Monday, April 18, 2011

Pier One Facebook Party & Viral Video Launch

Hi Everyone,

On Monday, the 31st of March, Pier One Limerick held its first ever "Facebook Party" in aid of the Cliona Ring Foundation and to thank all of its facebook fans and friends for their support since the hotel reopened under new management in November. The event coincided with the launch of the hotel's new viral video advertisement in which I played a member of staff.

 As you probably know by now, the Pier Hotel, Limerick and its bar, Pier One, is my favourite place to spend time in Limerick city. The hotel not only offers incredibly reasonable prices for a double room (as low as €39) but you can also avail of €5 breakfast and lunch deals in the fantastic city-centre location. If I have an event in Limerick, chances are you'll find me staying in the hotel that evening and in the restaurant the following morning indulging in their Vegetarian Surprise for breakfast.

Photo by Maggie Red

The Facebook Party was all in aid of the Cliona Ring Foundation, an organisation which is very close to my heart and which the Pier Hotel is a great supporter of. The Cliona Ring Foundation was set up by Brendan and Terry Ring after they lost their daughter, Cliona, to an inoperable brain tumour. The Foundation is unique in that it provides support for the families of children suffering from life-threatening illness through their non-medical expenses.  If you haven't done so already, check out the documentary the ILoveLimerick.com team and I filmed out in Lough Gur with Brendan and Terry Ring by clicking here. Cliona's and their story really is such a moving and inspirational one. You can find out more about the charity by visiting the website here.

Sami Long & Brendan Ring

On the night in question, guests attending the party saw Pier One transformed by means of a Facebook theme which featured a Poking Room, cocktails named after the social network site (including Add as a Friend, Poke Me and It's Complicated). Magician Steve Spade was there to entertain the crowd. Everyone who attended was also entered into a draw to win a whopping €1,000 cash prize on the evening, the winning ticket being picked by Brendan Ring. Typically, the gentleman who won wasn't even there to buy everyone a drink in celebration (although that would have been the grand gone pretty quickly)!

Photo by Maggie Red

Us participants/extras in the viral video were presented with Easter Eggs as a thank you for our hard work over the grueling two-day shoot! You can check out my blog post on the filming of the advertisement here.

I wore another stunning Rachel Gilbert dress from the Ivory Closet, Limerick and my make-up was done by Claire Kelly. Maggie Red was there to cover the event under the "Seriously Social" segment of her blog, which you can check out here
   
Sami Long & Diarmuid Ring

The party, as nights in Pier One always are, was a great laugh. Don't forget to add the Pier Hotel Limerick and Pier One Limerick as a facebook friend! 

Until Next Time,
Sami Long
Miss UN Ireland 2010
Miss UN Europe 2010