An Taoiseach joined Senator Mary Ann O’Brien and her staff in Lily O’Brien’s Newbridge to celebrate the company’s 21st Birthday and its involvement with The Big Egg Hunt for Jack & Jill

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D. was in Lily O’Brien’s Chocolate Factory in Newbridge with Senator Mary Ann O’Brien to celebrate 21 years of Lily O’Brien’s and to mark the company’s sponsorship of The Big Egg Hunt in aid of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, of which Mary Ann is the co-founder.

As part of the celebrations on 1st March, the Taoiseach saw firsthand the largest chocolate egg ever made in Ireland created by Lily O’Brien’s in celebration of its title sponsorship of the Big Egg Hunt in aid of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation. Standing 2.4m tall and weighing more than 880kg, the chocolate egg was hand decorated with white chocolate lilies and jewels. As co-founder of the Jack & Jill Foundation, Mary Ann O’Brien explains what it has meant to the company to have been part of the Big Egg Hunt 2013 – “For years we have been trying to find a project to work with Jack & Jill on, and so when the Big Egg Hunt presented itself we just had to be part of it. We’re thrilled to be title sponsor of this magical event which brings culture, art, social responsibility and family fun to Dublin City in the lead up to Easter.”

Today the company employs 120 full time staff and produces up to 60 tonnes of chocolates per week from its repertoire of over 180 different chocolate recipes. For the past five years the company has been Ireland’s top performing indigenous chocolate brand within the premium confectionery category, with consistent 15% market share (Nielsen, 2012: sales in multiple retailers).

The Big Egg Hunt is currently under way with all 100 eggs located throughout numerous iconic venues in Dublin. This very exciting event sponsored by Lily O’Brien’s in support of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation will culminate with the Live Auction of the Golden Eggs which will take place on Saturday 23rd March 2013 in the Four Seasons Hotel, Dublin.

Evening will commence with a Champagne Reception followed by dinner.
The live auction of the Golden Eggs will then be conducted by Nick Nugent of Goffs.
Dancing and Entertainment will follow the auction!

Join us on night for this Charitable Event or if you can’t make it to the Four Seasons you can still Bid By Telephone or by Absentee Bidding Process.

For queries please contact:

Dearbhla Meaney t. 086 8221751 | e. info@whitediamondsevents.org
Deirdre Walsh t. 045 894538 | e. deirdre@jackandjill.ie

Dress Code: Black Tie
Tickets €150 per person
RSVP: bigegghunt@gmail.com

Tuesday 12th February saw the launch of what is the biggest EVER Easter egg hunt and on street art display in the history of our state. Celebrity chef, Nick Munier, 2fm’s Rick O’Shea and Cormac Battle, and Thelma Mansfield along with a number of other artists were present at the unveiling of their giant masterpieces in St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin.

The Big Egg Hunt will take place across Dublin City for 40 days and 40 nights. There is a map to help guide you to where these eggs are hiding (available for download). Get the family involved in the hunt to find the giant eggs, if you find 20 of these eggs and collect the special code on each of the eggs (found on base) to enter the draw for a grand prize (diamonds for Mum sponsored by Diamant.ie, chocolate factory visit for kids, and a year’s supply of chocolate from Lily O’ Brien’s), it’s fun and easy and it’s for a great cause.

All the eggs will then be auctioned for charity in aid of the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation. The online auction begins immediately (on: thebigegghunt.ie/auction ) and will culminate in a live auction at the Four Seasons Hotel, on 23rd March. The hand crafted eggs are destined to become highly collectible and valuable works of art. And anyone can buy them.

Each one of the hundred eggs secreted around the city are 2 ½ ft in height and decorated by well known artisans. Big artist names decorating the eggs include Guggi, Felim Egan, Rasher, John Rocha, Ireland’s newest music sensation the Strypes to household names like 2fm’s Joe Duffy, Rick O’Shea & Cormac Battle.

A free picture booklet with the complete collection of eggs will be available in outlets across the city from Saturday, including: Arnotts; Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre; Brown Thomas; selected Insomnia’s and Applegreen outlet; and Dublin City Improvement booths.

Like & Hunt!

We have just launched our new The Big Egg Hunt Facebook page

Get regular updates about this fantastic event, artists, eggs, venues and more straight on your Facebook profile. Follow the hunt and share it with your Friends. Everyone can be part of Ireland’s biggest and most interactive public art display by simply following The Hunt on Facebook:

Artist Rasher calls for 100 fellow artists to join Ireland’s BIGGEST EVER egg hunt in aid of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation and sponsored by Lily O’Brien’s!

Renowned Irish artist Rasher called for 100 fellow artists to showcase their talent and get involved in Ireland’s BIGGEST EVER egg hunt in aid of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation and sponsored by Lily O’Brien’s at a photocall in the Merrion Hotel Dublin today, when Rasher was served with his Egg – quite literally!

Jack & Jill needs 100 artists to sign up by the end of November-2012 to decorate the eggs with a completion date for these works of art of mid-January 2013. All those interested are asked to contact Jack & Jill 045 894538 or thebigegghunt@gmail.com. As well as Rasher, Guggi, Orla de Bri and Graham Knuttel and NCAD students are already on board this nationwide fundraising initiative for Jack & Jill which makes art accessible to everyone.

Rasher was joined today by Senator Mary Ann O’Brien, chairman of Lily O’Brien’s Chocolates and co-founder of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, as well as Eoin Donnelly, managing director, Lily O’Brien’s.

Photo Colm Mahady/Fennells – Copyright© 2012 Fennell Photography