Last weekend’s charity event ‘Celebrity Serve It Up’ was a resounding success both from a financial and a fun factor point of view according to the organisers, Kilkenny Business Women’s Network.
Local well-known people served a three course meal to a gathering of up to 300 people at Hotel Kilkenny on Saturday night before the real party began with music, dancing, and entertainment.
Some of the celebrities included dragons Bobby Kerr and Sarah Newman, sporting heroes DJ Carey and Ducksie Walsh, along with the firemen, the legal eagles, and the lesser known Kilkenny Advertiser team which consisted of Naoise Coogan, Deirdre O’Reilly, Bronagh Power, Sandra Barry, and special guest ‘Lily’ who offered ‘her’ services after years of waiting tables at the Burlington in Dublin! Tables 3 and 4 were ably catered for by the team and reports are that there were no complaints or spillages on the night (Thanks Claire! ).
More than €11,000 was raised for local charities The Good Shepherd Centre and Amber Kilkenny Women’s Refuge.
The evening started with a cosmopolitan cocktail reception sponsored by Hotel Kilkenny and guests were serenaded by the ever versatile Thukolo Gospel Choir. Then the fun started as guests met the celebrity teams who were looking after them for the night. At the end of service guests had to grade their celebrity servers and a winner was announced, all the teams were winners, but by a small margin the Fire Fighters got the biggest cheer at the end of the evening.
There was a great raffle, and €1,000 was raised when DJ Carey offered to auction the Kilkenny jersey, signed by the team, which he wore on the night. The highest bidder was Bobby Kerr who did not claim his prize until after the night had ended.
A hurley donated by Eoin Larkin created great diversion and had many bidders until it was snapped up for €500. MC for the night John Keane, from KCLR96FM, kept proceedings moving and interviewed both celebrities and guests during service which created great banter and fun on how the teams were performing. After the meal dancing took over and the music was provided by the fabulous Memphis Cats who sang for their dinner.
The party continued until late with music from DJ Paul Kavanagh. Well done to one and all for hosting such a worthwhile evening of fun and goodwill.
