Retired international rugby stars Ian McKinley and Sean O'Brien were among the special guests at the IRFU Charitable Trust Rugby Ball, in association with the Vodafone Ireland Foundation, taking place on Friday evening.

McKinley, the former Italy and Leinster fly-half, and O'Brien, the former Leinster, Ireland and Lions flanker, were also joined in the Round Room at the Mansion House by Ireland prop Linda Djougang.

Guests enjoyed a red carpet entrance at the Dawson Street venue, and the black-tie event began with a drinks reception, sponsored by Guinness and Fallon & Byrne, followed by dinner.

MC Risteírd Cooper hosted a Heads & Tails competition, which involved the 450 or so guests guessing the results of a coin flip until they were whittled down to one winner, who took home a €500 hamper of artisanal Irish food and drink from Fallon & Byrne.

Michael Whelan, chairperson of the IRFU Charitable Trust, welcomed guests on the evening, and a video of seriously injured player Brendan Glynn and his family was played for attendees as a reminder of the worthy cause behind the event.

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McKinley, O'Brien and Djougang later took part in Q&A sessions hosted by Nigel Osborne before nine items went up for sale in a live auction led by auctioneer Henry Beeby from GOFFS. A further 32 items were sold in a silent auction online.

Prizes won in the main auction included access to the Ireland team's Captain's Run training session the day before the Six Nations match against England and dinner at Cinnamon, courtesy of Vodafone.

Guinness put two tickets to the England match at the Aviva Stadium up for sale, plus a VIP dressing room experience with a surprise special guest before the Ireland team gets there ahead of the crunch tie.

The silent auction, which opened before the event began, offered prizes such as a trip to the Solheim Cup and a signed Ian McKinley jersey, and it closed at 11pm on Friday night.

The event was supported by DMG Media Ireland, a long-time supporter of the IRFU Charitable Trust.