Compiled by
JAMES GIBBONS
Vogue folk flock to Madonna movie
Madonna's new film, WE, went down a treat on Thursday evening at a private screening at the Denzille Cinema, Dublin 2, to a small group of invited guests with more than a passing interest in fashion. Sonia Reynolds organised the event for Element Pictures and wore a vintage fur coat, which was a Christmas present she bought for herself last year. Guests were invited to a drinks reception just before the screening.
Sonya Lennon and Brendan Courtney of RTÉ's Off The Railstold me they're launching their own line of clothes for autumn 2012. They can't reveal the name of the label at the moment but it will be women's wear. They are also writing their second book, which has the working title "Your Fashion Needs You".
Designer Peter O’Brien said he is proud of a dress he made last autumn for Dr Mary Finan, whose daughter Victoria got married to Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns’s son Simon. The mother-of-the-bride outfit contained no less than 35m of smoky grey chiffon, which was sent to London to be pleated. O’Brien is working on a new range for Arnotts, and his designs for the stage will feature at this year’s Dublin Theatre Festival in a play about the writer Maeve Brennan. “They’ll be chic 1950s frocks,” he said.
Brian McGee of the Crafts Council of Ireland is looking forward to Showcase 2012 which starts next Sunday. The inaugural fashion show will feature John Rocha, Paul Costello, Louise Kennedy and Joanne Hynes. Hynes was at the Irish premiere on Thursday evening and wore one of her own crystal collars, which she told me are selling well in Dubai and China – at €600 each.
Also enjoying the party and film were Fiona Gratzer of Unislim and Amanda Pratt of Avoca, who is heading to Berlin next week to showcase her new Anthology fashion range.
What we drankChampagne.
What we ateSalmon and brown bread; cheeseboard.
Who we spottedThe Design Centre's Aisling Kilduff and Caroline Sleiman of Moët Hennessy. Along with Godfrey Deeny, these two will judge the contest for best dressed lady at the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown on February 12th.
Gala gig for Dubliners in Christ Church Cathedral
Barney McKenna, founding member of The Dubliners, who are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, is no stranger to Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, the venue for the band's first two concerts of the new year.
"Sure weren't we there for the aluminium," he joked on Tuesday afternoon at the launch of the Temple Bar Tradfest in Dublin City Hall.
They will play two special concerts on Friday and Saturday week in the cathedral as part of the festival.
Barney pointed out that John Sheahan was only 49 years in the band and recalled walking home from gigs 50 years ago while John had "a push bike". Some tourists at the cathedral on Tuesday enjoyed a surprise rendition of The Rare Old Times by the band when they dropped by en route to City Hall.
During the concerts Sheahan will perform a piece of his own music that he composed in the Baroque style, which will also feature the organ in the cathedral. He has also asked Sean Kane of the Chieftains to join him for the piece.
Now in its seventh year, Tradfest will run from January 25th to 29th and feature more than 200 free events across, more than 23 venues and more than 900 performers.
Among the highlights are: Ralph McTell; Moya Brennan of Clannad, who will team up with Cormac De Barra for a Voices and Harps concert; Frankie Gavin, and Cathy Jordan who will perform music from her album All The Way Home.
Two free outdoor stages will be temporarily erected in Temple Bar. The Siamsa Cois Life stage on Fownes Street will play host to music and dance schools from all over the country. The headline stage in front of City Hall will feature, among others: Paddy Casey, Tupelo, Tucan and a performance by the Mariachi San Patricio Band on Sunday 29th.
Who we sawFestival director Martin Harte of Temple Bar Traders, who is hoping for a 5 to 10 per cent increase on the 60,000 who turned up last year; Mannix Flynn, who will host a gala benefit night for Pecker Dunne at the festival.
What we heardDublin City Manager Dr John Tierney "far from Dublin being on its knees, it's very much on its toes".
What we ateMixed vegetable soup inside a hollow roll; goat's cheese salad and chicken liver pate.
Goody - it's BT
IF YOU want to get people out of bed early on a Thursday, as Brown Thomas did for the preview of its spring 2012 collection, a decent goody bag helps. It started at 10am and the dedicated followers of fashion were already in situ by 9:30am. We were treated to orange juice, coffee and something in tubs that looked like cereal and yogurt. It was too early to sample. The goodie bag contained a Lanvin notebook and a €200 voucher to spend on spring/summer 2012 shoes.
Spectators watched the latest clothes by Victoria Beckham, Diane Von Furstenberg and Stella McCartney, among others, sashay by.
Imagemagazine's Melanie Morris – now Mrs Trevor Rigley – flew back from her honeymoon in Indonesia on Sunday. She spent New Year's Eve in Bali. She did no shopping in Singapore. "I knew there'd be better stuff here," she said.
Celia Holman-Lee drove up from Limerick the night before, despite nursing a sprained wrist. Jen Stevens, the editor of
Umagazine was sporting a Vera Wang engagement ring on her finger. She got engaged in Washington in December.
Also enjoying the show were Gillian Brett from Malahide; stylist Colm Corrigan from Blanchardstown; and Stacey O'Donnell, head of private shopping in BT, who wore an Isabel Marant print dress.
What we drank?Ice-cold orange juice and coffee.
What we heard"Can the voucher only be used on spring/summer shoes or can it be used in the sale?"
Who we spottedAlex Fitzgerald of
Irish Tatler Man; Declan Leavy of TheDailyUpdate.ie.
Stag night at Adam's
It was all hands on deck in Adam's, on Dublin's St Stephen's Green, on Thursday evening for the White Stag Group exhibition. The group consisted of British artists who based themselves in Ireland in the late 1930s and early 1940s. The chairman of Adam's, Brian Coyle, was in the upstairs showroom in deep conversation with antiques expert Roxanne Moorhead and Evelyn Cruess-Callaghan.
Downstairs Marcia Kenna-Colgan greeted guests at the door with directors Stuart Cole and David Britton. The managing director of the firm, James O'Halloran, hovered.
Mitchell and Son filled the wine as soon as glasses looked half empty. Red dots – signifying sales – started to appear on the walls. This is an exhibition, not an auction, and will run until February 3rd.
The president of the Royal Irish Automobile Club, David Orr, was accompanied by his wife, Simone. They were off to have dinner with the chairman of the Stephen's Green Hibernian Club, Dr Brian Moore. Also enjoying the exhibition were the Gate Theatre's Michael Colgan; Goffs chairwoman Eimear Mulhern, who arrived with her pal Marion Cody; PR man Dermott Barrett; and artist Carmel Kelly, who told me her picture of three Galway hookers, which used to hang in the office of the Minister for Arts, was now in the Attorney General's office.
Art history down to a V
They're well up on their art history in the Irish Georgian Society.
Architect John J O'Connell gave a great lecture on Tuesday evening at the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland on Dublin's Merrion Square about the Wallace collection at Hertford House in London, where he has worked as design architect.
At one stage, however, he forgot an artist's name as he pointed to a slide.
"You know who I mean," he said, "he painted some paintings which hang in Russborough House."
The audience replied almost in unison: "Vernet."
Prof Kevin B Nowlan, who turned 90 in November, was sporting a tan, having returned the night before from Portugal. He has been acting president of the Irish Georgian Society since the death of the Knight of Glin, Desmond FitzGerald, in September.
Also enjoying the lecture were: Marian Cashman, a member of the society's committee, and her friend Siobhán Brady, widow of the late attorney general Rory Brady; Prof Conor Burke, a consultant in respiratory medicine; and Prof Kathleen James-Chakraborty of the history of art department in UCD; and a former student of hers, Sarah Maguire.
