Stars raise more than €50,000 for charity at Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Ball

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Ball took place on Friday June 29^th at The K Club, Co Kildare, helping to raise significant funds for the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation. There was no shortage of glitz and glamour at the exclusive black-tie event which was hosted by Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free, Colm McLoughlin, and his wife Breeda, and Senior Vice President of Marketing at Dubai Duty Free, Sinead El Sibai.

The exquisite Palmer Clubhouse at The K Club was turned into a stunning nature scene featuring soft billowing draping, an archway with hanging flowers and votives hanging down which provided a floral canopy under which guests entered. A who’s who of well-known faces from the celebrity, business and sporting worlds were greeted by ballerinas from the Monica Loughman dance troupe, with Shakespeare’s Midsomer Night being the theme for the evening.

The event marked Dubai Duty Free’s 11^th as the title sponsor of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, and it is the fifth year that the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation has benefited from the generosity of those in attendance.

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Ball raised more than €50,000 this year for the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, which brings their total tally of money raised for the children’s charity to €330,000 over the last five years, which has provided 20,625 hours of home nursing care for extremely sick children throughout Ireland last year alone.

The fabulous ball, which is one of the biggest social nights of the year, was attended by Brian Ormond and his wife Pippa O’Connor-Ormond, Erin McGregor and Keith Barry, and the MC for the night was RTE Racing’s Tracey Piggott.

Sharon Smurfit, Director of Golf at The K Club, was also in attendance, along with representatives from the Curragh Racecourse and Horse Racing Ireland.

Guests basked in glorious sunshine at a drinks reception on the balcony of the Palmer Clubhouse which overlooks the 18^th green of the Ryder Cup course while they relaxed to the soothing sounds of the Bossa jazz band.

Among the brilliant acts that wowed attendees on the night were dance group Slide Step and XOD, who performed on their own before engaging in a thrilling dance-off, while a group of ballet dancers from the famed Monica Loughman Ballet School performed a beautiful dance to the song ‘7 Years Old’ by Lukas Graham.

Magician Keith Barry then took to the stage to astound guests, before the House Party band played late into the night.

Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free Colm McLoughlin said, “This is our 11^th year as title sponsors of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and we always enjoy coming back here to The K Club as they always host a fantastic event. This year was no different, and we are very happy to provide the proceedings from the night to the Jack & Jill Foundation who do such good work for sick children in Ireland.

“It was another very successful night as we had some great entertainment for those who were in attendance, and there were some fantastic items donated for the auction that helped to raise so much money.”

Speaking after the ball, Jonathan Irwin, who alongside his wife Senator Mary Ann O’Brien established the Foundation, spoke of the great generosity of Dubai Duty Free.

The couple established the charity in 1997 following the death of their own son Jack and it is through the charity that his memory lives on, ensuring that the homecare service which was not available to the Irwin’s would be accessible to all families coping with the great sadness of a sick child.

“We are once again overwhelmed by the generosity of everyone who came to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Ball, and the funding will help to provide great help for sick children throughout Ireland. Over the years we have been very thankful to Dubai Duty Free who have continued to donate the proceedings from this event to the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation for the last five years.”

Seamus Egan, a parent of two girls who require round the clock care, spoke about the great help that the Jack & Jill Foundation has provided his family over the years, while Interim CEO of Jack & Jill, Carmel Doyle, spoke about the importance of family and the Jack & Jill family and how the ultimate aim is to help people have a break and spend valuable time with their children knowing that a nurse is there to assist them and their child, in their own home.

The guests on the night were treated to a sumptuous dining experience that featured a smoked salmon starter, a choice between a fillet of Irish beef with gratin potatoes or a Fillet of Atlantic Hake with Cassoulet of Mixed Beans & Chorizo Sausage for their main dish, and Homemade Pavlova with Lime Mascarpone Cream & Fresh in Season Berries.

Among the items that were bought at auction on the night were a pair of premium tickets to this weekend’s Michael Bublé concert in Croke Park with an overnight stay for two at the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin, an official 2018 Six Nations rugby ball signed by the entire Grand Slam winning Irish squad, a five-night stay for two at the 5-star Bulgari Resort in Bali and an exclusive and a home dining experience with chef Martin Shanahan from the formidable Fishy Fishy Restaurant in Kinsale, Co Cork, among many more great items.

There was also a fabulous VIP trip for two to Ascot for the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup up for grabs, as the winning bidder went away safe in the knowledge that they will be flown out to Britain and will enjoy a VIP lunch at Dubai Duty Free’s private Hospitality Suite at one of the world’s greatest racecourses.

A fabulous five-night stay for two at the luxurious 5-star Jumeirah Creekside Hotel in Dubai, which was sponsored by Dubai Duty Free, was snapped up at auction for €6,000. The buyer will also have €500 to spend in Dubai Duty Free.

They will also have escorted access to the parade ring and weigh room where they will see all the pre and post racing action up close and personal. The Package also includes two nights B&B at the four-star Macdonald Berystede Hotel, Ascot PLUS airport and hotel transfers.

Photography By: Colette McNally