Nostalgia is in the air as MβirΘad Dunlevy of the National Museum talks to us about the tailors and dress-makers of yesteryear. Tulle, taffeta, tweed - the old is on view at the museum at Collins Barracks. It's a fash bash. Listen carefully and you can nearly hear the silks rustling and the satins creasing.
And there's a plus, because Ireland's leading designers have been invited to exhibit alongside the anonymous designers of the past. Memories come flooding back as we remember The Way We Wore - Then and Now. Some of today's designers have come along to see their work on display, including Helen Cody, Richard Lewis and Jen Kelly.
Pat Wallace, director of the National Museum, is dressed to kill, metaphorically, of course. Splendid in his jade green New Orleans suit, he's sporting the colours of Limerick - green and white, in honour of the county's hurling prowess, don't you know. "We'll flake 'em off the field," he cautions, with reference to the upcoming Munster Hurling Championship between Limerick and Waterford. Oh, yeah, we're shaking in our boots already. Be warned. Blood may be spilt tomorrow week.
The style continues: a colourful and fashionable Mary Kelly in green and yellow - mother of John Kelly, of the Irish Chamber Orchestra and Prof Gerard Kelly, of Cork's College of Music, she is here with her artist friend, Fiona Marron.
Kilkenny cats are out in style too: Des Doyle, the jewellery designer, has come with his sisters, Gwen and Karen Doyle. His work, on view tonight, will also be available in the soon to be launched "National Museum Retail Collection". Watch this space.
Deirdre O'Callaghan and her daughter, Nicola Carroll, are here to enjoy the night, as are James Mortell and Jeanne Leaney. In another elegant corner Mafra O'Reilly and her chaperone, Noel Purcell, former chairman of the Chester Beatty Library, chat to Cel Phelan of Event Communications, the London-based creative exhibition design company which has just done the permanent exhibition on the life of St Patrick in Downpatrick. Also here is our own Robert O'Byrne who introduces us to the exhibition. He directs us to the quality of the material. "I'm a great believer in the tactile opportunities of clothing," he says. We nod. Encourage the models to move a little and you'll be able to see the textile "come alive", he says. After that we a gallop up the old shallow steps of the barracks to view both the new and the old collection, which is on permanent view and open to the public daily.