Our Friends in Business

MS Ireland played host to the Friends of the MS Care Centre Luncheon on Friday 27th May and it was a day to remember for all in attendance. Almost 200 of Ireland’s finest businesspeople dined on a sumptuous three course lunch in the extravagant surroundings in the Four Seasons Hotel.

Anne Winslow, Chief Executive of MS Ireland, thanked everyone for becoming a friend of the MS Care Centre and spoke passionately about the importance of the Centre for people with multiple sclerosis across Ireland. Allen O’Connor, Chairperson of MS Ireland, spoke about how MS doesn’t always have to limit your activities or stop you from doing the things you liked to do before you were diagnosed and talked fondly of his travel experiences.

There was complete stillness when Mark Mitchell spoke from the heart about what the MS Care Centre means to him. His time at the Centre means his wife gets to have a well deserved break and joked that taking care of him is no easy feat! The humour and good nature of his words did not overshadow the significance of the Centre and the message that ‘Your friendship is hope’ reached the entire audience.

Neil O’Brien lifted the spirits of the guests with his witty account of the origins of his motivational speaking career. His inspirational words certainly rang true with our hopes and expectations of the luncheon and in turn, the Friends of the Care Centre campaign. We are grateful that he could share them with our guests on this day: “In life, you get what you expect… not what you want.”

With Michael Kelly from PJ O’Dywer Auctioneers at the helm, the auction was a great success with guests bidding on signed and framed Munster and Leinster rugby jerseys and a Millennium Bottle of 27 year old Jameson. The final lot was the original piece by internationally renowned photographer, Tom Lawlor, which was specially commissioned for MS Ireland. The raffle was a lively way to end the day and all of the wonderful prizes, donated to MS Ireland, were well received by their new owners.

MS Ireland would sincerely like to thank those who attended the luncheon. Without their support and good grace it would not have been such a resounding success.

To learn more about the MS Care Centre visit our dedicated website