We've hardly thrown away those Valentine's Day flowers before Mother's Day, St Patrick's Day and all those other "days" that swell the coffers of Hallmark, come along. This year however, a particularly interesting clatter of mums coming to town on Mothers' Day (March 12th) means the day might just mean more than a bunch of wilting carnations.
UNICEF and the Conrad Hotel have teamed up to prepare a lunch for the President, Mrs McAleese; actress and UNICEF ambassador Vanessa Redgrave and her mother, actress Rachel Kempson. To take the "mother connection" one step further - Vanessa is the mammy of Natasha Richardson who is married to our own Liam Neeson, actor and Ireland's special patron of UNICEF.
Liam won't be able to make the lunch as his new play, The Judas Kiss, begins that day in London, but his mother, Kitty Neeson will be there - surely a memorable meeting of mother-in-laws. Tickets for tables went on sale last week and, thanks to the efforts of Alma Carroll Ryan, Jane Clare, Caroline Sweetman Stephenson and Mai Frisby, (aka the fundraising committee), more than half have gone already. To ensure your entry into the "Daughter/Son of the Year awards", call UNICEF 01-6770843.