 1994 to look after children with life threatening illnesses and children in crisis. Since its inception 14 years ago, the organisation has looked after over 15,000 children. For more information check out www.bubblegumclub.ie.

The O2

Some of the revellers on board for the launch of The O2 were: 1. Michelle Doherty; 2. David Kitt, Fionn Davenport, Tracy Tucker and Ronan Ryan; 3. Cathy Newell and Aoife Kelly; 4. Roisin O'Dea; 5. Max Conte and Sinead Ryan.

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O2 recently announced that it has negotiated Ireland’s first ever music venue naming rights deal with Live Nation, one of the biggest live entertainment promoters in the world, at the redeveloped Point Theatre in Dublin’s Docklands. The new venue, to be renamed The O2, represents a significant investment by O2 and Live Nation over a multi-year term in what is a unique marketing partnership. The O2 opens its doors to the public in December 2008.

The O2 is Europe’s first venue, of its size, which is custom designed for live music. It is an amphitheatre design and therefore boasts unrivalled acoustics. The layout also ensures clear sightlines and proximity to the stage for everyone in the audience, due to its unique tiered seating design. No matter where you are in The O2 you will be close to the stage which will give the venue, despite its size, an intimate feel for both the artists and the audience. The venue has a capacity to hold up to 13,000 people who will enjoy some 150 entertainment and live music events in any given year.

It also means that O2’s 1.6 million customers will enjoy additional benefits including the ability to purchase tickets up to 48 hours before they go on general release; fast track access to enter the venue; entry to the ‘O2 Bars’ for themselves and their friends and access on their mobiles to unique content from Live Nation events throughout the world.

To launch this exciting new development O2 hosted a party on board the MV Cill Airne on the Liffey. Concertina for Concertos and David Kitt performed and the guests included Nadine Wai – O’Flynn, Tristan Wheeler and Tara Doyle, Niall Stokes and Sandra Weavers, Jonny Boyle and Eleanor McGuinness, Stephen Milton, Shilpa Ganatra and Tanya Sweeney.

Incidently O2 have just launched a new website called the Blue Room (like a backstage green room except it's blue, like O2, geddit?) where you can get information on music gigs, upcoming festivals and even view coverage of other music events past. Check out www.o2blueroom.ie for a musical feast.

The Best of Dublin

Enjoying the Grey goose cocktail party hosted by The Dubliner were: 1. Karina Corbett and Ann Marie O' Connor; 2. Alex Best and Marisa Mackle; 3. Nicola O' Callaghan and Brian Rooney.

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The Dubliner magazine announced its annual Best of Dublin issue at a Grey Goose cocktail reception at Residence Private Members’ Club on Stephen’s Green last night. Now in its seventh year the 2008 limited version magazine is a must have for Dubliners and features nearly 200 of Dublin's best shops, services and things to do.

Guests, welcomed by the inimitable Trevor White, included Victoria Smurfit, Senator Ivana Bacik, Holly White, Ulick O’Connor, Niall O’Farrell and Rosanna Davison. Contributors to this year’s edition include a number of prominent locals such as Victoria Smurfit, Gavin Friday, Helen Lucy Burke, Quentin Fottrell, Eoin Lyons, Max McGuinness, Rory O’Keeffe and Michael O'Doherty.

Entertainment for the evening was provided by DJ Peter Panf and singer/songwriter Alyanya who performed songs from her soon to be released debut album “Spirit”. Dubliner Alyanya has toured the US and Europe with Luka Bloom, playing alongside Declan O’Rourke, John Spillane and Christy Moore and returns home to launch her debut album.

Biotherm launch party

At the Biotherm party...1. Michelle Devine and Jean Pierre Charriton; 2. Biotherm takes over the Morrison; 3. Anne Boylan and Trevor Tye; 4. Andrea Hobson, Margaret Connolly and Karen Nason; 5. Roger and Barbara O'Connell with Lucien Aubert; 6. Lou Conlon and Kate McDonald.

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The Morrison Hotel was the location for a very special launch recently. Guests were invited to “step into a world of freshness, purity and naturality”, as the world famous beauty brand Biotherm was launched on the Irish market.

Leader in the men’s skin care market and number 8 worldwide in the total skin care market, Biotherm will initially be available exclusively in Debenhams but will open a further 24 counters in Ireland from July onwards with 30 planned openings in 2009.

The story of Biotherm began in 1952, where it ushered a new era in skin care with a unique positioning based on the expertise of biologists (Bio) and combined it with the unique, revolutionary efficacy of an exclusive ingredient originating in mineral springs (Therm). Purchased by L’Oréal in 1970, the brand is present in nearly 70 countries and occupies the number 1 position in total skin care in Germany, Spain, Austria and the Netherlands. And soon Ireland too, I’ll wager.

More than being just a skincare brand, Biotherm is the manifestation of a new mind and lifestyle. The range offered will include natural skincare products for men and women, to encompass all ages, skin types and lifestyles. Reflecting this ethos the Gallery at the Morrison was transformed into a haven of calm and tranquillity on the evening with guests such as Barry Meegan and Anna Lavery, Leanne de Cerbo, Triona McCarthy and Hugh Hanley enjoying the hospitality of Jean Pierre Charriton and Trevor Tye of L’Oréal.