Jennifer Butle,Bridget Cleary and Marion Cunningham pictured at the ' Remembering Julian ' Julian Benson Foundation Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Summer lunch at the Brabazon Restaurant in Tankardstown House.Picture Brian McEvoy

Julian Benson rememberd at stylish Cystic Fibrosis Summer Lunch!

The sun shone and the champagne flowed as friends and supporters of the Julian Benson Cystic Fibrosis Foundation gathered at the Brabazon restaurant of Tankardstown House, and raised vital funds for ‘Tranquility House’, the JBCFF home away from home for families of hospitalised cystic fibrosis warriors, to continue the legacy of the late Julian Benson just one month on from his sad passing.

Guests were welcomed with a fabulous Taittinger Champagne reception, then a very special ‘Cha Cha Boom Balloon Raffle’ where one lucky lady won a pair of 18ct white gold, tanzanite & diamond earrings donated by Rare Jewellery Design, followed by a sumptuous lunch by the award-winning Brabazon restaurant, and dancing to the dulcet tones of Shane O’Neill, and an 80s 90s set from DJ Alan Martin.

The event also featured a raffle of exciting prizes including items from The Designed Table, Ribbon Rouge, Wellness At The Coach House, Wilkinson Jewellers, Gloss Beauty Bar, Ted1942, Peter Mark, Vanity Rooms, Curated by Design Centre, Newbridge Silverware and Meath Chamber of Commerce.

This was swiftly followed by an outstanding auction under the hammer of auctioneer Brian Dempsey where the top lot was one of Julian Benson’s iconic ornate jackets by Claire Garvey Couture along with sparkling shoes, that was purchased by Anne Marie McManus & Mary McKeown and both ladies immediately donated this lot back to be framed for display in ‘Tranquility House’ forever.

Other fabulous auction lots included a consultation with Dermot Bannon, An Ireland’s blue book voucher for Gregans Castle Hotel, a Four Ball in the K Club, a portrait photography session with Jenny McCarthy, and a stay in Tankardstown House with helicopter flight over Ireland’s Ancient East, and a visit to the racing yard of racehorse trainer, Noel Meade.

Guests spotted on the day included Joanne Salmon, Carol Mallon, Helen Fox, Ashling Kilduff, Anne Marie McManus, Mary McKeown, Elaine & Paul Monahan, Marietta Doran, Catherine Noone, Louise Delahunty, Caroline Horgan, Hazel McGuinness, Joanne Macken and many others.

Event organiser, Derville Meade, a board member of the Julian Benson cystic Fibrosis Foundation, spoke on the day saying “ this day was planned along with Julian in the hopes that he would be well enough to attend and how proud and happy he would be to see all of you here”, she also highlighted how everyone can now sign up online to the recurring donation of €8 a month which will enable the foundation to maintain the day to day running costs of Tranquility house, for more information click here