Friday was a real kick-start to a busy weekend with both the Toni & Guy fashion lunch and the World Mercy Fund annual ball packed into the one day. The T. & G. lunch was in the Tea Room at the Clarence, with the fashion provided by John Rocha, the entertainment by singer, Brian Kennedy and the cuisine by top chef Michael Martin.
Michael Wright of Wrights of Howth took a table, as did Chris Egan, owner of Lillie's Bordello who entertained Marlboro's Michael Brady and his wife Patricia Brady. Helen Kilmartin of Minima came along with a crew of friends, and designer Paul Costello was the guest of model's agent Eddie Shanahan.
In the evening, over 600 guests gathered in the Burlington for the World Mercy Fund ball, among them many who had just flown in for the event. Billie Miller, the deputy prime minister of Barbados, came along, as did Luther Miller, the director of tourism in Barbados, and his wife, Suzanne. Alexander Harvin, US representative for South Carolina, was accompanied by his wife Cathy Harvin and daughter Mary Franklin Harvin.
Jim and Patricia McGettigan, owners of the Regency Hotel group, took a table, as did Brown Thomas's George McCullagh.
There was a bundle of politicos, including Senator Liam T. and Vera Cosgrave, John Farrelly TD, Brian Hayes TD, and Senator Joe Doyle, as well as GAA president Jack Boothman. Bostonian artist Candace Jans had flown over to see one of her paintings sold at auction by Fintan Gunne, and RTE's head of sport, Fred Cogley, was the MC for the night.