They may be renowned for their lavish lifestyle and theatrical parties, but for the most significant moment of their relationship thus far Gerald Kean and Lisa Murphy kept it simple. Although, to be fair, it wasn't planned that way.

Ireland's solicitor to the stars planned to whisk Lisa to the romantic setting of Palm Beach so he could propose to her in the couple's favourite restaurant as the bells rang in a new year.

He spotted the perfect engagement ring last summer, and had travelled to London before Christmas to make some last-minute changes so he could ensure perfection.

But all his arrangements went askew when he turned to Lisa's father, Des, in the smoking section of Residence private members' club last Wednesday night and quietly asked for his daughter's hand in marriage.

They were in high spirits, having just enjoyed a Christmas lunch together at the Unicorn restaurant along with Lisa's mother Eileen and a handful of Gerald's siblings and in-laws, and had been soaking up the festive atmosphere as they smoked some fine Cuban cigars.

In front of a handful of well-known names on Dublin's social scene, including Robbie Fox and Niall O'Farrell, Gerald saw his moment to ask the big question.

"When I asked her dad he just got so excited that he pleaded with me to do it there and then," laughed Gerald.

"He was ecstatic. He told me I could have her hand on one condition -- that I asked her straight away so we could have a proper celebration."

Surrounded by family and friends the celebrity lawyer went down on bended knee and asked the other half of Ireland's most famous society couple to be his wife.

"Darling, I love you more than anything in the world, I knew from the first moment I met you that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you do me the honour of giving me your hand in marriage?"

He had barely finished uttering the words when an astonished Lisa began screaming with joy as she threw her arms around her new fiance.

"Lisa had no idea it was going to happen," explained Gerald afterwards amid popping corks and air kisses.

"We always knew it was on the cards," he said.

"It was always a question of 'when' rather than 'if'. But we never spoke about it. When you ask someone for their hand in marriage it's meant to be a very special surprise.

"So when I got down on one knee and asked her, I didn't even hear her say 'yes'. She just started screaming and screaming. In fact I'm still not even sure, I must double check," he laughed.

Shortly afterwards, the couple popped open several bottles of the club's finest champagne as celebrations continued into the early hours of Christmas Eve.

As Lisa's mother and father beamed with pride, an elated Gerald said he would love to father four more children with his new bride-to-be, who is 16 years his junior.

"And only minutes later, Lisa told the Sunday Independent she saw the same magic number of offspring in their future.

"Oh my gosh darling, you want the same," she gushed when informed of Gerald's wishes, as she flung her arms around her fiance.

On Christmas Eve morning, Lisa put celebrations on hold as she had a 10am start at her beauty salon 'New Lisa Life', which explained why her new fiance couldn't contact her by telephone.

"I was busy rushing around for work so when I eventually picked up the phone his voice was so cute," laughed Lisa. "'Have you changed your mind,' he asked. Of course not! As if I would," she giggled.

"I love everything about him. He is such a charming man. He is so kind and caring and he has great morals. I absolutely adore him."

Gerald later met his 13-year-old daughter, Kirsten, for coffee near Stephen's Green and told her the good news.

The couple are planning a June wedding in either Dublin or Monte Carlo.

"Gerald wants to get married as soon as possible," explained Lisa, who is a former girlfriend of Riverdance co-creator Michael Flatley.

"As do I. Why wait when we know it is so right? I want a big traditional white wedding.

"And of course a church blessing will be very important. As for the rest, well I don't even have a picture of my dream dress in my mind. All that will come in time," said Lisa.

In the meantime the engagement ring has finally being collected from top London jewellers Sotheby's, whose diamonds are a favourite of the Royal family, and Lisa can feel like the luckiest woman in the world as Gerald whisks her away today to Palm Beach where he is going to officially pop the question in the Cafe Europa restaurant on New Year's Eve.

It will just be the two of them, sharing the intimate moment as Gerald slowly opens the little box that will change their lives forever.

No prizes for guessing what Lisa's answer will be.

- NIAMH HORAN Entertainment News Reporter

Sunday Independent