IRFU Charitable Trust 2024 Rugby Ball in association with Vodafone Foundation
We are delighted to announce that Jenny Murphy will be joined by current Leinster and Ireland International Jimmy O’Brien and former Scottish International, Johnnie Beattie as our very special guests at our annual Rugby Ball, in association with Vodafone Foundation. Taking place Friday 15th March on the eve of what could be a historical ‘Super Saturday’ for Irish Rugby as Ireland’s senior men’s team continue their quest for an incredible back-to-back Grand Slam! This year’s Rugby Ball will be held once again in the popular Round Room at the Mansion House, Dawson Street. Thank you once again to Vodafone and the Vodafone Foundation for sponsoring the night. Without the ongoing collaboration and compassion of our sponsors, we would not be able to have such an amazing event that is a calendar highlight for rugby fans; fans who continue to support the Charitable Trust in helping seriously injured rugby players and their families – some of who will join us on the night.
We would love you to join us hence to book your table please contact Linda Black on 01 647 3866 or email charitabletrust@irfu.ie noting there are a handful of tables left and the cost for a table of ten people is €2,500 with all funds raised on the night in aid of seriously injured rugby players and their families. Thank you once again to our loyal supporters, including corporate supporters and Corporate FRIENDS, who will join us on the night – plus a special welcome to those who will be joining us for the first time. We would also like to welcome Business Plus as our media partner for the event. Thank you to both Business Plus and DMG Media Ireland for your ongoing support.
Guests will once again be treated to a drinks reception at 7pm led by our loyal drinks partner Guinness – who very kindly provided Guinness and Rockshore for guests on arrival. Many guests in attendance will also be checking the score of the Ireland U20s match, kicking off at 7pm that evening! We wish the U20s the very best for what could be another historical moment in Irish Rugby! As well as Guinness and Rockshore, this year we are delighted to have Coops Cocktails as a particularly special addition to our drinks reception. Coops Cocktails was only established last year by model and cocktail lover Joanna Cooper, who also happens to be married to Irish rugby legend Conor Murray. Another great example of the Irish rugby community coming together to support seriously injured players. The drinks reception is followed by a silver service dinner from 8pm with entertainment and a few surprises earlier in the evening. A supporter of the Charitable Trust for many years, our MC for the 2023 Ball is once again the highly entertaining Alan Shortt. Last year, Risteárd Cooper (no relation to Joanna as far as we know!) spoke with seriously injured player Ciaran McCarthy, which was a particularly special moment during the night. There were many great moments during the 2023 Ball – please have a look at the video from the 2023 Ball on this page, created by our wonderful Corporate FRIEND and Video Partner Get Broadcasting. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Leinster Rugby for their particular support for this event.
As mentioned, the Rugby Ball takes place the evening before Ireland play their final 2024 Guinness Six Nations match against Scotland in the Aviva. There will be a few sets of tickets available for the match in our Auctions and we’d like to say special thanks in particular to our partners Vodafone and Guinness for their generosity in supporting the Auctions. Along with a few Scottish surprises, we will have further great rugby prizes for our live Auction as well as prizes from the world of music, sports and entertainment in our Silent Auction – make sure to register early to get your bid placed for the Silent Auction items that catch your eye.
This year, we are thrilled to announce that we will have team signed jerseys from all twenty Unions from the Rugby World Cup in France up for grabs in our Silent Auction; including an Ireland RWC jersey and a RWC jersey from back-to-back World Cup Champions, South Africa – remembering Ireland were the only team to beat the World Champions at the Rugby World Cup … just saying. For 2023, Henry Beeby from GOFFS very kindly gave his time to conduct the Live Auction. The ever popular raffle will also take place on the night with at least one prize per table; as well as the fun “Heads & Tails” to kick us off where a Butlers hamper will won by the last guest standing! As always, we greatly appreciate the generosity of all of you who contribute to the auction items and raffle prizes on the night including aforementioned Vodafone and Guinness, as well as Aer Lingus, Bank of Ireland, The K Club, Leinster Rugby, Galway Bay Golf Resort and the IRFU to name a few.
Our Q&A with very special guests from the world of Rugby – Jenny Murphy, Jimmy O’Brien and Johnnie Beattie, will be hosted by the always fun and insightful Nigel Osborne. It is particularly great to have Johnnie Beattie joining us on the night of Ireland U20s final match against Scotland, and the day before Ireland senior men’s team take on Scotland in the Aviva. The brilliant WOW Party Band will be our late night entertainment, and we hope they will have everyone on the dance floor celebrating an Ireland U20s victory!
Finally we’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your ongoing support – sponsors and donators, committee members and volunteers, colleagues and all our loyal and generous guests including our FRIENDS. Your support for those who have been seriously injured playing the game we all love is greatly, greatly appreciated.
