The Australian Ireland Fund Governor Dinner : Wednesday 13 July 2005

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This years Australian Ireland Fund Governor Dinner took place at Sydney’s premier venue, Guillaume at Bennelong restaurant at the Sydney Opera House. It was kindly hosted by APN News and Media and was attended by 120 of The Australian Ireland Fund’s most generous supporters. The guests of honour at the event were Ireland Funds co-founder Sir Anothony O’Reilly AO and his wife Lady Chryss O’Reilly.

The event began at 7.30pm with champagne and cocktails in the bar which offered guests spectacular views of another Australian landmark, the Sydney Harbour Bridge. At 8.30 dinner was served in the restaurant and guests feasted on West Australian crab meat, roast lamb and a selection of Australian and French cheese, cooked personally by the restaurant’s owner and head chef, Guillaume Brahimi. After the main course, Charles Curran AO, Chairman of The Australian Ireland Fund spoke of the projects in Northern Ireland that the AIF supports and the difference the money raised in Australia made to the lives of some of the most disadvantaged people in Northern Ireland. Together with Sir Anthony, the Chairman presented specially commissioned Waterford Crystal glasses to the Governors present at the function, thanking them for their annual donations of $10,000. Toni Ryan and Rodney O’Neil were presented with Peace Trophies as they became Life Governors.

Guests present at the Dinner included, His Excellency, Irish Ambassador Declan Kelly, Irish Consul General Anne Webster, Irish Vice Consul Michael Keaveney, CEO of APN News and Media, Brendan Hopkins, Regional General Manager NSW/ACT of Qantas Peter McLaughlin. Directors present included, Kevin Luscombe AM, Ted Johnson, Jane Cosgrove, Peter Cosgrove, Frank Curran and Peter Ryan. Other Governors present included Peter Hunt, Mary Lee, Dympna Matthews, Craig and Julie McIntosh, Damien, Brendan and Paul O’Brien and Alastair Walton of Goldman Sachs JB Were.