Jameson Dublin Intl. Film Festival

At the launch of the Jameson DIFF: 1. Louis Copeland; 2. Norman Pratt, Roisin Tierney – Crowe & Darren Kennedy; 3. Leigh Arnold. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)


Actors Brendan Gleeson and Nora Jane Noone toasted the launch of the programme for 2010 Jameson Dublin International Film Festival at an exclusive event at the Tripod venue last night. Both actors were on hand to help annouce the eagerly anticipated festival line up.

Renowned actor Brendan Gleeson has starred in many films that have been screened in the festival in recent years, including In Bruges which opened the 2008 JDIFF and The Secret of Kells in 2009. Brendan was also recipient of the festival career achievement award, The Volta, in 2009.

Nora-Jane Noone who will be well known to Irish audiences from her breakout role in The Magdalene Sisters, stars in the new Irish film Savage, for which she has been nominated for an IFTA. Savage will be screened at the festival.

Guests were treated to Jameson cocktails being served up by the Jameson “Mix It Up” crew followed by speeches from those involved including Festival Director Grainne Humphreys, who announced that this year’s festival will be dedicated to the memory of the late Irish Times film correspondent (and festival founder) Michael Dwyer.

Fellow actors Colm Meaney, Risterd Cooper, Liam Cunningham and Leigh Arnold also attended the event to show their support for the 8th festival, as did Izabela Chudzicka, Lisa Cannon, Louise Jordan and Omero Mumba.

The festival takes place from the 18th – 28th February. Tickets available from www.jdiff.com.

Nina Divito

At the showcase were: 1. Nadine Wai-O'Flynn & SJ Wai; 2. Brian O'Malley & Nina Divito; 3. Lynn MacNabola & Amy Huberman. (Pix. Richie Stokes)

At the launch of "The First Collection" by Nina Divito at 15 St Stephens Green, the official launch of Nina's brand new luxury footwear collection, this week. Nina started her career actually painting the pretty creations but such was the demand for them that she decided to bring them to life.

Her designs are now stocked in BT and were recently sported by Saoirse Ronan for the Irish premiere of The Lovely Bones. Also featured on the evening were Nina's one off paintings of the actual shoe designs.

The girls were out to ogle the collection and among them were actress Amy Huberman, Heidi O'Sullivan, interior designer Catriona Hanly and Emily O'Donnell.

The Lovely Bones

At the Lovely Bones premiere: 1. Saoirse Ronan; 2. Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain; 3. Michelle Heaton & Hugh Hanley. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)


The Irish premiere of the much anticipated movie The Lovely Bones took place last night at Dublin’s Savoy cinema. The assembled crowd waited in the cold evening to greet the film’s star Saoirse Ronan, who was said to be very excited about being on home turf.

The movie was introduced by Ryan Tubridy who heaped much deserved praise on the young Irish star. However he did admit that he found the book (by Alice Seabold) on which the movie is based to be a little too upsetting to read given the sensitive subject matter. Saoirse Ronan herself then spoke briefly much to the delight of the guests.

The after party was held at private club Residence and guests included Michelle Heaton and Hugh Hanley, Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain, Darren Kennedy, Morah Ryan, Elaine Crowley, Gay Byrne and Kathleen Watkins.

The Holiday Show

At the launch of The Holiday Show: 1. Ciara Whelan & Jon Slattery; 2. Roisin Whelan; 3. Ailbhe Lee & Michael Hayes. (Pix. Marc O’Sullivan)

The Exchequer was the venue for the launch party of the second series of The Holiday Show in association with FBD, which airs on TV3. The show’s presenters Ciara Whelan and Jon Slattery were on hand to greet invited guests, who got a sneak preview of the first show, ‘Sun, Sea and Something Else’, which takes in the European hotspots of Cyprus, Croatia and the Costa De Sol.

Speaking at the event TV3’s Director of Programming, Ben Frow said: “The Holiday Show was such a success for us last year that I'm delighted it’s back for a second, longer run. We could all do with a bit of sunshine during these dark winter days and this is the show to give it.”

‘How Low Can You Go’ presenter Michael Hayes and his girlfriend Ailbhe enjoyed the event, as they chatted to PR gurus Sinead Ryan and Joanne Byrne from Presence Communications. TV3’s Director of Programming Ben Frow was also in attendance, as was Audrey Cunningham the Managing Director of Market Match and Bronagh Twomey of the FBD Group.

Other guests included stylist Sonja Mohlich, producer of The Holiday Show Tom Richardson and assistant editor and Ana Maqueda Lopez.

Joanne Hynes mentor meet

At the Nokia breakfast: 1. Ina Marie Igoe & Catriona McCarthy; 2. Niamh Kettle & Diane Kilbane; 3. Polina Yakoboson & Joanne Hynes. (Pix. Elevate)


Nokia teamed up with leading Irish fashion and jewellery designer, Joanne Hynes, to host a breakfast for the 21 Nokia Young Designer Award 2010 finalists at the fashionable Morrison Hotel on Ormond Quay, Dublin 1 this week.

Joanne, who will act as mentor to this year’s finalists taking part in the Nokia Young Fashion Designer Award 2010, spent the morning chatting to the design students about her career and answering questions from the floor covering everything from design elements to business advice.

Over the coming weeks Joanne will act as a dedicated point of contact, to guide the finalists through the design process and address any queries they may have on everything from fabrics to accessories. The finalists will be offered numerous opportunities to talk to Joanne through Ovi.com, Nokia’s online portal, which will allow them to communicate thoughts and inspirations.

DAWN

At the launch of DAWN: 1. Rosanna Davison. 2. Pamela Flood, Rosanna Davison and Holly White; 3. Aidan Power, Pamela Flood, Holly White, Ray D’Arcy, Rosanna Davison and Eddie Hobbs. (Pix. Chris Bellew / Fennell)

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of Aware, the national organisation which provides information and emotional support services to individuals and families affected by depression, and the first event this year is Depression Awareness Week (DAWN), which is this week.

The DAWN campaign aims to reach out to individuals and families in Ireland who are affected by depression and to diminish the stigma associated with this common condition. Aware’s newly redesigned website www.aware.ie was also launched to coincide with DAWN, and will include new online support services.

Celebrity ambassadors Eddie Hobbs, Ray D'Arcy, Pamela Flood and Aidan Power to name but a few, are lending their support to this campaign.

Curvette '09

At the Curves award lunch: 1. Bernie Moloney, Stephanie Lucas and winner Dympna Carthy; 2. Sonya Lennon and Laura Bermingham; 3. Yvonne Rafferty. (Pix. Robbie Reynolds)

The Curvette of the Year was announced at a lunch in the Fitzwilliam Hotel this week and Michael Foley, of Curves, presented the winner, 67 year old Dympna Carthy, from Shannon with a ten years’ free membership to Curves, a fabulous family holiday to Turkey from Sunway Holidays and a stunning outfit from Debenhams to help enhance her new wardrobe. Dympna was one of five worthy finalists selected from across Ireland.

The judging panel charged with the task of selecting the winner and runners-up included Gill Brady from Curves International, Off the Rails presenter Sonya Lennon and beauty journalist for the Irish Daily Mail, TV3 and editor of Glow* magazine Laura Bermingham. The finalists were selected based not only on inches lost but also the overall positive changes in their lives since becoming members of Curves.

Philadelphia, here I come!

At the event: 1. Niamh Sullivan & Rebecca Lawlor; 2. Kevin Dundon & Amanda Brunker; 3. Alex Hatton, Michael Cullen & Sarah Grennan. (Pix Richie Stokes)

A lunch was hosted at the Dylan Hotel this week to announce a partnership with Irish chef Kevin Dundon and Philadelphia (the cream cheese). This is good news for food lovers and cooking enthusiasts throughout Ireland! As part of the association Kevin will appear in a new Philadelphia TV advertising campaign and prepare a range of simple and delicious recipes which will also feature on a new website.

Sherlock Holmes

At the Irish premiere of the new Sherlock Holmes moview (starring Robert Downey Jnr. and Jude Law) were: 1. Jessica Glennan & Ashley Walsh; 2. Ned Dennehy; 3. Stephen Burns & Sandra Garcia. (Pix Brian McEvoy)

Happy New Year!

(Pic by DA Roeireizen)


Well that was fun, wasn’t it? It’s been a rollercoaster year (decade?) with more downs than ups. It was a grand year for social activity with the tally of 162 events reported on (down from 198 the previous year), but tight budgets were evident and some hosts aren’t as flahulach as they used to be. Perhaps this coming year will be worse, who knows?

I attended a function last month where the guest speaker was John Beggs, Chief Economist with AIB. I wish I could remember everything he said but one of the things that I do recall is that, appara, there is something like €12bn more on deposit in Irish banks than there was in 2007 ... €12 BILLION!

And that cash is not corporate loot either, it’s from regular savers. Consumer confidence in spending has all but disappeared and it seems that we are all just saving our money for the (uncertain) future. Now, I know I could be considered a bit of a spendthrift but I would urge you all to get out there and support your local economy. So many great businesses going under and people going bust – it’s become almost de rigueur lately.

So go on, go mad at the sale in Harvey Nichols, have a long lunch in Residence and dinner in Guilbaud’s. Treat yourself to a bottle of Champagne in Krystle or Lillies.

Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow ...