Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Dublin Festival of Fashion




In fashion: 1. Karen Koster; 2. Jayne O’Keeffe; 3. Clodagh McKenna. (Pix. Kieran Harnett)




In fashion: 1. Isabelle Traber; 2. Roy Horgan & Angela Scanlan; 3. Judy Gilroy. (Pix. Kieran Harnett)


The inaugural Dublin Festival of Fashion was launched in The Atrium lounge at The Westin Hotel, Dublin with a VIP launch hosted by the Face of the Festival, popular TV presenter Karen Koster.

A collection of specially commissioned Oxfam t-shirts called ‘We Are Tee’ designed by leading Irish illustrators and designers including Peter O’Brien, Eilis Boyle and Joanne Hynes were also introduced. The project will help support Oxfam's Climate Change and the collection of t-shirts will be on sale during the festival weekend.

Guests including Brendan Courtney, Irish fashion designers Sinead Doyle and Heidi Higgins, Jayne O’Keeffe, Louis Copeland and Clodagh McKenna sipped on Ice Tropez, a new San Tropez-born drink that has just arrived in Ireland, while models worked the room wearing the hottest new trends from Dublin’s best retailers.

The Dublin Festival of Fashion, a concept created by Dublin City BID (Business Improvement District), will take over the capital’s leading shopping districts, from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd October. Visitors to the city will enjoy extended late Friday night shopping, followed by two fun-filled days of fashion and beauty master classes hosted by top industry professionals in leading salons, shopping centres, department stores and boutiques.

To keep up to date with all the latest festival news and confirmed events see www.dff.ie

Friday, August 27, 2010

New TV3 ...




New season: 1. Kate O’Toole & Louis Walsh; 2. Andrea Hayes, Michael Hayes & Alan Cantwell; 3. Anne Boylan & Lisa Cannon. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)


TV3 pulled out all the stops on Thursday morning when it launched its autumn schedule of programming. The broadcaster was thrilled to announce that home produced programming will increase by 10% to 40% with highlights of the new additions to the schedule to include ‘Irish versions of Take Me Out, The Apprentice: At Home and Come Dine With Me.

Other programming highlights on TV3 this autumn include the return of X Factor, which comes back to Dublin for auditions, the Xtra Factor and The Apprentice: You’re Fired which will be presented by Anton Savage.

In attendance were news anchor Collette Fitzpatrick, Glenda Gilson, Bill Cullen and Jackie Lavin, Triona McCarthy and Louis Walsh. Also present were Andrea Hayes and Michael Hayes (who return with a new series of Animal A&E), Sinead Desmond and soap stars Sophie Powles of Emmerdale and Shobna Gulati from Corrie.











Wednesday, August 25, 2010

West Coast Wines




On the grapevine: 1. Giorgio & Noreen Casari; 2. Gerry & Paul McSharry; 3. Beatrice Kelleher & Ben Bringer; 4. Eoin Higgins & Roisin Ni Mhordha. (Pix. Malachy Geelan)


The sun was shining for the guests at the West Coast Wines tasting event at the stylish Il Segreto restaurant on Dublin’s Merrion Row recently. With two private terraces, and a beautifully warm evening, it was no surprise that most guests opted to enjoy a chilled RosĂ© al fresco.

Hosts, father and son partners, Gerry and Paul McSharry welcomed a select group of guests made up of friends, family, wine lovers, food writers and restaurateurs. Il Segreto had designed a canapé selection to complement each of the pouring wines and the corkscrews were kept busy as each of the thirty diverse wines, ports and champagnes in the West Coast Wines portfolio were put through their paces.

Guests included Asheesh Dewan of the Ananda and Jaipur Restaurants, Paul Smith, newly appointed Manager at Fire Restaurant on Dawson Street and Adrian Cummins, the CEO of the Restaurant Association of Ireland. Dublin City Sheriff Brendan Walsh attended with his wife Ruth Kenny-Walsh and they caught up with wine buff Myles McWeeney.

Quentin Fottrell, just back from a month long vacation in the US was eager to catch up with Eoin Higgins and Ingmar Kiang who were in menu planning mode for their ‘Critics in the Kitchen’ charity event (more on that anon). Overseeing the event was Il Segreto manager Sara Casari, daughter of Georgio and Noreen Casari, who were also present to toast the success of the new wine venture.

West Coast Wines Ltd is the culmination of a lifelong passion for wine for the McSharrys. Retailing direct to Ireland’s wine lovers from their website WestCoastWines.ie, the duo are placing their faith in the appeal of a portfolio of top quality, unique to Ireland wines, sparkling and ports initially from South Africa and California, with a smaller selection, including Champagnes, from France and Argentina.

For further information visit WestCoastWines.ie

Monday, August 23, 2010

ABSOLUT Fringe


Fringe benefits: 1. Kerryanne Conway & Richard Brinkley; 2. Aisling Byrne & Oonagh Murphy; 3. Conleth Teevan & Lisa Connell. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

A quirky mix of almost 500 performers, fans and supporters of the arts were in attendance at The Ringside Club, South Circular Road for the launch of ABSOLUT FRINGE 2010. The 16th edition takes over Dublin city this September for two weeks from Sep 11th - 26th.

Entertained by a performance by Colm "Delicious" O'Grady and ABSOLUT Pear cocktails, attendees included award-winning director Selina Cartmell; Una Carmody, Chair of the festival and Emma Donnellan, Brands Director of Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard who, through the Swedish vodka brand, are sponsoring the Fringe Festival for a second year running.

A major highlight of the festival will be Ponydance, the comedy dance troupe who will surprise onlookers with pop-up free performances in 15 random public random locations - streets, bars, offices. Their brand new show, "Anybody Waitin'?" is an exclusive commission, produced by ABSOLUT Fringe and is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Audiences never know what to expect at the Fringe and a common thread running through this year's festival is what brings people together and how it defines them. This year sees the introduction of a new venue: The ABSOLUT Fringe Factory which will be the exclusive home to a superb music programme, to include two incredibly entertaining American performers, Taylor Mac and YouTube sensation Miranda Sings.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Vanilla, it's tasty



Vanilla pods: 1. Barbara Wiley & Maria Maguire; 2. Edward Smith & Leah O’Reilly; 3. Nadia de Petrule, Madalina Plantos & Hayley Sook. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)


Dublin has yet another chic nightclub to add to the roster. The much anticipated Vanilla in Donnybrook is attached to the designer Hampton Hotel, which has recently been voted as one of the top five trendiest hotels in Europe on the Trip Advisor website.

Spotted at the opening party were Dr. Patrick Treacy, Assets models Leah O’Reilly and Naomi Cullen, Victoria Mary Clarke and designer Catriona Hanly, who is moving full time to Paris next week.

The club, which is decked in a Vanilla theme, boasts two private VIP party rooms complete with private bars. The place is under the management of well known nightclub manager Tony Daly who ran the successful Club 92 at Leopardtown racecourse for many years.



Monday, August 16, 2010

The Last Airbender


Sci-Fi: 1. Ally Garvey & Alli MacDonnell; 2. Sarah McCormack & David Sparkes; 3. Odise Papa & Romy Carroll. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)


The Last Airbender is the latest adventure fantasy film to hit our big screens and premiered at Cineworld last week.

A live-action film adaptation based on the first season of the U.S. animated television series Avatar: The Last Airbender, it stars Noah Ringer, Nicola Peltz, Jackson Rathbone, and Dev Patel.

The first of a planned trilogy, The Last Airbender was produced by Paramount Pictures and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, who also directed and produced.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Gypsy Rose


Feeling blue: 1. Rory O’Donoghue & Radika Kalna; 2. Dearbhla Louli; 2. Rob Spragg & Larry Love. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)


A city like Dublin, renowned for music, world should have a gem of a Rock and Blues club ... and at last it does! Located on Aston Quay, bordering Temple Bar, and set on two levels Gypsy Rose Rock and Blues club opened its doors recently.

A host of well known faces from the music scene enjoyed live music on the night from the fabulous Petty Needs and T-Bone Kelly as well as the inimitable Alabama 3. A3 front man Larry Love and fellow band mate Rob Spragg performed an exclusive DJ set at the new Dublin hotspot to a packed crowd.


Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Dublin Theatre Festival



At the announcement: 1. Orlaith Walsh and Aislinn Brennan; 2. Darcie Conway and Mark Giblin; 3. Diana Hurley and Shauna Lyons. (Pix. Leon Farrell / Photocall)


408 performances, 31 productions from 10 countries over 18 days!

This year the Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival brings the best of Irish and International theatre to the capital for 18 days from 30th September.

2010 Highlights include: A wealth of international work including CIRCA (Australia), ENRON (UK), L’Effet de Serge (France), No Child… (USA), Diciembre (Chile) and The Wonderful World of Hugh Hughes (UK).

Focus on Polish Theatre presenting three monumental productions and an accompanying wrap around season of music, literature and film.

New Irish productions Garry Hynes directing The Silver Tassie (Druid), The Rehearsal, Playing The Dane directed by Gavin Quinn (Pan Pan), and Phaedra in a new version by Hilary Fannin and Ellen Cranitch directed by Lynne Parker (Rough Magic). A major season of Beckett, Pinter and Mamet at The Gate. Henrik Ibsen’s John Gabriel Borkman in a new version by Frank McGuinness at the Abbey (with Alan Rickman and Fiona Shaw)and Carmel Winters’ B is for Baby at the Peacock.

Bringing theatre to where you live - Festival expands its geographical reach going to axis: Ballymun for the first time (No Child… from USA) and touring to Civic Theatre and Draiocht (The Girl Who Forgot To Sing Badly – The Ark in association with Theatre Lovett).

- WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT? – A major thematic strand looking at the changing role of the audience in contemporary theatre with three immersive creations from Ontroerend Goed, The Author by Tim Crouch and 565+ by Ăšna McKevitt.

- Three very successful Irish productions revived in partnership with Culture Ireland and Irish Theatre Institute in ReViewed – Una Santa Oscura (Playgroup and Ian Wilson in association with Project Arts Centre), Act Without Words II (Company SJ) and The Girl Who Forgot To Sing Badly (The Ark in association with Theatre Lovett).

- Three exciting productions from Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark in the Family Season.

www.dublintheatrefestival.com

Monday, August 09, 2010

Vero & Jack are Back



Leeside: 1. Celine Tenenhaus & Morgane Lassalle; 2. Shane Lennon & Luiza Hogan; 3. Katie Mythen & Johnny Lynch. (Pix. Gerard McCarthy)


To Cork for the big party to celebrate the re-opening of the Vero Moda and Jack & Jones store after a 2-month refurbishment. They really know how to party down there and hosted a very stylish do to give a select number a special preview of the new place.

The guests enjoyed the first look against a backdrop of tunes from DJ Brian Corish of new Cork nightclub Society, with beer for the boys and bubbly for the girls.

It’s been 7 years since any improvements to the historic building at 31/32 Patrick Street and this makeover restored the impressive original features, a project that was completed by Irish and Danish construction crews.

The Vero Moda and Jack & Jones brands have occupied the site on Patrick Street since 1994 and with this investment are cementing their commitment to trading in Cork city for many years to come. The 394sqm store will employ 20 staff across the two fashion labels and will now stock more lines from both the male and female brands.

Thursday, August 05, 2010

Charity Drive



Chipping in for CF: 1. Bernard Dunne with Fergal Hennigan, Martin Connors & George Tierney; 2. Ronan Cahill & Paul McGrath; 3. George McMahon & Juanita Cahill. (Pix. Donal O’Connor)

Soccer legend Paul McGrath recently hosted his annual Charity Golf Classic on the beautiful links course at Arklow Golf Club, Co. Wicklow, in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland (CFAI).

A number of celebrity golfers competed and supported this worthy cause including soccer greats John Giles and Ronnie Whelan; boxer Bernard Dunne; rugby star Shane Byrne and a host of other well known personalities including Brian Ormonde, Gerald Kean, Simon Delaney, Sil Fox and Steve Rainer.

All proceeds, from what promises to be a star studded event, go towards vital medical equipment needed for the Cystic Fibrosis unit in Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street, Dublin.



Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Grown Ups



Premiere: 1. Gillian Quinn & her daughter Aisling; 2. Caoimhe Guilfoyle; 3. Ailbhe Lee & Michael Hayes. (Pix. Bryan Brophy)


The red carpet was turned blue last night as the stars hit the red carpet for the European Premiere of GROWN UPS. Four Hollywood stars from the movie, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Kevin James and David Spade, were in Dublin to promote the film and to party.

Others that attended the film included Irish actress Sarah Bolger, Glenda Gilson, Big Brother’s Caoimhe Guilfoyle, Crystal Swing and newlyweds Amy Huberman and Brian O’Driscoll. The afterparty was held in the Gravity Bar in Guinness Storehouse where invited guests and stars of the film partied until the small hours.