Property people had a busy weekend starting with the RHA Gallagher Gallery annual fundraiser on Friday night and the IAVI pre-Christmas knees-up at the Burlington on Saturday. Many of the main players in the market were at the gallery dinner which was, once again, a sell-out. In keeping with the new custom of playing down their wealth, the top property guys did not have to show their hand at the main fundraising event of the evening - a silent auction of contemporary Irish paintings and sculptures. D4 developer Paddy Kelly was among the black tie brigade along with Charles Gallagher of Abbey, Phil Flynn of Harcourt Developments, James Meagher of DTZ Sherry FitzGerald and Paddy McKillen who is not often seen in Dublin these days. Only one agency, Lambert Smith Hampton, took a table, but unfortunately the organisers got it wrong and they were listed as Lambert Smith Hamilton (or are some merger talks afoot?).

At the Burlo the IAVI broke with tradition by having a highly entertaining guest speaker. Corkman and author Christy Kenneally had the crowd in stitches with his quips about Irish life, adding to the generally upbeat mood of the evening despite the market gloom. Everyone agreed that auctioneers have had a spectacular run which was bound to end at some stage, and it has. For some the night went on just too long, and the proceedings ended with a scuffle between a young Turk and a more mature agent. The cops rescued the situation and no more was said. With business falling off it seems as though the Christmas season is just around the corner for estate agents.