Ireland Fund of France Bloomsday Dinner – June 15th 2015
The Board Members of the Ireland Fund of France launched the Bloomsday celebrations in Paris as they hosted their summer dinner on the eve of Bloomsday-June 16th.The setting was the wonderful Cercle de l’Union Interalliée on the rue Faubourg Saint Honoré; this private club was founded for First World War officers in 1917 and is now considered to be one of the most prestigious venues in Paris.
Helen Lambert extended a warm welcome to the 240 guests gathered; amongst those present were Her Excellency Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ambassador of Ireland and Honorary President of the Ireland Fund of France; His Excellency Mr Jean Pierre Thébault, Ambassador of France to Ireland; Mr John Fitzpatrick, (Chairman of the American Ireland Fund); Hon. John B. Kane, (board director of the American Ireland Fund), Le Comte Denis de Kergorlay (President of the Cercle de l’Union Interalliée), Mr Dominique Binet (Vice-President Sourcing, Smurfit Kappa) and Mr Kieran Canny (Davy Group).
In keeping with the IFF’s mission to celebrate the long standing friendship between the two countries this year’s event was held in aid of two associations in Ireland and France working to help those affected by Huntington’s Disease. The Huntington’s Disease Association of Ireland was represented by its Chairperson, Anne Lennon Bird and Dr Jennifer Hoblyn, Clinical Director of Bloomfield Health Services in Dublin. Dr Brigitte Soudrie and Dr Katia Youssov were also present on behalf of the Association Médicale Hendayaise pour les Maladies Rares.
The Franco-Irish theme continued throughout the evening with a champagne reception sponsored by Pernod Ricard and excellent French wines and Irish beef served to guests thanks to the generous support of Domaine de la Solitude, Château Brane Cantenac and Dunleavy Meats. Mineral water for the event was kindly donated by Fíor Uisce.
The mood was set for the charity auction and tombola held after dinner and the generosity of the event’s sponsors ensured that there were prizewinners at every table. The general spirit of goodwill was encapsulated in the moment when Catherine O’Rourke presented a fellow guest with the Alice Archer dress she had won at the tombola.
The group of young Irish and French people who had volunteered their services for the event worked tirelessly throughout the evening to ensure that everyone had a wonderful time. Congratulations, Félicitations, Bravo!
Our sincere thanks to Pernod Ricard, Dunleavy Meats, Domaine de la Solitude, Château Brane Cantenac, Fíor Uisce, Aer Lingus, Astier de Villate, Baccarat, Beauty BC, Berluti, Brown’s of London, Brunello Cucinelli, Bulgari, Caviar Kaspia, Chanel, Dior, E+J Cashmere, Elie Saab, Fitzpatrick Hotel Group, Frédéric Malle, India Mahdavi, Isabel Marant, Kenzo, Kilian Hennessy, La Vallée Village, Ladurée, Le Galion Maison de Parfumerie, Longchamp, Louis Vuitton, Memo Fragrances, Monart Spa, Olgana Paris, Olympia le Tan, Oscar de la Renta, Parfums en Scène, Perrin Paris, Poiray International, Roland Mouret, Siècle Paris, Stéphane Rolland, Sylvia Toledano and Viktor + Rolf, whose generosity helped to make this evening such an enjoyable occasion for all of our guests.
(Photographs of the Bloomsday Dinner courtesy of François Goize)
