Bextor Sings A New Mantra....

It's about time Maynooth got a 25 foot 2.5 tonne Buddha, a waterfall, tropical gardens, and a bunch of celebs housed under one roof. Yup. The Kildare town just got sexed-up with the opening of the stellar 11.5 million Euros Mantra Garden Bar and Club...

Sophie Ellis Bextor

Maynooth town in Co. Kildare is traditionally associated with being the place Catholic priests have been trained since the 1800s. But with the opening of 30,000sq ft super club the sleepy town just got a shot of adrenaline into the arm...

Michelle Keegan

With all the time, effort and money put into the massive club there was no way PR lady Valerie Roe was going to launch the plush venue without heaps of her signature celeb-tastic razzmatazz, glitz and glamour.

Brian Ormond, Pippa O'Connor

For starters there was Murder on the Dancefloor singer Sophie Ellis Bextor at Mantra. The 30 year old pop Goddess performed tracks from her 'Trip the Light Fantastic' album for the hundreds of revelers, familiar faces and press types who attended the launch...

Jim Corr, Siobhan O'Connor

There was also hot Coronation Street star Michelle Keegan and her fellow Corrie actor Gray O'Brien around for eye candy...

Gillian Quinn, Niall Quinn

And of course we had the usual faces from the world of Irish ShowBiz there to keep our snappers snap-happy. Star-struck couples like Brian Ormond & Pippa O'Connor, Andy Quirke & Louise Kavanagh, Devon Murray & Aoife McCourt, and Niall & Gillian Quinn kept photographers busy as bees.

Louise Kavanagh, Andy Quirke

Other noted guests included Corrs man Jim Corr & Siobhan O'Connor, forever young socialite Jackie Rafter, TV presenter Pamela Flood, crooner Jason O'Callaghan & Nicole Pickering, and sisters Sarah Jane & Niamh Walsh...

Sarah Jane Walsh, Niamh Walsh

Mantra, now open for business, is a 30,000sq ft modern food and drink emporium with 8,000ft of tropical gardens featuring 250 different species of plants complete with special treasures - including a towering 25ft gilt oriental status, a magnificent floor-to-ceiling waterfall feature and luxurious booth seating... Fancy schmancy.

Gray O'Brien, Sophie Ellis Bextor

So there you have it folks - if you happen to be in Maynooth and NOT looking to become a priest we recommend you check it out...

Devon Murray, Aoife McCourt

Jackie Rafter

Pamela Flood