Santa's here already

Santa arrived early in Dublin when around 500 party revellers turned up wearing red for the inaugural Media Santa Ball at Dublin's Burlington Hotel on Thursday evening. Dress red was the simple challenge for well-known and colourful figures, from politicians to businessmen to media personalities. Among those attending were Baltimore Technology's Fran Rooney, snooker star Ken Doherty, Today FM presenters Ian Dempsey and Ray D'Arcy - compering as Santa Claus - and former Ms Ireland Pamela Flood from RTE. The Santa Ball raised almost £40,000 and the proceeds are supporting Operation Rudolph, the annual Media Santa Cycle, which this year will see 24 journalists and presenters from the media - including Kitty Holland of The Irish Time s - cycle 240 miles from Cork to Sligo, starting on December 18th, in aid of the ISPCC and the Alzheimer Society of Ireland.