St. Patrick’s Society charity ball a smash
You know spring social has officially sprung when this column embraces every shade of shamrock in honour of the biggest greenest party machine-est of them all: the St. Patrick’s Society of Montreal’s annual charity ball. For your post-Pats pleasure, behold the highlights of this year’s electrifying edition, held once again in the elegant Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Château Champlain.
JADE-STYLE JOY: Ever adored by Montrealers of all backgrounds for its non-stop celebratory vibe, the ball stayed faithful to ritual. Appropriately themed Celebrating Our Irish Heritage, it wowed guests from start to finish with myriad perks and entertainments, including an insanely impressive four-course Irishthemed gourmet feast (Baileysinfused cheesecake is always a good idea); returning musical favourites the Director’s Showband (oh yeah!); excellent MCing from Global media goddess Kim (Sulli) Sullivan; an almost-impossibleto-resist silent auction (featuring winnables like business-class return airfare from Montreal to Dublin courtesy of Air Canada); and, of course, all the pomp and fabulousness surrounding performances by the Bernadette Short School Irish Dancers and Celtic band Solstice, who were equally enchanting later in the eve at Hurley’s Irish Pub. TOP-TIER GREEN SCENE: While attendance at St. Pats is endlessly emerald shiny — think business, government, sports and cultural elite — this year’s guest list was especially glittery (which might have had a wee something to do with the society’s much anticipated 185th anniversary).
First off, there was the ultraimpressive honour party piped in for dinner by pro piper Jeff McCarthy, made up of St. Patrick’s Society president Scott Phelan with Paula Phelan; German Society president Dr. Gisela Steinle with Richard Darling; St. Andrew’s Society president Jason MacCallum with Baroness Antoinette von Hahn; Erin Sports Association president Tim Furlong with Kim Lampitt; Irish Protestant Benevolent Society president Michael Nelson with Biliana Kovasevic; United Irish Societies of Montreal president Paul Loftus with Avi Loftus; rock-star reverend Father John Emmett Walsh (notably appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada for his commitment to charitable causes and unique ability to forge ties between faith communities); Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Montreal Most Reverend Thomas Dowd; city of Montreal representative and city councillor for Verdun Sterling Downey; honorary consul general of Ireland Dr. Michael Kenneally with Dr. Rhona Richman Kenneally; go-getting 2018 ball chair Kim Hogan with husband David Hannon; treasured guest of honour, president of Loyola High School Paul Donovan (attending with mother Anne Donovan), who was recognized for his contribution to the education and formation of future leaders as the first lay president of Loyola; and last but far from least, the eve’s beloved honorary patron Sean Finn, vicepresident, corporate services and chief legal officer CN and Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal chair, attending with wife Nicole Bélanger and daughter Mélanie BélangerFinn.
ALSO GLAMMING ON THE GREEN SCENE: John Parisella, special counsel, NATIONAL, with love, anchor, documentarian and author Esther Bégin; Kenniff & Racine partner and honorary consul of Finland Patrick Kenniff with Liette Lacroix; Borden Ladner Gervais partner and Pillars Trust president John Murphy with wife Susan; Loyola High School principal Tom Malone with wife Rebecca; and primed for the parade, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade queen and her court, Kathleen Brown-Vandecruys, Darragh Kilkenny-Mondoux, Olivia O’Keefe, Taylor Pogue and Lauren Tracey. RECORD-MAKING GREEN: Thanks to generous patrons and amazing event partners like Air Canada, Borden Ladner Gervais, Hurley’s Irish Pub, Irish Embassy Pub, Loyola High School, McCarthy Tetrault, National Bank of Canada and Royal Bank of Canada, sizable funds were raised for several worthy beneficiaries. ’Course they were!
To see more highlights from the ball and for other cool social, visit diaryofasocialgal.com.