Around 100 exclusive guests were invited to join the world renowned musician at a private suite at the Curragh race track - the headquarters of the Irish horse racing industry - to watch the day's action and mingle with the star.

Mencap Northern Ireland fundraising manager, Ciara Gallagher, said the inaugural event proved to be the perfect blend of racing action, live jazz music and sumptuous food and wine for the guests.

"We were absolutely thrilled to have the company of The Edge to support us in our exciting new venture at the Curragh," she said.

"This was our first experience of holding a Race Day at this prestigious track and indeed our first event of this nature to be held outside Northern Ireland. Following the immense success of our annual Down Royal Race Day, now a sell out every year, we really wanted to develop this style of event.

"The Curragh has provided the ideal venue for both hospitality and racing action and we could not have asked for a better celebrity guest than The Edge.

"Events such as this provide us with the opportunity to raise funds for people with a learning disability and heighten awareness of the work that Mencap does to help people with a learning disability live their lives the way they want."

Evan Arkwright, commercial manager of the Curragh racecourse, said the horse racing venue was delighted to be involved with the fundraising venture and hoped it would be the start of a long and successful association between the two groups.