€100,000 raised for suicide charity

THE DUBLIN Castle dinner last night, which was attended by Bono, Bob Geldof and other dignitaries, and organised by property developer Noel Smyth to honour former British prime minister Tony Blair, helped to raise €100,000 for suicide prevention in Ireland.

More than 200 guests came to the Turn The Tide charity ball which honoured Mr Blair for his efforts as British prime minister in bringing about the Belfast Agreement 10 years ago.

Mr Blair, who arrived in Dublin yesterday afternoon from a business trip in the Far East, had been unable to attend Wednesday's commemoration in Belfast to mark the anniversary of the agreement.

The funds raised will go to the 3Ts: Turn The Tide of Suicide organisation for a number of North/South initiatives, including research support for an All-Ireland suicide survey, and helping to support services in Dublin and elsewhere.

Last night's guests included the former SDLP leader John Hume and his wife Pat; the British ambassador, David Reddaway; the US ambassador Thomas C. Foley; former attorney general David Byrne and his wife Geraldine; and U2 manager Paul McGuinness.

Mr Ahern presented Mr Blair with a painting by the London-born artist Guy Hanscomb, titled Beach Scene, Brittas Bay, which was said to capture "the transient atmospheric effects so characteristic of the Irish landscape".