Blue in the Face

Smurfs: 1. Kelly O'Reilly; 2. Alison Canavan and son James; 3. Aisling Hall pictured with Katie Grace. (Pix. BME)

Over 160 worldwide premieres of the new Smurfs 2 movie took place on Super Smurfs Sunday in celebration of the release of the family movie.

In Dublin, ODEON Point Village was awash with blue for the arrival of Papa Smurf and Smurfette, with proceeds of ticket sales going to Variety, the Children’s charity.  ODEON Cinemas has recently partnered with Variety and is now as the movie theatres nominated charity.

Entertainment included everything from face painting and Smurfs music to a meet and great with the Smurfs characters themselves.

Through this series of special screenings, over 11,000 feet of blue carpet was rolled out in American and international markets, a giant inflatable Smurf was on display outside ODEON Cinema for the day along with a Smurfs car that was brought in specially for the occasion.

Cari lunch 2013

Caring: 1. Roz Flanagan and Jeanette Sung; 2. Sandra Byrne; 3. Sharon Bannerton and Brian Kennedy. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

Miriam Ahern hosted her annual summer fashion show in aid of CARI sponsored by RTÉ Radio 1 and M&S at The Shelbourne Hotel Dublin recently. 

Glamorous and stylish ladies, dressed in chic summer looks, were out to enjoy what is regarded as a highlight of the social calendar.  The afternoon began with a champagne reception after which a chic fashion show by Karen Millen, Marks & Spencer and Cari’s Closet.  Each of the stores showcased their summer collections 2013.

The show was followed by a delicious four-course gourmet lunch with wines sponsored by M&S.   The charismatic Alan Hughes from TV3 was the MC for the afternoon.   After lunch guests were entertained by energetic accordion player Liam O’Connor.  The day came to an end after a fun filled raffle with the help of Brenda Donohue from RTÉ Radio 1.

Guests who are attended on the day included Miriam Ahern and her partner Terry McCoy, her daughters Georgina Byrne and Cecelia Ahern,  charity supporter Roz Flanagan, TV3’s Sinead Desmond, singer Brian Kennedy and Virginia Macari, to name but a few.  Triona McCarthy made her social debut after having baby Maxim recently, she looked radiant and content in the extreme.

CARI provides a professional child therapy and counselling service to children and families who have been affected by child sexual abuse.   There are almost 3,000 allegations of child sexual abuse in Ireland each year and CARI provides services to children who are struggling to deal with what they have been through. 

Due to cutbacks in funding waiting lists in CARI have now extended to a year. There are today fifty children on waiting lists who need therapy now, not in a year’s time. 

www.cari.ie

Jack the Giant Slayer

Hi Jack: 1. Charlotte Doyle and Edward Smyth; 2. Kelly and Paulette Williams; 3. Peter McFarlane and Declan Leavy. (Pix. BME)

The Odeon at the Point Village Dublin was the place to be for a special preview of "Jack the Giant Slayer". Guests arrived to a specially constructed forest and children were greeted by face painters and jugglers.

"Jack the Giant Slayer" tells the story of an ancient war that is reignited when a young farmhand unwittingly opens a gateway between our world and a fearsome race of giants. Unleashed on the Earth for the first time in centuries, the giants strive to reclaim the land they once lost, forcing the young man, Jack (Nicholas Hoult) into the battle of his life to stop them.

Fighting for a kingdom, its people, and the love of a brave princess, he comes face to face with the unstoppable warriors he thought only existed in legend-and gets the chance to become a legend himself.

Girl Rising

Girl Power: 1. Ciara Mealy and Karen Gallagher; 2. Mary Davis and Jess Majekodunmi; 3. Loreain Martinez and Valbona Istrefi. (Pix. Marc O'Sullivan)

Intel, in conjunction with international NGO Plan Ireland, hosted the Irish premiere of documentary film Girl Rising which reveals the extraordinary stories of 9 girls from around the world who are tackling the reality of socio-economic roadblocks on the road to education.

www.plan.ie

Liz's Lunch

Best Supporting: 1. Ali Hewson, Liz O Donnell and Adi Roche; 2. Siobhan Carnegie and Aisling Kilduff. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

Over 170 supporters of Adi Roche’s Chernobyl Children International (CCI) came out in force, to support an annual fundraising event organised by and director of Chernobyl Children International (and former Minister of State for Overseas Development) Liz O’Donnell at the Westbury Hotel, Dublin.

Along with Adi Roche, founder & CEO of CCI, and Ali Hewson fellow board member Liz greeted the many guests who represented the arts and culture, government and commercial sectors.  The monies raised from ‘Liz’s Lunch’ will go to support CCI’s Medical Care Programme, including life-saving cardiac surgeries for children on critical waiting lists in the Chernobyl regions.

A glittering array of raffle items on offer included an exquisite Chloe Townsend piece of jewellery, kindly donated by Loulerie Jewellers, a shearling collar piece donated by the well-known designer Yasmin Velloza, Dr Dre Beats generously donated by Ali Hewson, luxurious weekend breaks as well as several sets of hot concert tickets courtesy of Caroline Desmond of MCD.

Speaking at the event, Liz O’Donnell said, “The effects of Chernobyl are still being felt in the form of high levels of genetic birth defects, in particular the rise of the heart defect, commonly known as ‘Chernobyl Heart’. Waiting lists for urgent surgeries are growing and we need to help even more children.”