They came in glittering and gorgeous attire to celebrate women of the year. Mnβ na h╔ireann, Dr Mo Mowlam in their midst, marched on the Four Seasons Hotel in Dublin this week for a party.
The inaugural Irish Tatler Women of the Year Awards were presented at a gala black tie dinner by the Tβnaiste Mary Harney TD. "Today is genuinely a moment to be cherished in Irish history," she said, just hours after the IRA announced it was putting its weapons beyond use. "The woman more than any other woman that played a very significant role in what happened today is Mo Mowlam," she said, before presenting Mowlam with the international woman of the year award.
Mowlam, who is currently writing a book about her time in government, took a few days off to attend. "This is a great honour," she said, beaming at the packed ballroom.
Woman of the year in the music category was Dolores O'Riordan, of the Cranberries, who wore a long black skirt (Gucci, of course) and a La Perla lace top - think Moulin Rouge. She was there with her husband Don Burton and friends from Limerick, including Dr Cathy Casey and her husband Seβn Canny, and Killmallock couple Ann Twomey and Dr Kevin Twomey. The group's new album, Wake up and Smell the Coffee, is due out this week.
A delighted Marian Keyes, winner in the literature category, came with her husband Tony Baines. Mick Lally, who accepted the award on behalf of Druid director Garry Hynes in the drama category, sat beside one of the judges - Geraldine Kearney, of the Gaiety Theatre. Lally, she says, is to perform in his first panto, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, this year. Tony Clayton-Lea, of this newspaper, who was another judge, was there with his wife, Angela.
Other award winners included Marian Finucane, in the media category; MβirΘad Berry, in sport; Constance Cassidy SC in business; Kathryn Sinnott in the special recognition category; and Mary Robinson, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, who was not present, received the overall award.