RoC on!

Ladies who RoC: 1. Jenny Gorevan & Susan Lord; 2. Sandra McGreevy; 3. Lorraine Griffin & Kim Darcy. (Pics. Paul Sherwood).


Dublin’s ladies who lunch were out in force at Residence last night for the launch of RoC skincare’s latest miracle in a bottle – Multi Correxion which packs five ways to banish ageing into one container!

RoC the French skincare anti-ageing expert, hosted a lavish launch with canapés and wine flowing all night. The other big draw were the two special guests, leading cosmetic Doctors Jane and Katherine Mulrooney. Jane gave a number of private skin consultations which were won by seven lucky guests and Katherine gave a talk where she revealed some of her insider tips to turning back the clock.

Guests on the night included Helen Goldin daughter Katie Jane, Persia Ryan, Emily O’Donnell, RTE’s Mary Wilson and Justine McCarthy, Taragh Loughrey-Grant and Olivia Morahan.

Guests were treated to an exclusive RoC goody bag containing the new range and a luxurious silk pillowcase. The RoC Multi Correxion range is available from pharmacies nationwide.

Sexy Legs

At the party were: 1. Sara Kavanagh; 2. Lauren Bannon, Suzanne McCabe & Caoilinn Taylor; 3. Faith Barnett. (Pics. Conor Healy)


Broadcaster and presenter Miriam O’Callaghan has secured the top spot in the Social & Personal magazine’s Top 100 Sexy Legs list.

A compilation of the finest pins in the country sponsored by Halifax, the list was unveiled at the S&P annual summer party at Howl at the Moon super bar yesterday evening. Guests enjoyed the evening, the champers and indeed the parade of legs from the many beauties in attendance.

Also included on this year's list is actress Amy Huberman, Charlie Chaplin's model granddaughter Kiera Chaplin, Samina Zia and Alison Doody. Also on the list is Dancing On Ice star Zoe Salmon, who jetted into Ireland for the launch of Charlestown on Ice, featured on these pages this week.

The full list will be published in the July edition of Social & Personal.

Charlestown on Ice

At Charlestown on Ice were: 1. Sam Homan and Ashleena Naidoo; 2. Robert Lyons, Conor Cleere & Andrew Byrne; 3. Zoe Salmon & Killian O’Sullivan. (Pics. Brian McEvoy).


TV Presenter and Dancing on Ice Star Zoe Salmon jetted in to Dublin to get her skates back on for the official opening of Charlestown on Ice, the first summer ice skating experience and largest ever ice rink in Dublin.

Visitors will enter Charlestown on Ice through a 70 metre themed tunnel to the enormous eco friendly Olympic size skating rink also featuring a designated children’s ice rink. At the official opening guests and their families were treated to a choreographed ice skating performance, an action packed ice hockey demonstration, ice skating, face painters and entertainers.

Guests who welcomed Zoe Salmon included model, and wife of Niall, Gillian Quinn with children Mikey and Aisling, models Faith Barnett, Sam Homan and Ashleena Naidoo , FM104’s Killian O’Sullivan, TV3’s Andrea Hayes and Conor Cleere, beauty guru Triona McCarthy and her pal Catriona Hanly, Marcus Sweeney and Leigh Arnold.

CHARLESTOWN ON ICE will be the official home of the Charlestown Ice Hockey team and features a full size Ice Hockey Rink with seating for up to 900 spectators. This will be the largest ice rink ever in Dublin and biggest indoor multipurpose ice arena in the Republic of Ireland at 40,000 square feet with an ice area of 17,000 square feet.

CHARLESTOWN ON ICE features an über cool ‘Ice Bar’, ‘Corporate Entertainment Ice Box’ and Kids ‘Ice Pop Party Room’ and with laser light shows, skate school, ice hockey summer league, figure skating, Disco on Ice, free parking and much more.

http://www.charlestownonice.ie/

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

At the premiere were: 1. Martin King with his son Matthew; 2. Kristi Kudissm; 3. Vivienne Bushell & Aidan Power. (Pics. Brian McEvoy)


The Irish premiere of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen took place at the Savoy recently and had eager fans queuing up from 5.45pm for a 7.30pm start with the 800 seat theatre full to capacity.

In “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” two years have passed since Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) and the Autobots saved the human race from the invading Decepticons. Now he's preparing for the biggest challenge of his life: leaving home for college. Despite his extreme heroics, the battle of Mission City has become an urban legend believed only by conspiracy theorists.

Sam is still an average teenager with everyday anxieties and excitement about heading off into adulthood, separating from his parents (Kevin Dunn and Julie White) for the first time, and vowing to be faithful to girlfriend Mikaela (Megan Fox). Of course, he also has to explain his departure to his guardian robot, Bumblebee. It’s full on Transformers action at its best!

Ireland was one of the first three countries to release Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen in the world (next to the UK and Japan) and it has been the No.1 opening film here so far in 2009.

Dundrum Father's Day

At Dundrum were: 1. Keith Barry & Baz Ashmawy; 2. Leigh Arnold; 3. Sinead Desmond & husband Dave Ryan. (Pics. Brian McEvoy)


On Wednesday there was an exclusive reception in the Espresso Bar at Harvey Nichols where a number of select guests got a sneak preview of some of the Supercar’s that will be on show throughout the Father’s Day weekend at Dundrum Town Centre.

From super-cars to super BBQ’s, the annual day for dads will be celebrated all weekend long this June at Dundrum Town Centre, with an array of activity on offer for all dads. A host of activity will take place over the duration of Father’s Day weekend on Saturday, 20th and Sunday, 21st June 2009.

For dads with the need for speed, an exclusive exhibition of top-of-the-range cars, from Fiat Group Automobiles Ireland in Dundrum Town Square, including the €320k Alfa Romeo 8C Competzione Supercar which is being transported in especially for the occasion, and the Bridgestone Formula 1 car.

Another treat for car enthusiasts is the first viewing of the extremely sporty Abarth Fiat 500 exclusive to Dundrum. This addition to the popular Fiat 500 range has not yet been launched in Ireland but the Abarth is one of the most desirable cars on the planet – even Michael Schumacher drives one.

Guests on the evening included celebrity Dads Keith Barry, Brian Ormonde and Leinster’s Bernard Jackman. Also present were Amanda Byrom, Baz Ashmawy, Jenny Buckley, Dennis Hickie, Sara Kavanagh, Conor Buckley and Glenda Gilson amongst others.

The Hangover

At the premiere: 1. Susan Robertson & Lisa Cannon; 2. Heather Graham; 3. Paul Byrom & Dominique Coulter. (Pics. Brian McEvoy)

Some of you will be familiar with “the hangover” but if you want to feel better about your recent weekend mortifications then check out this movie. The Irish premiere of The Hangover took place at the Savoy last week and with stars such as Heather Graham and Brad Cooper in attendance and an after party to boot I’m sure there were a few sore heads around town the next day.

From the director of OLD SCHOOL comes a new comedy about a bachelor party gone horribly wrong. Two days before his wedding, Doug (Justin Bartha) and his three buddies (Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis) drive to Las Vegas for a blow-out night they'll never forget.

But when the three groomsmen wake up the next morning with pounding headaches, they can't remember a thing. Their posh hotel suite is beyond trashed and the groom is nowhere to be found.

With no clue of what happened and little time to spare, the trio must attempt to retrace their bad decisions from the night before in order to figure out where things went wrong and hopefully get Doug back to Los Angeles in time for his wedding. However, the more they begin to uncover, the more they realize just how much trouble they're really in.

A very funny movie it’s in cinemas now!

Keelings Bloom 2009

Toasting success at the Keelings Bloom Festival were: Ruth Wassel, Alan Hughes, Maurice Wynne, Steve Ryan and Andrew Rudd.


Bloom 2009 flower show is over for yet another year and everyone agreed that this was the best year ever. Keelings, one of the premium sponsors of the festival, were awarded Silver Medal at the show in Phoenix Park for their Natural Fresh Fruit Garden.

The Keelings Naturally Fresh Fruit Garden was a journey through a magical and fruity garden where upon entering visitors walked under a transparent Blackberry Waterfall which flowed into a Blackberry pond with spouting Blackberry fountains. The Banana Walk lead you to an exotic grove where Pineapples and other magical fruits where hidden.

The Orange Grove brought you to an Orange Waterfall and Orange colour trees. The Strawberry Trail directed the senses to the Smoothie Makers where large vats of fruit where on view and ran through pipes into Smoothie Glasses.

The Fresh Fruit Garden, which was constructed along with Kilmurray Nurseries, amazed visitors throughout the weekend, and rightly so as over the past number of years Kilmurry Nurseries have won 11 RHS medals, Gold at the Chelsea Flower Show and two Gold medals in Bloom for their displays.

Mad Flowers, another part of the Keelings Group, won Gold Medal at Bloom 2009 for the 3rd year running. Mad created an amazing wedding display by their very own award-winning florist, Maurice Wynne.

Bollinger party for Irish Derby

At the Bollinger party to launch the ‘Dubai Duty Free’ Irish Derby were: 1. Lisa Pond & Alan Barry; 2. Anna Daly of TV3; 3. Aidan & Marie O’Brien. (Pics: Halo Photography)



A host of celebrities, trainers, jockeys and representatives of the world of racing attended the launch of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival at the K Club last Thursday evening. Those on the guest list included top trainer Aidan O'Brien, jockey Jonny Murtagh, Karen Koster, Rosanna Davidson, presenter Hector O'hEochagain and a host of society faces.

To celebrate the Irish Derby, Bollinger Champagne have devised a cocktail that epitomises the ambience of the Derby itself. The elegant 'Bollinger Irish Derby Cocktail’ is light, refreshing and has a taste of summer and will be available exclusively in the Bollinger Champagne Bar and the Taste of Ireland Wine Bar during derby weekend at the Curragh Racecourse (Friday 26th – Sun 28th June).

If you can’t wait until the Derby weekend to try one then mix it yourself with: 150ml Pomegranate juice, add a thick slice of fresh ginger with a measure of Grand Marnier and top up with Bolly!

With no reserved enclosure this year a €40 admission ticket provides access throughout the racecourse with the Bollinger Champagne Bar and Taste of Ireland enclosure guaranteed to be some of the most sought after places to hang out during the day.

BMW Z4

At the BMW Z4 launch were: 1. Becky Russell & Daragh O’Brien; 2. Dee Breen & Sandra Gleeson; 3. Lucia Scerbikova & Emmet O’Brien. Pics: Anthony Woods.


The very stylish Harvey Nichols, Dundrum was the venue for Wednesday evening’s launch of the stunning new BMW Z4 Roadster, a completely new incarnation of the classic premium two-seater sports car. The event reflected the elegant design of the new Z4, as over 200 guests enjoyed summer cocktails, champagne and exquisite canapés specially created for the launch by Harvey Nichols.

Arveene Juthan provided a laidback summer soundtrack for the party with guests including Tina and Tony Toner (what cool names!), Dee Breen of Harvey Nicks, racing driver Emmet O’Brien, beauty guru Triona McCarthy and Natasha Sherling from The Gloss (who told me that the magazine will soon become a supplement of the weekend Irish Times and will no longer be available in newsagents).

Continuing the art theme from the recent opening of the BMW Art Car at IMMA, the new BMW Z4 has been launched worldwide with the assistance of South African-born artist Robin Rhode. He used a specially prepared version of the new BMW Z4 as a paint brush to help create a 1,800m2 piece of installation art that formed the basis of the worldwide advertising and marketing campaign, an example of which was on display at the launch. The new Z4 promises all the driving pleasure of a BMW Roadster with particularly refined and stylish flair.

With the roof down this supreme two-seater offers all the refreshing thrills of open top motoring and with the hardtop closed it provides all the comfort of a premium sporting coupe.

The new BMW Z4 takes up the classic look of the roadster in modern flowing lines, with a long bonnet, long wheelbase, short overhangs, a low seating position and an overall muscular and athletic, yet elegant and refined look.

Alfa Romeo at The Curragh

At the races were : 1. Aidan Power, Tara O’Leary and Keith Barry; 2. Jayne O’Keeffe and Nadine Wai-O’Flynn; 3. Best dressed winner Margaret Connolly. Pics: Brian McEvoy.

The sun shone brightly over the Curragh for the Guineas festival and more importantly for the Alfa Romeo Ladies Day recently. The girls were out in all their finery and the all male judging panel, the Alfa Males, had a difficult decision in selecting the finalists.

Among the Alfa Males were magician Keith Barry, TV presenter Baz Ashmawy and Niall Breslin from The Blizzards, who all sought advice from fellow guests over lunch in the VIP suite. As the Bollinger champagne flowed all afternoon fashion tips and horse tips were swapped with glee, with some guests luckier than others.

Among those guests welcomed by Aidrian Walsh from Alfa Romeo were Virginia Macari (sporting a striking headpiece), Karen Koster, Aidan Power, Jacques Malone, designer Dawn Fitzgerald, Marcus Sweeney and Leigh Arnold.

Best dressed on the day however went to Margaret Connolly from Mullingar who received a range of prizes including the use of a sporty Alfa Romeo MiTo for a year.

NV Club

At NV: 1. Duncan James & Glenda Gilson; 2. Tara Doyle & Lisa Woods; 3. Duncan James keeping good company with FM104. Pics: Brian McEvoy


South Dublin’s newest hotspot NV Nightclub was officially opened last Thursday and Duncan James flew in for his last solo Irish event (for the foreseeable future) because of his hectic schedule with Blue. Indeed Duncan was due to fly over last week for the NV opening but ended up in hospital having a hernia operation (like our own Keith Duffy) after over doing it in rehearsals for his upcoming gig!

NV nightclub caters for the over 23’s market, by providing luxurious interior surroundings with a fresh, contemporary design. The club is both stylish and technologically forward boasting a large bar area, a cocktail bar and a large dance floor with a retro-inspired laser system to transport you back to the good old days!

XPOSE cameras were rolling on Leeson Street as Duncan arrived, and guests who attended on the night included Glenda Gilson, recently announced Total Xposure judge Emma Ledden, FM104's Suzanne Kane, artists Jim Fitzpatrick and Steven Mannion, Michelle Mc Grath of new band Industry, Izabela Chudzicka and Virginia Macari, to name but a few.

NV’s also has two exclusive VIP Areas designed for guests who want to chill and relax: The Cell Bar and the Circle Lounge. The Cell Bar replicates a ‘Padded Cell’ like area (so you can go mad), it’s snug and cosy with a full personal bar, 50” Plasma screen with XBOX, mirrored bubble ceiling and LED lighting. The Circle Lounge is suited for a larger group seating up to 25 people and an bird’s eye view of the rest of the club.

Peter Mark NCAD Show

At the show were: 1. Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh & Ciaran Sweeney; 2. Laura Colgan, Aisling Kennedy & Aine Duffy; 3. Amie Brennan. Pics: Kieran Harnett.



The Peter Mark NCAD Show took place at CHQ recently. The highly anticipated show unveiled the elaborate designs of NCAD final year fashion and textile students, many of whom have already broken in their high heels through internships with some of biggest names in fashion including John Gallianoin Paris, Alexander McQueen, Katherine Hamnett and Burberry in London and Tommy Hilfiger and Rag & Bone in New York.


In a show of their support for emerging new talent, many of Ireland’s leading designers were also in attendance including Jen Kelly, Louise Kennedy, and the design team from the house of John Rocha.

Chateau Soussac

At the Chateau Soussac party were: 1. Puffin Moynihan & Nell Stewart – Liberty; 2. Astrid & Mary Brennan; 3. John Keating & Deirdre McQuillan. Pics: Paul Sherwood.

Making a return visit to Ireland Nell Stewart-Liberty and her husband Joe Beattie hosted a Summer wine party in private members club residence recently. The pair now live in France and run Chateau Soussac, a magnificent 19th century country house is set in 15 acres of peaceful French countryside, located just thirty minutes from both Sauternes and St. Emilion and an hour from Bordeaux and Bergerac airports.

Nell (who formerly published Social & Personal magazine, before PJ Gibbons took over) and Joe decamped to France almost 3 years ago and haven’t looked back. Not only do they both have the benefit of the chateau but also their own eponymous Chateau Soussac wine label, which was showcased at the party and is distributed in Ireland by Cassidy Wines.

The vineyard and wine making at Château Soussac is looked after by a hardworking and dedicated team, headed up by Cecile Dulimbert, who is regarded as one of the top ten winemakers in the Bordeaux region. Chateau Soussac Bordeaux Supérieur is bottled at the chateau, with, if you wish, personalised wine labels printed to the design of your choice – a great talking point at dinner parties and ideal as unique gifts. Oh la la indeed!

The Hospital Group

1. Jennifer Maguire & Darren Kennedy; 2. Conor Clear & Sean Montague; 3. Roisin Ni Mhordha & Gemma Kenny. Pic: Malachy Geelan.

The Hospital Group on Kildare Street hosted a first birthday bash this week. One of Ireland’s leading cosmetic surgery companies, The Hospital Group also offers an exciting range of non-surgical treatments – and the demonstrations on the night had the guests queuing to see what might suit them!

Dr Mark Hamilton was demonstrating his skill with a needle, and there was quite a buzz about what can be achieved with botox and fillers – as many of the guests were proudly showing off the results of their previous visits! Deirdre MacMahon of Evolence was demonstrating the very scary TruVu machine which examines your skin under 5 different lights – detecting any problems and recommending treatments. The truth hurts when it comes to this machine.

Among the guests were TV chef Andrew Rudd – who had provided the canapés for the evening, former Apprentice Jenny Maguire with some of her staff from her Bellamakeover studio, stylist Darren Kennedy and TV3 presenter Conor Clear.

Joanne Byrne popped in on her way to Boyzone, while Richard Kavanagh of Social and Personal was toasting their upcoming July issue which had just been sent to the printers. Sean Montague of Bscene The Agency was joined by his partner Brendan Scully who was delighted to discover that he had previously shared a stage with fellow former professional dancer and Hospital Group MD Aisling Holly!

Model Ally Garvey was proudly showing off her recently enhanced bust – courtesy of The Hospital Group, with the entire process having been filmed to feature in the upcoming TV3 series, Life in a Day.

http://www.thehospitalgroup.ie