Wild Geese Rugby Dinner – Pavillon Dauphine
Paris Friday 14th March
On Friday 14th March The Ireland Fund of France held the Wild Geese Rugby Charity Dinner, traditionally held on the eve of the France v Ireland rugby match in Paris, at the landmark venue Pavillon Dauphine.
The recently-appointed President, Helen Lambert, together with His Excellency Mr Rory Montgomery, Ambassador of Ireland to France, and Honorary President of The Ireland Fund of France, welcomed Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and his wife Ms Carol Hanney, His Excellency Monsieur Jean-Pierre Thébault, Ambassador of France to Ireland, Hugo MacNeill, Chairman of The Ireland Funds in Ireland, and Dr John Twomey, Head of Paediatrics at University Hospital Limerick, with his wife Ms Noeleen McLoughlin.
This year’s event was held in aid of the Children’s Ark Paediatric Unit in University Hospital Limerick, the aim of the evening being to raise money needed to purchase a paediatric critical care trolley. Dr Twomey explained the importance of this piece of equipment in the monitoring of seriously ill young patients as they are transferred to Intensive Care Units in Dublin, in his speech to the guests before the dinner.
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore thanked The Ireland Fund of France for their organisation of the evening, and The Ireland Funds network for the work being carried out all over the world to support Irish organisations at home and abroad.
The guest of honour for the occasion was Ronan O’Gara, former Munster, Ireland and British Lions captain, accompanied by his wife Jessica. Now living in Paris and shaping the future of young rugby players at the Paris club Racing Metro 92, Ronan charmed all those present with his speech (in English and French) as he spoke about his move to France and his new career as a coach at Racing Metro.
Dinner was followed by some enthusiastic participation in a charity auction and tombola, with well-known French television presenter Thomas Hervé keeping guests entertained in his role as auctioneer. Helen Lambert, President of The Ireland Fund of France thanked all sponsors for their overwhelming generosity.
Afterwards the party moved to the dancefloor with some great sounds provided by singer Rebecca Sacks and the band “After Dark”.
The Ireland Fund of France acknowledges and thanks the sponsors below for their support for this event
Veuve Clicquot,, Irish Distillers – Pernod Ricard, Fíor Water, Tradext Irish Gourmet Foods, Tourism Ireland, Aer Lingus, Maison Poiray – Place Vendôme, Dromoland Castle, Kildare Village, M. Eduardo Gilfenbein, Mr William Kennedy, Shannon Airport, The Strand Hotel Limerick, Shannon Heritage, Cuccinelli, Berlutti, Rick Owens (Paris), Sanja Spahr, Andrew GN, Gripoix,
Marianne Guedin, Nina Ricci, Monart Spa, The Westin Paris – Vendôme, The Merrion Hotel, Dublin, La Vallée Village, Munster Rugby Club, Racing Metro 92 Rugby Club, Martin Grant, Turnbull & Asser, Dior, Smythson, Sharon Wauchob, Hervé van der Straten, Kilian Hennessy, Caviar Kaspia, John & Clara Molloy, Memo Perfumes
They also extend their heartfelt thanks to the Ireland Rugby team, for giving Irish fans the opportunity to celebrate in Paris for the first time in 14 years with a victory against France and a Six Nations Championship title. For our many dinner guests who were in the Stade de France the following day it was the perfect way to end a weekend in the City of Light.
