Hibernian Eyes Were Smiling at American-Ireland Benefit

The Hibernian hyperbole always flows as freely as the bubbly and brew when supporters of the American-Ireland Fund gather for their annual black-tie fund-raiser to promote charity and education in Ireland.

However, this year there was extra cause for celebration at Wednesday’s dinner-dance at the new Jimmy’s II.

For starters, the plan for padraigin (lasting peace) in Northern Ireland, brokered by Sen. George Mitchell, the group’s 1998 honoree, had taken effect only four hours earlier in Belfast.

And, after a yearlong face-lift, Anne and Jimmy Murphy’s posh Beverly Hills restaurant had reopened with a new look, orchestrated by the Murphys’ adult children, Sean, Jamie and Geraldine, all of whom are under 35.

“It’s a younger, more casual concept for the new millennium,” Jimmy Murphy said, “an Irish pub for the affluent.”

The format for this year’s hooley also departed from tradition. Instead of honoring an American of Irish heritage as in galas past, the evening paid tribute to the Emerald Isle itself--complete with bagpiper, Irish wolfhounds, step dancers and a menu of gravlax, rack of lamb, spinach-potato mousse and whiskey cake.

And the music was something grand; tenor Dennis McNeil’s songs from the old sod made eyes misty, and Ken O’Malley’s Twilight Lords kept the dance floor jumping.

Among the 300 celebrants were past awardees Gregory Peck and his wife, Veronique, Maureen O’Hara and Patty and Roy Disney. Also present: Consul General of Ireland Kevin Conmy, Gretchen and Michael Wayne, Lois and Buzz Aldrin, Katherine and Frank Price, state Sen. Tom Hayden, Joanna and Sidney Poitier, Peter Mullin and Merle Miller, Roger King and Finbar Hill.

All took home McNeil’s CD “Celtic Fire” and a drap of Bushmills’ whiskey for the wee hours. After all, Jimmy Murphy’s credo, one he is fond of repeating--is, “An Irishman never goes to bed the same day he gets up.”

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I don’t care what the others say about the play, dear hearts, I liked it.

But then I like everything if there’s a decent party attached. Sacre bleu, Neil Simon! Dites-moi, why would America’s renowned modern playwright try to reinvent himself as 17th century French dramaturge Moliere?

The party at Nick and Stef’s Steakhouse in downtown L.A. after the opening Thursday of Simon’s new play, “The Dinner Party,” was tres gai, but that was before the reviews for his tour de farce arrived. No matter, cheris, everyone had such nice things to say to the actors, John Ritter, Henry Winkler, Frances Conroy, Jeanne Cox, Edward Herrmann, and Anette Michelle Sanders, who stepped into a role after Rita Wilson stepped out.

Of course, they were surrounded by a claque from television series days that included Barbara Bain, Tony Danza, Dom DeLuise, Harry Groener, Garry Marshall, Charlotte Rae, Marion Ross and more. They raved about the martinis, Buffalo wings and onion rings too.

Patt Diroll’s column is published Tuesdays. She can be reached at pattdiroll@earthlink.net.