Clear rounds after hospital rounds

THE SOCIAL NETWORK:The RTÉ showjumping commentator, Brendan McArdle, told me at the launch of the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show at the RDS on Tuesday evening that he's going into Beaumont hospital tomorrow for surgery. He is donating one of his kidneys to his brother, Colin. The doctor, Mr Richie Power, has told McArdle he will have recovered in time to broadcast from the horse show.

The show is usually held in early August, but this year it will run from August 15th-19th to allow competitors involved in the London 2012 Olympics enough time to get to Dublin.

The chief executive of the RDS, Michael Duffy, told me the show was cancelled six times due to the second World War and that the dates have been changed only three times since the inaugural show in 1864: first in 1948 for the Olympic Games in London; next because the 1990 FEI World Equestrian Games and the last time was to accommodate the 1992 Summer Olympics.

The tailor Louis Copeland said that business is good, and that despite the economic climate people are dressing up and getting more serious about their work. It’s all about impressions, apparently. He quoted a businessman friend of his who always says: “When things are getting tough, paint the hall door.”

Anne Doyle never misses the horse show. She said she loves retirement and enjoys the opportunity to get up to more mischief than before.

Capt Brian Curran-Cournane, from Glenbeigh in Co Kerry, and 2nd Lt David Power, from Kilkenny, travelled in from the Army Equitation School. Curran-Cournane is in the running for one of the eventing places on the Irish Olympic team.

The businesswoman and publisher Norah Casey told me she had a great time in the Royal Enclosure at Ascot. There were new requirements at Ascot this year. Fascinators were not permitted in the Royal Enclosure and hats were required. The base of the hat had to be at least 4 inches in diameter. Casey managed to avoid the fashion police and broke the rules with a 3-inch hat made by milliner Michael Leong. The rebellious Dragon is taking two months off this summer and heading to Galway. Two of her titles, Woman’s Way and U, are launching in the UK market in September.

Who we spotted: TV producer Brian Walsh; Nuala Carey of RTÉ; fashion designer Dawn Fitzgerald

What we drank: Blossom Hill Zinfandel

What we ate: Ice cream

What we heard: The trio Manila Strings provided background music