Buds Blossom €10,500 for charity

The Buds to Blossoms Fashion Show, which took place in the Armada Hotel, Spanish Point, over Christmas, raised more than €10,000 for local charities. This is the second year of the event and organisers are hailing it “a tremendous success”.

Kicking off the night with a festive cocktail and canapé reception, the 500 guests enjoyed entertainment from jazz band Ace Minsky.

The show was hosted by Marty Morrissey and Fair City’s Aoibhín Garrihy and opened with Daithí O Dronaí performing live.

Fashion was displayed from boutiques all over Ennis including Juniper, Ela Maria, Vermillion, Olive, Young World, Forever Young and Patrick Bourke’s Menswear. Clare Milliner Fiona Mangan and Irish designer Emma Manley also launched their spring/summer 2013 collections on the night, with several members from the cast of Fair City gracing the catwalk. Some of the more familiar faces included Maclean Burke (Damien Halpin), Victor Burke (Wayne Molloy), Dave O’Sullivan (Decco Bishop), Liana O’Cleirigh (Laura Halpin) and Niamh Quirke (Rachel Brennan). Other models included former Miss Clare Esther Woods and Rose of Clare Audrey Flynn.

Trad band Socks in the Frying Pan continued the night’s entertainment followed by a stellar performance of dance by Mickey Donnellan.

The night raised €10,500, which will benefit both Lotus Child and St Vincent De Paul, Clare charities.