There is the actor, Gabriel Byrne, chatting innocently in the lobby of Buswells Hotel, minding his own business. Maureen Browne, events organiser with Concern, is watching him closely, waiting for her chance. She moves in quickly before he reaches the door. Would you mind following me downstairs for a couple of minutes, she asks him. He listens carefully. Would you pose for our photographer - to help launch Concern's newest fundraising campaign, she asks him brazenly. "Lead on," he says without a moment's hesitation. And so it happens. Byrne, star of Bracken and films such as The Usual Suspects, stands beside the two Vard sisters - Wendy and Lisa - to help promote Concern's "Lifesaving Lunch" appeal, which aims to raise £100,000 this year to help fight poverty and starvation in the developing world.
Paddy Maguinness, Concern's deputy chief executive, says the idea is to encourage a more sustained response from people rather than the "ad hoc donation process" when an emergency hits the headlines.
Business development manager, Ciaran Kearney, one of those involved in the "Postcard from Ethiopia" fund-raising charity auction last August, is here to applaud the launch, along with his partner, Finn Logan. Another serious fund-raiser, Lorraine Sweeney, owner of Beshoffs and former chairwoman of the Small Firms Association, is equally supportive and impressed with Concern, which does "such good work very effectively", she says. Also lending their support are Richard Lewis and Jim Greeley from the rag-trade; friends Sharon Donnelly and Deirdre Kelly; and Hilary O'Donnell and her mother, Audrey Heron. Check out the new Concern triangular leaflets connected with the lifesaving lunch appeal. They can be picked up in any sandwich bar.