Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Ball raises €120,000 for children's charity : Moodie Davitt Report

Colm and Breeda McLoughlin with Jonathan Irwin of The Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation

IRELAND/UAE. The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Ball, one of the Irish racing calendar’s biggest social events, raised €120,000 for children’s charity, The Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, on 27 June. The ball preceded the following day’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, won by Australia, as reported.

The ball took place in the stunning surrounds of The K Club in Straffan, County Kildare, close to The Curragh Racecourse.

Guests included people from the worlds of business, entertainment and sport. In attendance from Dubai Duty Free were Executive Vice Chairman Colm McLoughlin and his wife Breeda, President George Horan and his wife Carmel, Vice President of Marketing Sinead El Sibai and her husband Jihad, Vice President of Operations Sean Staunton, as well as Jack & Jill CEO Jonathan Irwin. Also in attendance were TV personality Eddie Hobbs, politician Lucinda Creighton and RTÃ‰’s Tracey Piggott, who was MC on the night.

Sinead and Jihad El Sibai at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Ball

Siobhan Kilalea, Neasa and Gerard Lawless, Donal Kilalea

Ian and Jan Fairservice

An auction was held on the night to raise much needed funds for the charity. Auction items included a VIP racing package with Dubai Duty Free to Ascot; a trip to Dubai and stay in the five-star Jumeirah Creekside Hotel; a Waterford crystal egg designed by world renowned designer John Rocha, plus a silent auction.

Colm McLoughlin said: “We were delighted with the success of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Ball this year and appreciate the support of the guests in the room on the night, many of whom gave generously. The Jack & Jill Foundation is a worthy cause that benefits very sick young children and their parents. Jonathan Irwin spoke very movingly on the night of his and his wife’s own experiences with their son Jack and I am delighted that Dubai Duty Free has been able to get behind this fund raising event through our own Foundation.”

The winners of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Golf Classic

Jonathan Irwin commented: “The evening was a fantastic night of fundraising and fun, which included a live and silent auction and guests danced the night away until the early hours of Saturday morning. Our sincere thanks to Colm McLoughlin and Dubai Duty Free for choosing our charity as the recipient of this wonderful donation. To put this amazing donation into context it will allow us to provide 7,500 hours of home nursing care for our very fragile babies throughout Ireland – a truly wonderful gift.”