While the St Patrick's Day do in Washington may have boasted America's first couple Bill and Hillary Clinton, the New York St Patrick's Day Ball had a glamour of its own. Margot Con- way-Wick of the IDA had gathered together all sorts of folk with an Irish connection or just a gra for paddywhackery, in the prestigious Plaza Hotel at Central Park.
Several people flew in especially for the ball including the Rich and Famous TV show host, Robin Leach, who arrived from his home in Antigua in the West Indies, and PR expert Yanou Collart, who arrived from Paris via Concorde and regaled friends George and Margot Gordon with stories of the parties he had organised for the likes of Bette Midler and Anthony Quinn.
Dinner was held in the Baroque Ballroom and several people hosted high-profile tables including John Fitzpatrick of the wellknown hotel group, who entertained Jim Monaghan of Monaghan Menswear, wearing a very nifty kilt; Brian Reid, the British banker who has recently re-located to New York; Sean Holmes, manager of the new Grand Central Fitzpatrick's Hotel; and broker Sara Salih.
Chef, gardener and food writer Darina Allen was there, looking very glamorous in sea-green silk. She was accompanied by her brother, Rory O'Connell. She signed copies of her new book all over New York on March 17th, as well as appearing on Good Morning America TV. New York socialites Diarmuid Hogan and Mary Pat Thurston hosted a glamorous table which included Elite agency model Victoria Brown; Colombian Sonja Galvis; Paul Perks, brother of Rolling Stone Bill Wyman, with his wife Jill; Fiona McGlynn who was over from Dublin, and Bar- bara and John O'Sullivan, an early member of the American Ireland Fund.
There were also a fair few Irish corporate and legal faces in evidence. Arthur Cox & Co entertained Declan Drisland from Dublin, Declan Gavin from Ernst & Young, Cormac O'Malley of Bristol, Myers, Squibb, and corporate attorney Joel Rosenberg with his wife Willa. Marie O'Connor, Peter Conlon and Tadgh O'Donoghue were there representing Shering-Plough corporation; Connie Doolan was there from Guinness, and Brian Stack was there from CIE Tours.
Other ballgoers included The Irish Times chief executive and group managing director, Louis O'Neill; former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds fresh from his march down 5th Avenue as grand marshall of the parade; Jacqueline Quinn, top designer at John Roberts Inc, wearing own of her own creations, and her husband, Dr Maurice Green of SheringPlough. Proceeds from the ball went to St Patrick's Hospital in Cappagh, Co Dublin as well as Croi, the Galway-based charity. Pat and Mary Ennis of the Cappagh Foundation flew in with Dr Sue McManus for the ball.