Thursday morning saw the launch of the Irish Cancer Society's daffodil campaign. Limited edition John Rocha T-shirts with a beautiful motif of the flower were modelled by the willowy Jean Butler of Riverdance along with a host of the country's most talented and beautiful people. As models weaved through the Tea Rooms at the Clarence Hotel, Rocha, indulging his famous sweet tooth and doing justice to a delicious array of pastries, paid tribute to the campaign theme: "Daffodils are such pretty flowers, it was a pleasure to design around them."
Compere David Norris, getting into his stride, introduced Butler as the dancing queen before giving a mouth-watering commentary on her outfit. As Vivienne Connolly swanked through the room the rhapsody progressed: "Our models this morning have not only beauty but good breeding, discretion and sangfroid." The only male model was described as being attired in "a rather fetching little number".
Seated alongside the country's most celebrated designer - of whom Norris remarked, "John is so distinguished he is now referred to as English" - were John's wife Odette and pal Louise O'Loughlin of Firenze fame. Models included Sonia Reynolds, Ali Phelan and Barbara O'Reilly Hyland. Also present were singer and current Himself cover-girl Tara Egan Langly; I Went Down director Paddy Breathnach; film maker Liam McGrath; and actors Bosco Hogan, Peter O'Meara and Darragh Kelly from the Abbey's production of Colleen Bawn. Other guests included TDs Simon Coveney and Liz Mcmanus.