Dine Out

Wining and Dining: 1. John Cunningham and Margaret Nelson; 2. Orla Stafford and Louise Barr; 2. Norah Casey; 3. Kari Rocca and Barry McCall. (Pix. BME)

A large group of social faces gathered at Town, Kildare Street, for “Dine Out for the Irish Hospice Foundation”, the inaugural event of a new special events group of the Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF).  It is hoped that this will be the first in a new “Dine Out for the Irish Hospice Foundation” campaign with restaurants across the country hosting fundraising evenings for the IHF. 

Claire Ronan, chair of the committee of eight commented, “We were absolutely thrilled with the event in Town, Kildare Street.  We really hope this will be the first of many “Dine Out for the Irish Hospice Foundation” events taking place to help raise much needed funds for their vital work.  It was a fantastic night of great food, great chats and all for a great cause!”

The next event being organised by the group will be a rugby themed event taking place in the Autumn.  For more information please contact the IHF fundraising team on 01 6793188 or fundraising@hospicefoundation.ie.

Into the West

Food Fest: 1. Barry McCall and Derry Clarke; 2. Ashlee Dickinson; 3. Andrew Rudd and Jedda Downey. (Pix. SL / Photocall)

The Westport Festival of Music & Food 2013 has been announced.  At a packed party in Medley, Drury Street, guests heard details of what will surely be a festival highlight this summer.

Taking place in the grounds of Westport House on 29th and 30th June, it promises a weekend of great music, fabulous local food and entertainment to keep the whole family happy. Headline acts announced include Elvis Costello, Imelda May, The Stunning, Alabama 3, Damien Dempsey, Ryan Sheridan, Delorentos and many more.

Local food enthusiast Redmond Cabot was at the launch to announce a new element for the Festival - a ‘Best In The West’ food village, which will feature the very finest local produce. Guests at the launch were treated to an array of dishes, prepared by Medley’s Andrew Rudd, showcasing many of various local ingredients including Tagine of Connemara Hill Lamb, Kate Kennedy’s Mussels, Fresh oysters from Sean O’Grady and Seafood Chowder from The West Bar.

Among the crowd were musicians Jack L, Ryan Sheridan and Steve Wall. Foodies included chefs Derry Clarke and Rozanne Stevens, restaurateurs Asheesh Dewan of Jaipur and Joe Macken of Jo’Burger. Hairstylist Dylan Bradshaw and photographer Barry McCall helped spread the word about being part of the Festival themselves this year, with an on-site salon and photo studio.

http://www.westportfestival.com/

Silence Please

Cult Film Fans: 1. Isaac Boss and Fionn Carr; 2. Grace Fox and Courtney Smith; 3. Shane Gillen and Paul McNulty. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

Following on from the highly successful screenings of cult classics Reservoir Dogs, Snatch, Alien, Blues Brothers and The Usual Suspects, the Jameson Cult Film Club returned to Dublin for its biggest and most electrifying double screening to date. Dublin’s Mansion House was completely transformed into the Baltimore State Forensic Hospital for an exclusive screening of the 1991 horror thriller The Silence of the Lambs.

Organisers of the Jameson Cult Film Club were once again challenged with transporting the audience straight into the menacing world of Dr. Hannibal Lecter and Buffalo Bill and lucky ticket holders were not left disappointed!  Live theatre and special effects timed perfectly with on-screen action helped to create an electric atmosphere throughout the screening.

Jameson and Ginger cocktails along with ‘buffalo bill’ burgers were served  while renowned DJ Aidan Kelly took to the decks after the screening.  Enjoying the night were rugby players Devin Toner, Isaac Boss, Mike Ross and Rhys Ruddock, male models Sam Homan and Carl Shaaban along with actor Fergus Kiely, Shane Lennon and entertainer Shane Gillen, Michelle O’Doherty, model Sinead Noonan ,TV3's Lisa Cannon as well as Audrey Hamilton and Grace Fox.

For the uninitiated, Jameson Cult Film Club is all about watching your favourite cult films at spectacular screenings, staged to transport you into the film’s universe. This is a free event for movie fans, with details at www.jamesoncultfilmclub.ie.

Guinness Black is the new Black

The new Black: 1. Ruth Gardner, Sarah Conlon and Mary O'Dea; 2. Brian Bryce and James English. 

(Pix. KH)

Over 200 people celebrated the arrival of Guinness Black Lager, the latest taste sensation from Guinness, at a unique event in the Tivoli Theatre Car-Park on Francis Street, Dublin. This was no down-at-heel outdoor drink fest in a car park, no there were super cool Mongolian yurts set up for the occasion, very festival chic.

It was a very laidback atmosphere for the guests who sampled the lager which is available nationwide through off licences, and enjoyed a specially designed menu from the Sett Food Club and a music set created by David Kitt.

Taste stations included surprising food combinations designed to complement the tasting notes of Guinness Black Lager including goat cheese with toasted oaks, lamb carpaccio, quail eggs with hay and many more.

Guests were welcomed by Fergal Murray, Guinness Master Brewer and Sarah Spain, Senior Brand Manager Guinness, before enjoying the popular Dine in the Dark experience led by Tom Lynn from Sett Food Club.

Developed by the master brewers at Guinness in response to a growing desire from lager drinkers for more taste, Guinness Black Lager is brewed just like a lager with the addition of Guinness signature roasted barley. This gives it a flavour that’s quite unique from that of other lagers.

Horsepower

On show: 1. Dan McGrattan and Ann Doyle; 2.  Aoibheann McCaul and Aoibhin Garrihy. (pix. Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland)

Preparations are well underway at the Royal Dublin Society for the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show 2012. 

Usually held in early August, this year this iconic event will run from August 15^th-19^th 2012, allowing for competitors involved in the 2012 Olympic Games in London, time to get to Dublin for one of the most important equestrian & social events of the year

Details of the event were announced at a special reception where guests included Ann Doyle, TV and Radio Presenter Michael Hayes, Fair City's Aoibhin Garrihy and Aoibheann McCaul, actress Nora Sheehan, Louis Copland, Norah Casey, along with a selection of Irish International riders who were warmly welcomed to the RDS by CEO Michael Duffy.

The Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show is the largest summer event in Dublin, attracting tens of thousands of people and 1,500 horses and ponies to the RDS. The 2012 Show runs for five days from Wednesday, 15^th August to Sunday, 19^th August. General admission tickets for one day costs €21. Student/OAP’s/Children under 16 costs €15 per day and a Family day pass (2 Adults, 4 children) costs €54. For more information go to www.dublinhorseshow.com

Jameson Film goes Leeside

Cork Film Club: 1. Denis Hurley and Neasa Cotter; 2. Jessica Moloney and Rachel Daly; 3. Julie Nyhan and Thomas O’Leary. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

The Jameson Cult Film Club made its debut in Cork with an unforgettable screening of Snatch at the Cork City Hall. This event was brought on the road following the highly successful screenings of cult classics Reservoir Dogs, Alien, The Usual Suspects and The Blues Brothers in Dublin.

Guests were also treated to ‘Micky O’Neill’ burgers and ‘Turkish’ sausages while enjoying the refreshing Jameson and Ginger cocktails.  Enjoying the experience were rugby stars Thomas O’Leary and Doug  Howlett as well as Munster player Billy Holland.

Cork City Hall was completely transformed into a series of sets from the film; including an open trailer park and a boxing ring as characters from the movie greeted guests and re-enacted famous scenes from the movie live on stage. Throughout the screening, live theatre, props and staging transported the audience into the world of a London Gangster, creating an electric atmosphere in the venue.

Sugar Club Magic

 (Pix. Richie Stokes)


That’s Magic: 1. Aly Marron and Cici Cavanagh; 2.Keith Barry and Shane Gillen.

Late Night Magic launched on Friday the 13th at Leeson Street's well known Sugar Club venue.  Hosted by illusionist Shane Gillen, Late Night Magic is a tailored event designed to engage an audience with parlour, vaudeville, street and stage magic in a way that remains intimate, humorous and memorable.

The auditorium's round tables are under candlelight to create an atmosphere for the on-stage performances and guests can also find themselves in the Parlour Room. for one-on-one close-up and intimate magic performances by the entertainers.

Patrons can sit around the parlour table and even learn some of the secrets of magic. Games of 'Beat-the-magician' are played at various intervals throughout the evening where guests will be encouraged to guess how the trick works or perform a trick for themselves, if they can do it - they'll win a cocktail named after the magician they have just beaten.

There will be 5 'Queen of Hearts' cards hidden within the venue. Find one of them and automatically find yourself in with the chance of winning €250.  Late Night Magic will run monthly in The Sugar Club will alternating performers and acts every month, set to become one of Dublin's flagship events. Admission is €10 on the door and spaces are limited. Doors open at 7pm, and the show begins at 8pm sharp.