On Wednesday 29th July, Dublin Zoo officially welcomed their latest arrivals of two Sumatran Tiger cubs.

The birth of these two cubs is a true testament to the successful breeding programme in place at Dublin Zoo.

The birth occurred in the early hours of 29th May to mother Sigra. Keepers were aware of the pregnancy but were not sure of her due date so were over the moon to arrive in early on the morning of the birth to find two beautiful tiger cubs nursing beneath their tired, but extremely proud mother.

The male cub weighed in at 1 kg at birth and the female .85 kg.

The family appear to be bonding very well and although it’s unusual for the mother, father and cubs to be a unit they are already displaying a natural connection. Dad, Kepala, is playing an active role and is taking his fatherly duties very seriously.

Dublin Zoo plays a significant role in the international breeding programme which is designed to ensure the survival of tigers in their natural habitat.

Visitors to Dublin Zoo will be able to see the new tiger cubs, alongside their Mother Sigra and Father Kepala from today.

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John Milne, OgilvyOne Creative Director

As you’d expect, there’s some great work among the finalists in the 2009 Cannes Awards for Direct Marketing. What’s more surprising is what’s missing. Paper.

For a marketing discipline which was once jokingly referred to as ‘the folding stuff’, there’s remarkably little of it around this year. Basically, if a campaign hasn’t got a significant digital component it probably won’t win, even though no one suggests that DM is any less effective than it was a few years ago. As a result many entries could equally have won in another category. And in fact the overall winner, The Best Job in the World Campaign for Queensland Tourism, did indeed win a Grand Prix in both Cyber and PR.

It is, of course, only fitting that I should be pointing this out to you in a digital format…

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Laura Greer, WHPR

Roll up, roll up – the perfect drink for summer has arrived and legendary DJ and style icon Jade Jagger was at Ely Place last Thursday to kick off the launch party of the extraordinary new Smirnoff Mule with an edgy DJ set.

Over 150 guests attended the party and were entertained by a host of carnivalesque performers including the Smirnoff ringmaster as well as stilt walkers and jugglers. Guests enjoyed the new Smirnoff® Mule prepared fresh at the bar and served over ice. This contemporary twist on the original Smirnoff® Moscow Mule, first devised in 1940s America, combines the purity of Smirnoff® Vodka with a kick of ginger ale and a refreshing bite of lime creating an extraordinary double act. Be sure to ask your barman to make one for you this summer.

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GUINNESS & Co Announces Artist Line Up For Ireland’s Arthur’s Day Celebrations

GUINNESS announces today the line-up of artists for Dublin’s Arthur’s Day 250th anniversary celebrations on 24th September 2009. The celebrations begin in Dublin at 17:59 local time with a global toast to Arthur Guinness to mark 250 years since the signing of the 9,000 year lease on the St. James’s Gate brewery and kick off the beginning of the Arthur’s Day global events.

Some of the music industry’s biggest names including Tom Jones, Sugababes, David Gray, The Kooks, Razorlight and David Holmes as well as some of today’s most influential rising stars such as Imelda May, Republic of Loose, Mick Flannery, Reverend and the Makers, Mystery Jets, Noah and the Whale, Jamie Cullum and Calvin Harris will be joining previously announced artists such as The Enemy, Estelle, Soul II Soul, The Undertones and Kasabian for the Dublin celebrations. Over 60 Artists will be performing in Dublin and around the world including New York, Lagos, Yaoundé and Asia to mark this remarkable milestone.

In Dublin thousands of people will be coming together to experience the live music events in over 30 venues across Dublin from intimate gigs in 28 Dublin pubs to 4 other music venues and even a concert at the St. James’s Gate brewery itself. One of the most historic buildings in the brewery, Hop Store 13, will become a live music studio for Arthur’s Day where more than 2,000 guests from around the world will enjoy performances from global Artists in honour of this remarkable milestone and the legacy that is Arthur Guinness.

Those lucky enough to get their hands on tickets to the four studio venues – Tripod, Vicar St, Whelan’s and The Academy – will enjoy up to seven amazing international and Irish artists while consumers attending the pub venues such as Oliver St John Gogarty’s, O’Donoghues, Mulligans and The Palace Bar, will have the unique experience of seeing two well known artists and a performance from a special guest in the intimate surroundings of a traditional Dublin pub.

Tickets will go on sale via Ticketmaster at 9am on 23rd July. Tickets for the four studio venues and the 28 Dublin pubs will only cost €17.59 and €9 respectively. Proceeds from all ticket sales will be donated to the Arthur Guinness Fund.

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Roisín Greene, Ogilvy & Mather Group

Research funded by the Department of Health and Children, and carried out by the ESRI and Trinity College. Website here.

There are nearly 57,000 9 year olds in Ireland, with the number of boys to girls almost equal. Nine year olds spend their time in school, at home, and at play. As such their families, friends, and teachers play important roles in their lives. The majority of nine year olds are pretty happy; reporting strong family relationships, enjoyment at school, and hanging out with friends as their favourite pastime.

Over three quarters of all nine year olds live in families with two biological parents. Parents are active in their children’s lives. They spend time with them daily, by eating meals together, watching TV, and playing outdoors. This interest continues into education where they assist their children with their homework, with 75% of parents expecting their nine year old to achieve at least degree level.

Differences between the genders are quite marked by the time a child reaches nine years of age. These differences can be seen in most aspects of their lives, from the expected chores carried out, the most popular hobbies, and future aspirations. Girls are more likely to clean the dishes, be interested in cultural pursuits, and want to be a primary school teacher when they grow up. In contrast, boys are more likely to take out the rubbish, play sport, and want to be an athlete. Differences continue in relation to the health of a child, with girls less likely to meet the recommended amount of physical activity and consequently are more likely to be over weight. In total one in four Irish nine year olds are overweight

On the whole 9 year olds seem to be a happy bunch. They get on well with their parents, enjoy school, and love hanging out with friends and playing sport.

To find out more about this research, the reports can be found at;

No.1 Being 9 Years Old

No.2 The Families of 9-Year-Olds

No.3 The Education of 9-Year-Olds

No.4 The Health of 9-Year-Olds

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Ian Brower, Ogilvy & Mather Advertising

The good thing about posing one’s own questions is that one invariably has a quick answer.

Ideas are killing execution.

That’s not to say that ideas are not worth pursuing.

Plainly they are.

But in our quest for the Holy Grail, the Big Idea, the Shining Path, we tend (and forgive the mixed metaphor) to fall at the last fence. More often than not, ideas are badly executed.

I would far rather have a competent idea well executed, than a great one ruined by poor production.

It is possible to have an idea in a second. But to make that idea a reality, be it on paper, film or the airwaves, takes time.

So, are we spending our time wisely?

I’d argue that’s it’s virtually impossible to have an idea that plainly wrong. You’re even less likely to go down a false strategic route.

So here’s an idea. Find an idea that’s not wrong (which, if you accept the above, is not difficult or time consuming) then spend your time executing it well (which is difficult and time consuming).

If this sounds like heresy, ask yourself one last question. What really engages consumers? What you say privately, or what you do publicly?

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Marks & Spencer unveiled their 2009 Summer Collections on Thursday evening (11th June) with a delicious BBQ and a stunning showcase of M&S alfresco homeware.

Interiors stylist, Claire Wyse set the scene for the event, focussing on M&S’ key alfresco homeware looks, featuring lots of bright colours and soft lighting to re-create that holiday vibe. Stand out pieces were the bold coloured hardwood hammock and the understated glamour of the all weather Puccini rattan collection.

DJ Mo Kelly provided chilled out tunes while the crowd relaxed in the evening sunshine. Newly-wed Sinead Desmond brought her Dad along to enjoy the evening while her fellow Ireland AM presenter, Alan Hughes introduced his new beau, Mickey O’Brien. Meanwhile stylist and presenter, Darren Kennedy was busy swapping style tips with fellow stylist Cathy O’Connor. Liz Greehy, of fashion and lifestyle website, stylebible.ie was also there taking a break from her website makeover.

Guests dined on a delicious M&S BBQ, provided by their Irish producers and expertly prepared by the M&S Grafton St Restaurant team. Eugene Burns from Horgan’s cheese makers was busy sampling his speciality Ardrahan cheese while Dunn’s seafood gave guests a sneak preview of their brand new Guinness Smoked Salmon which won’t be seen on M&S shelves until Christmas.

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When Cadbury decided to reintroduce their classic ‘Friday Feeling’ TV ad for Crunchie (don’t feel bad, we’re all singing it in our heads now too), OgilvyOne had to bring the idea into the lives of the core target audience (18-24 year olds).

A fully integrated ‘Getaway Friday’ campaign was developed to reach consumers through advertising, an in-store promotion, a radio promotion, and online, mobile & on-street activation.

The in-store promotion and radio promotion (run on the Rick O’Shea Show on 2FM) gave consumers the chance to win one of more than 20 European city breaks with a special ‘Friday Feeling’ twist – winners didn’t find out where they were going until they got to the airport on Friday afternoon! This was supported by a WAP site where entrants could download Crunchie wallpapers and the “I’m so excited” ringtone to their phones, as well as accessing Friday tips for staying in and going out. The excitement was spread even more with a special Rick O’Shea outside broadcast from Dublin airport as the winners were told of their prizes.

59,000 entertainment.ie subscribers also received a weekly branded email which brought them to a special Crunchie page giving them the chance to win more ‘Getaway Friday’ breaks and tickets to top events around the country, as well as offering Friday-themed quizzes and event info.

“One of the best email campaigns we have ever run, the weekend break being the second highest competition entries we have ever seen.” Managing Director, Entertainment Ireland.

Finally, an activation team blitzed over 200 offices around the country on Friday afternoons, bringing that ‘Friday Feeling’ to about 50,000 desks with free Crunchies!

Overall, results were superb, with over 1,500 people entering in-store, over 13,000 visiting the WAP site, 50,000 reading our weekly emails and 20,000 entering our online competitions.

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What on earth is this?

And this?

And this? Answers at bottom of page.

How do you get people to cook meat and chicken for the right amount of time and to wash hands and utensils properly while preparing food?

Well, if you’re Safefood, you scare them. Preferably half to death.

To do this, go to Ardmore studios for three days. Spend 16 hours a day with a high speed photosonic camera and lenses longer than Wicklow.

This allows you to enter a hitherto unseen world of bacteria that awaits the unsuspecting household cook.

Be afraid. Be very afraid. Alternatively just do what the ads tell you and you’ll be fine.

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