AS an integral part of the celebrations to commemorate the 150th running of the Irish Derby this year on Saturday, June 27th, the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Ball will take place in the magnificent surroundings of the K Club in Straffan, Co Kildare the night before on Friday, June 26th.

The Jack & Jill Foundation is the charity of choice for the second successive year and all proceeds will be donated to this charity which has been supporting over 1,800 sick children from across Ireland since 1997.

Last year the ball raised €120,000 for the charity amounting to over 7,500 hours of home nursing care for severely sick children throughout Ireland. Jonathan Irwin, who with his wife Senator Mary Ann O’Brien established the Foundation, said: “I am honoured that Dubai Duty Free have once again made us their nominated charity for the ball, it means that we can continue to care and support numerous Irish families going through the same trauma we ourselves encountered.’’ The couple established the charity in 1997 following the death of their son Jack.

The black tie ball will begin with a drinks reception and the MC for the evening is TV3’s Anna Daly. After dinner, guests will dance to the sounds of the Bentley Boys. Tickets are €125. Call Edelle Monahan at Jack & Jill on (045) 894538, email edelle@jackandjill.ie or contact Aileen O’Brien, O’Brien PR aileen@obrienpr.com mobile (086) 840 3624.