To celebrate Bastille Day, teams while away the hours playing petanquΘ. It's a lazy afternoon. Jazz musicians Hugh Buckley, with Mike Quellin and Mike Brookfield, create a cool sound that drifts across the lawns of the Radisson Hotel. We're here to chill, man, over glasses of Veuve Clicquot. There'll be days like this, as the song says.
It's a civilised game of balls, which are thrown towards a cochonnet by the players. It's reminiscent of cricket, but without the bats, or, em, the wickets, or, em, the overs. What skills are required to excell in petanquΘ? "You drink lots of champagne," says a helpful Christian Maille, of Veuve Clicquot. In fact, it does help a number of individuals. "It's quite a precise game and there is a lot of team strategy."
How do you score? "Usually with dinner and a movie," says a cheeky Jason O'Callaghan, showbiz editor of Who magazine. His team is just about to play the TV3 team, comprising Alan Hughes, Joe Walsh and Debbie O'Donnell. It's a fierce battle, won by the Who team.
Cork man Keith MacCarthy Morrogh, of Findlater Wine Merchants, who is our host, throws like a pro - the Blarney and Fairhill boys would be proud of him. Three women from Sopexa, the French food board, strike fear into the hearts of all. They mean business. Caroline Martin, Samantha McCormack and Dominique Gear all throw a mean boule. We stand back to watch Mathew Farrell and the Diep Le Shaker restaurant team sweep the board. They play well - probably helped by all that good food.
Others present at the party include MβirΘad Egan, of Lillie's Bordello, and Grace Terrinoni, with her daughter, Isabella Terrinoni (5). You could bottle some days.