The date: Saturday March 26. The place: the Mövenpick Resort & Spa in Karon. The occasion: A glittering charity ball in the best champagne traditions from New York to Paris to London. Raising almost 2m Baht for the Life Home Project was the stated purpose (and achievement) of the event. Having a helluva craic [see footnote] was what the island’s notables (and a few outsiders) went to the St Patrick’s Ball for.

The craic: More or less free flow Moet, a splendid buffet, great company, suitably Irish entertainment and the chance to throw a whole bunch of unwanted Baht at such items as a Magnum of Champagne with Swarkovski Crystal, a diamond necklace set in white gold, two roundtrip tickets to Dublin and even a backstage meet and greet with Justin Bieber!

Craic /kræk/ As you’d expect, it seems no two people define the word in the same way. Here are a few we like:

"It is the combination of the music, the drink…and trying to make headway with people of the opposite sex."

"The particular sense of esprit produced by the confluence of drink, romance and music.”

"An atmosphere of comfortable and pervasive conviviality, a complete absence of distrust in pleasant, relaxed and relaxing company…Heightened euphoria is not a necessary requirement.” [Ed: not sure about that last bit]

And finally, from Professor Eileen M. Trauth: “Craic is an intrinsic part of the culture of sociability that distinguishes the Irish workplace from those of other countries.”

Life Home Project (LHP) LHP is a local foundation that provides shelter for women and children affected by HIV as well as childcare, vocational training, health education and hospice assistance.

The St Patrick’s Ball is organized by Irish Honorary Consul Hélène Fallon-Wood (and her team) as LHP’s major fundraiser. Hélène and the LHP would like to thank sincerely all the sponsors, partners, prize donators and those who parted with money on the evening. You all who helped make the event a financial success, you are too many to mention here, but you know who you are and why you gave.