Saying a big Hello to VIP

`You can't even see the floor in there," remarked one harassed photographer, who seemed distinctly overwhelmed by the party to…

`You can't even see the floor in there," remarked one harassed photographer, who seemed distinctly overwhelmed by the party to mark the publication of Ireland's new society magazine VIP, at Christopher's Brasserie in the Fitzwilliam Hotel on Wednesday night. Guests were invited to a "glamorous launch party" and while the words "let us be the judge of that", sprung to mind, a rather large number of people obviously took them up on the offer. When the time came for publisher John Ryan to make his speech he had a hard time making himself heard - "Hello? Hello?" he shouted, "Hello? Oh no, it just looks like Hello!" - and indeed that is the conclusion one would draw from a magazine which shouts "TV star Clare McKeon and Baby Neil: He's Changed My Life" on its front cover. The guests could be divided into those who appeared in the pages (Robbie Fox of Renards, Ken Hutton of 98FM, TV3's Lorraine Keane, complete with camera crew); those who said they'd die rather than appear on its pages (everybody) and those who really do want to appear on its pages (you know who you are). Guests included a rake of designers including Deborah Veale, Ciaran Sweeney, Jen Kelly and Richard Lewis, who is heading off to Morocco for some r 'n' r next week; Aidan Doyle of the Burlington Hotel; Graham Cruz of band Dove; singer Samantha Mumba; actors Mary McEvoy and Colm Lydon; Count John McCormack from QV2 restaurant; Melanie Morris of d'Side magazine and former Miss Ireland, Amanda Brunker who celebrated her birthday in Renards last night.