High camp and profundity at Gaze launch

THE SOCIAL NETWORK:Posters from the past 20 years adorned the walls of the Lighthouse Cinema, in Smithfield, on Thursday evening, for the opening of the 20th Gaze film festival, which provides a platform for LGBT cinema and filmmakers.

Fashion stylist and TV personality Sonya Lennon acted as MC for the evening and read out a letter from President Higgins, who could not attend.

Bill Hughes of Mind the Gap Films is sitting on the jury to select the best documentary. “I had already booked to come and see five movies, before I was asked, and now I have to see another five,” he said. “The programme is very strong this year, from the high camp of Carol Channing [star of Hello, Dolly!] to the profundity of Somerset Maughan.” Revealing Mr Maugham and Carol Channing: Larger Than Life will be screened on Monday at 1:30pm and 5:30pm respectively.

Also in attendance at the launch of the festival, Amnesty International Ireland’s Colm O’Gorman is hoping to take a holiday in West Cork later this month, while Brian Sheehan, from the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, praised his native Co Clare as a tourist attraction to commercial director of 4fm, Ken Hutton.

Who we spottedFestival manager Noel Sutton; board member of Gaze and Fair City story writer Sarah Francis; Accenture's Gillian Gooney, who was accompanied by her mother, Denise Comerford, from Blackrock, Co Dublin.

What we drankMiller beer and Manin pinot grigio 2011

Horses for courses at members-only polo in the park

Dana Wilkey of the TV show Real Housewives of Beverly Hills brought a bit of LA glamour to the All-Ireland Polo Club, in the Phoenix Park, on Sunday, for a polo barbecue hosted by private members' club, Quintessentially Lifestyle.

Wilkey – known for her big purchases – reminisced about buying $25,000 glasses and "a million dollar lollipop holder!" Shopkeepers in south Dublin will be glad to learn that she is to appear in season two of Southside Housewives.

Virginia Macari was delighted to learn that she'll be starring alongside Wilkey in the new series. Macari was accompanied by her partner Kaste Dahl and their son, Thor Sebastian. "I'm still breastfeeding," Virginia explained. She has just launched a bikini line, Miss V by Virginia Macari, which is currently stocked in Lara boutique on Dame Lane.

Aoife Williams from Ennis, Co Clare, was chosen to throw in the ball. She said she had a bad shot, and there was a thud when she hit the head of a polo pony.

It was too wet for the "stomping of the divots", where chunks of turf torn from the surface of the pitch by the polo ponies are pressed down by spectators. So there was no re-enactment of that famous scene from Pretty Woman.

What we drankFrancois Lurton's Les Fumées Blanches sauvignon blanc and Tiger beer

What we ateBurgers, Toulouse sausage and chargrilled chicken

Who we spottedPhilip Marley of Ely Property; Paul Smith of Lillie's Bordello; solicitor Michelle Sheeran; Sean Foley of Foley's Pub on Merrion Row; Niall O'Farrell of Dragons' Den

The Abbey gets on with the show

Minister Frances Fitzgerald was in familiar surroundings at the opening of the Abbey Theatre's production of The Plough and the Stars in the O'Reilly Theatre in Belvedere College on Thursday evening. The Minister for Children's three sons are Old Belvederians and her son, Mark, plays Lt Langon in the Seán O'Casey play.

Due to work to remove asbestos from the National Theatre, the Abbey has relocated temporarily to the O'Reilly Theatre. Fitzgerald attended many school performances in Belvedere College and felt it was a night to remember the late Gerry Haugh, Mark's drama teacher. He passed away last year shortly after celebrating his 100th production at the school.

O'Casey's daughter, Shivaun O'Casey, travelled from Ashburton, in Devon, for the opening. The British Ambassador, Dominick Chilcott, caught up with the director of the Abbey, Fiach Mac Conghail, who told me the stage in the O'Reilly Theatre is almost the same size as the one in the Abbey. At the interval some guests had their drinks outdoors in the school courtyard. "I want to bring this courtyard back to the Abbey," said Mac Conghail. Unlike in the Abbey, wine was allowed into the auditorium after the interval, once it was decanted into plastic cups.

Olivia O'Leary told me she's "off for the summer" and looking forward to spending time in Co Kilkenny. She enjoyed the play, as did her friends, Dr Olivia Muldoon, who has a practice in Dún Laoghaire, Eveleen Coyle, who owns food company Fabulous Food Trails, and Lorelie Harris, head of arts, features and drama at RTÉ Radio.

The Plough and the Stars continues in the O'Reilly Theatre until September 15th, after which the Abbey returns home for the Dublin Theatre Festival.

Who we spottedMike Scott of the Waterboys; Roddy Doyle; chairman of the Abbey board, retired High Court judge Bryan McMahon; pianist Conor Linehan; artist Grainne Cuffe; former minister Mary Hanafin

What we heardPeople sipping wine and chewing wine gums in the auditorium

Irish designers pop up at BT

London-based international fashion designer JW Anderson is due to arrive in Brown Thomas at the end of the month, for the pop-up installation Irish Designers CREATE, which focuses on top Irish designers.

Born in Magherafelt, in Derry, Jonathan William Anderson originally worked in Brown Thomas, before studying for a menswear degree at the London College of Fashion.

He is the brother of Connacht flanker Thomas "TJ" Anderson and the son of the former Ireland Rugby International Willie Anderson.

The dedicated pop-up space in Brown Thomas will feature the work of 10 new and established Irish designers working across fashion, millinery, jewellery and textile design. Other designers included include Sorcha O'Raghallaigh, whose designs have been worn by Lady Gaga; milliner Mark T Burke; knitwear designer Lisa Shawgi; and textile designer, Lisa Ryder.

Born to be Wilde

There could be a lot of shouting on Wicklow Street on August 16th as Lulu is expected to make an appearance at the opening of Wilde, owned by developer Paddy McKillen and his son, Paddy jnr. The club promises to be straight-friendly and the owners have taken the talent agent, Julian Benson, on board to curate and manage the new venture. It has a number of zones including a bar, performance space, gallery and private areas. Open seven nights a week, highlights will include Cirque du Wilde, Oscars Movie Night and Cocktails & Cupcakes.

Model behaviour

Never let it be said that Irish models don't eat. On Tuesday afternoon four of the best, Jodie Wood, Leah O'Reilly, Michele McGrath (left) and Jane Palmer had their best bibs and tuckers on in Isabel's on Baggot Street.

No sooner had they digested when an interviewer and cameraman popped out of the kitchen from MasterChef Ireland, and interviewed them about the food. The new series is currently being shot in various locations across town.