THE SOCIAL NETWORK:If you are making a guest list and checking it twice, Social Personal magazine has compiled a list of the 50 most-invited people of 2012 for a definitive directory of who to invite to your Christmas party. The list, which includes Pierce Brosnan, Colin Farrell and Graham Norton, might be slightly aspirational but, hey, you can always ask.
The magazine’s Christmas party to “unveil the list” was held in Lost Society on Dublin’s South William Street on Thursday night, and although most of the 400 guests in attendance were not actually on the top-50 list, they were happy to enjoy champagne and raise a toast to the successful Irish socialites who were too busy to attend.
President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Enda Kenny were also included, coming in 28th and 29th respectively, although neither showed up. Georgia Salpa, number one, was on holiday. That’s the problem with being one of the most invited; it’s hard to attend them all.
Richard Kavanagh, managing director of Social Personal, said the list isn’t for those who are out on the tear every night but a sort of wish-list for Irish people you’d want at a party; they each would “bring something”.
“We used to do the top 100 party people but that’s now gone and we used to do the top 100 sexiest legs but that’s also gone,” he said, much to the lament of party guest Clara Kiyoko Kumagai who had her legs out in the hope of a placing.
Fashionista Maria Fusco, who came in 49th, was in attendance and looked like Dublin’s answer to Lady Gaga wearing a big black bird on her head, a show-stopping Edel Ramberg creation. She was chatting to editor PJ Gibbons and is opening a store in the next few weeks in Dublin to satisfy her many clients as a stylist. Judging by her outfit, it will be absolutely fabulous.
Lisa Fitzpatrick, who came in number 12, also attended, but there was no sign of One Direction’s Mullingar man Niall Horan (number 34) or Bono’s daughter Eve Hewson (number four). As cars pulled up outside, one hoped Downton Abbey’s chauffeur, actor Allen Leech (number two), might emerge, but it was not to be.
Who we spotted TV presenter Diana Bunici; Masterchef’s Dylan McGrath. Laura Nolan, director of Fran and Jane; Antonia Leslie of Castle Leslie
Third-level chic
"Dark Romance" was the theme of the Samsung Trinity Fashion show at the National Gallery on Tuesday evening. In the gallery's Winter Garden with a live DJ, the vibe was high-end fashion but the clothes modelled were a mix of high street and boutique, with the show styled and produced by Trinity College students.
Proceeds from the night went to mental health charity turn2me.org. Its founding members, brothers Oisín and Diarmuid Scollard, were there. They said they set up the charity and online mental health service after their brother Cormac died by suicide.
They caught up with the former model agent John Compton, who helped the models with the show production and recalled days when aspiring models would walk "up and down" past him on a night out.
Who we spottedRTÉ's Audrey McGrath, stylists Courtney Smith and Sonja Mohlich and entrepreneur Ronan McGuire.
A great night, but an early one for the young and talented
Sugarglass Theatre opened its hot new ticket, Tender Napalm by Philip Ridley, on Wednesday at the Project Arts Centre, with the next generation of theatremakers either involved or flocking to attend. Some came from the Garage Bar across the road in Temple Bar, where the clientele also reads like a roll-call for players in the theatre scene.
Actor Clare O'Malley was there with Sean Bradley, but didn't stay late after the play as she was in the Abbey early the next morning, rehearsing for Frank McGuinness's dramatisation of Joyce's The Dead. She said she was most excited about the costumes, which are designed by Joan Bergin, the multi-awardwinning designer for work on The Tudors.
Emerging playwright Ross Dungan, son of broadcaster Myles Dungan, was in attendance and is currently writing for Fair City. His sell-out fringe play The Life and Sort of Death of Eric Argyle will be back in Smock Alley in January and goes to London in April. Costume designer Emma Gleeson, whose brother Jack Gleeson is well known to Game of Thrones fans as King Joffrey, was there along with up-and-coming singer/songwriter Karen Sheridan of Slow Skies.
Girl-about-town Roisín Agnew wore a black bowler hat and tried to think of something Wildean to say, although her aesthetic was more Beckettian so she decided to remain silent, while singer Rebecca Winckworth also ran off to mind her voice ahead of the launch of her EP with harmony group Babylon Sisters next Monday. Young artists – talented, hard working and in bed by midnight.
Who we spottedGina Moxley was there with fellow Corkonian Stefanie Preissner, whose show Solpadeine is my Boyfriend sold-out at the Fringe and is back in January. Loughlin Deegan, director at The Lir, Dan Bergin, founder of the 10 Days in Dublin festival, director Lynne Parker along with the Rough Magic crew, David Parnell of the Arts Council.
Bofin lovers and Shark fans join a very political party
The launch of James Morrissey's book, Inishbofin Inishark, at The Bailey on Dublin's Duke Street on Monday evening was a very political party. Taoiseach Enda Kenny launched the book for Morrissey, a director at Fleishman-Hillard Public Relations.
PJ Mara, public-affairs consultant and former political adviser was there, as were Marian Finucane and her husband John Clarke. Lochlann Quinn had come from the turning on of the Christmas tree lights in Merrion Square. Former newscaster Anne Doyle handed her handbag to her partner Dan McGrattan. "I thought I was the Queen of England there for a minute," she said.
Gay Byrne shared a sofa with his wife, Kathleen Watkins, Kay O'Flaherty and Fr Brian D'Arcy (in civvies). John McColgan bought a few books and Enda signed them all. Between signing his name and punching the air whenever he posed for photos, the Taoiseach must have had a sore wrist by the end of the evening.
A fine evening of art, sculpture and eye-popping estimates
James O'Halloran and Stuart Cole of Adam's Fine Art auctioneers personally welcomed guests to the firm's private preview party of the Important Irish Art auction on Thursday evening.
All eyes was on Richard Thomas Moynan's The Travelling Show (1892) which carries an estimate of €150,000- €250,000. The artist Gay O'Neill arrived with her friend Caroline O'Connor. O'Neill has an exhibition at the Cross Gallery, Francis Street, Dublin, next Thursday. O'Connor said she will have an exhibition next year under her maiden name, Caroline Eyre.
The sculptor Rowan Gillespie arrived late. His bronze piece, The Frailest Reed, caries an estimate of €4,000- €6,000. The auction takes place next Tuesday evening at 6pm .
Who we spottedJerry Healy SC; art historian Karen Reihill; artists Carmel Kelly and Esme Lewis; John Mulcahy, editor of the Irish Arts Review