It was like looking for an Oasis in a desert. The most sought after rock group on the social calendar maintained an air of fashionable mystery when they arrived in Cork for two midweek concerts at Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Speculation was rife as to where the band, fronted by brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher, were staying, where they were having their after show party, and even where they were buying their daily papers.
Mallow Castle was thought to be a sure thing, but owner Michael McGina, in his dapper American accent, put paid to that particular rumour "They never got back to me" he said. "Their people came and looked, said it was the ideal place, but that's the last I heard from them. It was a well founded rumour, because everybody I spoke to said that the word they were getting was that Oasis were staying here."
Was Michael disappointed that he didn't get to play host to the world's fastest rising rock group? "Not at all I'm more into Mozart and Haydn myself." You won't find many names from the rock world in Mallow Castle's guest book, but you will find more sedate names like US Speaker Of The House Tip O'Neill, film director Neil Jordan, actor Brian Dennehy and various writers and sports stars.
Given the band's bad reputation, Michael must be relieved that they haven't been let loose in the Castle's hallowed halls. "I never worry about people breaking up the place," he laughed. There's nothing I own that's priceless." But somewhere like the Liss Ard Lodge Hotel in Skibbereen seemed their most likely choice.
At the Oasis gigs were former Take That heart throb Robbie Williams singer and TV star Jimmy Nail Lord Henry MountCharles comedian Lenny Henry champion boxer Steve Collins racing driver Eddie Irvine and actors Richard E. Grant and Ewan McGregor. Also in town were Liam's fiancee Patsy Kensit, Liam and Noel's mother Peggy, and Noel's girlfriend Meg.
John has spent nine months working on the designs, and Waterford Crystal expect to launch the range next spring. At the opening were Patricia Jorgensen, NCAD's head of education Prof Iseult McCarthy, NCAD's head of fashion Frances McDonagh and her daughter Venetia, and John Foley, marketing director of Waterford Crystal.
