ACTOR Jeremy Irons would be every mother's fancy, so when he arrived as guest of honour at the Unicef/Conrad International Mother's Day lunch, he drew many a maternal gaze. Irons charmed the 270 guests at the Conrad Hotel in Earlsfort Terrace on Thursday by reading a moving poem by Eavan Boland, before highlighting the plight of mothers in the developing world.
The actor's wife, Sinead Cusack, was unable to attend because she is busy filming in Australia. Unicef's special patron, actor Liam Neeson, did not attend this year, but his mother, Kitty Neeson, was there to lend her support. Ma Neeson will be flying to New York to join her son and her daughter-in-law, Natasha Richardson, to celebrate Mother's Day. Meanwhile, Irons will be remaining in Ireland, where he is working on his latest passion - reconstructing his castle in West Cork.
Thursday's lunch was also attended by designer Jen Kelly, Pat Desmond, wife of Dermot Desmond, Norma Smurfit, Phyllis Lynott, mother of the late rock star, Phil Lynott; Dr Anthony Clare; and architect Sam Stephenson.
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/irishtimes/3ed68466-8153-4210-9657-61d9faec103b.jpg)