Palm Beach Celebration : 2.17.08

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The American Ireland Fund held its annual Palm Beach fundraiser on February 17, 2008 at the oceanfront estate of Michele and Howard Kessler. A unique and intimate occasion, the “Palm Beach Celebration” was sponsored by the Kesslers, Lesley and Bart Grenier, Jackie and Jim Higgins, and Loretta Brennan Glucksman. The heart of the evening was an exquisite gourmet wine-pairing dinner that honored Robert, 11th Marquis de Goulaine and Kerry Murphy of DuMOL Wines, both honorary members of The Ireland Funds’ WineGeese Society.

The Ireland Funds’ WineGeese Society, which celebrates wine, food, and art of Irish provenance from around the world, was created under the leadership of Ken Gorman, John Sharkey, and John Tillotson of The American Ireland Fund, and renowned scholar, author, and wine historian Dr. Ted Murphy, who presented the Kesslers with a copy of his book.

The evening began with a poolside cocktail reception followed by an exquisite gourmet dinner that showcased select DuMOL Wines. Kingsley Aikins, President and CEO of The Worldwide Ireland Funds, welcomed the guests and acknowledged the dinner hosts. Kieran McLoughlin , President of The American Ireland Fund, explained the WineGeese society and introduced the honorees, Marquis de Goulaine and Murphy, who made brief remarks about the wines served at the dinner.

Consistently reviewed and rated by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator in the mid to high ‘90s, in just 12 years, DuMOL has enjoyed a meteoric rise. DuMOL wines can be found in The White House; The American Embassy in Paris, France and fine restaurants here and abroad. Since their inception, their wines have sold out months prior to their spring and fall release dates, making pre-release membership the only sure way to acquire these wines.

During the dinner, both honored guests were presented with official WineGeese decorations, and Aikins gifted the Kesslers with a special bog wood sculpture for their hospitality. Tenors & Divas Incognito, surprised and entertained the guests, who were treated to a live performance that melded the opera with the fun and relaxed approach of popular music. After dinner, the guests were invited to enjoy Irish coffee and cigars.

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9379: Kingsley Aikins, Ted Murphy, Kieran McLoughlin
9382: Garry Murphy, Ken Gorman, Kerry Chaffers
9398: Robert, 11th Marquis De Goulaine and Michele & Howard Kessler
9402: Michael & Peggy McGrath
9405: Jack Dunn & Declan Kelly
9407: Desmond McGuiness & Robert, 11th Marquis De Goulaine
9408/09: John & Lore Dodge
9411: Bob & Suzanne Wright
9415: Susan Davis, Paul Quinn, Denise Quinn
9419: Tony Condon, Paul Haran, Natalie McGuiness, Lawrence Crowley
9422: Mary Higgins-Clark, Joseph Fuchs, Sheila O’Malley-Fuchs
9423: Keelin McCormack, John McCormack, Amb. Michael Collins
9425: Keelin & John McCormack
9426: Sheila Palandjian with Bob & Mia Matthews
9429: Bart & Leslie Grenier
9431: Hillie Mahoney and Patricia Patterson
*9443/44: Margile Ercklentz, Alexander Erchlentz, Enno Ercklentz
9435: Lore Dodge, Carla Capone, Sheila Palandjian
9438: Bill & Nancy Rollnick
9440: Bob & Paula Batter
9443: Jack McCarthy, Mary Apied, Desmond Fitzgerald
9445: Pepper & Michael Jackson
9447: David McCourt, Garry Murphy, Ted Murphy
9448: Ted Murphy, Pepper Jackson, Garry Murphy, Michael Jackson
9451: Scott Knight & Sheila Palandjian
9453: Tom Kershaw
9454: Kingsley Aikins with Amb. Michael Collins
9456: Nancy & Bill Rollnick with Michele Kessler
9458: Bob & Paula Batter with Robert, 11th Marquis De Goulaine
9461: Kerry & Margie Murphy
9464: Kerry & Margie Murphy with Robert, 11th Marquis De Goulaine
9469: Colleen Bain & Jay Sullivan
9471: Peter Lyons, Kelly O’Neil, Betsy Nugent, Kay Lyons
9472/73: Grant Anthony
9475: Kay Lyons, Pat Patricia Patterson, Suzanne Wright
9481: Brian O’Conner, Tina Flaherty
9484: Dr. Michael Murphy, Sioban Murphy, Ian Hyland
9491/94: Bill & Anne McNally
9495/98: Peggy McGrath and Mary Higgins-Clark
9504: Sharon Bush & Leslie Grenier
9506: Sheila O’Malley-Fuchs & Lore Dodge
9507: Tom & Mary Gilbane with Howard Kessler
9511: Donna & Dick McCready
9512: Colleen Baine, Bob Crowe, Suzanne Wright
9515: Colleen Baine, George Cloutier, Tiffany Spadafora
9520: Bob & Lauren Reynolds
9521: Declan Kelly & Jack Dunn with Kingsley Aikins
9523: Tina Flaherty, Brian O’Conner with Michele & Howard Kessler
9525: Margie Murphy & Mary Higgins-Clark
9527: Tom Quick with Jean Van Sunderan
9529: Bill & Anne McNally with Tom Gilbane
9532: Hillie Mahoney with Robert, 11th Marquis De Goulaine
9534: Dick & Sallie Phelps
9536: Kingsley Aikins
9540: Kieran McLoughlin
9550/55: Robert, 11th Marquis De Goulaine
9557: Trophy
9567/74: Kerry Murphy
9579/85: Robert, 11th Marquis De Goulaine with Kieran McLoughlin
9586/91: Kerry Murphy with Kieran McLoughlin
9609: Mia Matthews
9616: Kelly O’Neil, Grant Anthony and Betsy Nugent
9641: Peggy & Michael McGrath
9648: Michael & Pepper Jackson and Kieran McLoughlin
9650: Lawrence Crowley, Sharon Bush, Howard Kessler, Tony Condon
9656: Becca Cason-Thrash, Michele & Howard Kessler
9658: Michele & Howard Kessler
9661: John & Becca Cason-Thrash

Captions provided by photographer - E&OE