Ireland’s top entertainment consultant Carol Hanna brought out all the stars this week as she celebrated not only the landmark of 50 years in the entertainment business, but her company ‘Carol & Associates’ celebrated it’s 30th Anniversary and it was also her birthday on the evening.
The huge celebrations took place at the InterContinental Hotel, Ballsbridge, on Saturday evening with a host of famous faces joining the party.
Carol was joined by a host of A-list attendees at the event, including Johnny Logan, Miriam O’Callaghan, Marty Whelan, Rory Cowan, Red Hurley, Anton Savage, Linda Martin and Brendan Grace.
Carol Hanna represents such luminaries as Miriam O’Callaghan and Marty Whelan.
Carol & Associates book Artists, Comedians, Celebrities and Sports Personalities for Corporate and private events all over the country. Carol has worked with many of Ireland’s leading names including Maxi, Marty Whelan, Linda Martin, Johnny Logan, Red Hurley, Dickie Rock, Tony Kenny and many more including the late Gerry Ryan. Carol & Associates is one of Ireland’s most trusted go-to agencies today.
Carol has met the who’s who of Ireland who have become friends, clients and business associates. Among the many photographs in her office is one of her with Taoiseach Albert Reynolds and Terry Wogan which takes pride of place on her wall.
She has met many of Ireland’s leaders including Taoiseach Albert Reynolds and Bertie Aherne who even attended her 50th Birthday Party! She nearly met Charlie Haughey at an event except that Charlie was small in stature and he was surrounded by a lot of tall people so she couldn’t see him!
Carol has lots of stories (many of which she might have to be bribed to tell!). She remembers the night many moons ago when Linda Martin won the Castlebar Song Contest and both herself and Linda were driving back to Dublin at 3am in the morning with the suitcases of a Bride and Groom which were accidentally placed in the booth by their Driver! Carol, being the wonderful organiser that she is, got the suitcases to the couple just in time for their 7am flight on their honeymoon!
Sean Connery once rang her to get Boyzone autographs for the 11-year-old daughter of a friend. “You sound just like Sean Connery” says Carol. “I am Sean Connery” came the reply. She told him he could ring her any time, he said he might just do that!
A young 18 year old Louis Walsh was brought in by Tommy Hayden to help Carol during the hectic days of the Showbands. Louis took on the role of managing Chips featuring Linda Martin. When Carol ventured out on her own, Louis worked alongside her.
Carol Hanna was one of the first people to start Corporate Events in Ireland. A flavour of the people she has booked include booking Rugby International Referee Nigel Owen; bringing James Galway to Dublin Castle; booking both Brian O’Driscoll, Roy Keane, Linford Christie and Lions Coach Warren Gatland for her clients Corporate events; she even arranged the entertainment for Lions Captain Rory Best’s wedding. This is all in a day’s work for Carol.
She organised the entertainment for a private event for Chubby Chandler’s Company ISM in the Royal Dublin Golf Club and it was so secret she didn’t know who the guests were for until afterwards. Guests in attendance included Rory McElroy, Jack Nicklaus, Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell & Padraig Harrington.
Carol attended her first Eurovision Song Contest 41 years ago while working with Tommy Hayden when Red Hurley was representing Ireland in The Hague in 1976.
She has attended a total of seven Eurovisions including Johnny Logan (1980, 1987), Jump The Gun (1988) the year Celine Dion won!, Linda Martin (1992) and Niamh Kavanagh (1993).
For more pics: