The launch of the Irish banking industry's euro information campaign became the latest casualty of the turmoil in the airline industry.
The Irish Bankers' Federation (IBF) had booked Britain's favourite Irishman, Terry Wogan, to launch the campaign. But unfortunately for the IBF, Mr Wogan was among the 13 unlucky passengers booked on the 11.55 a.m. Aer Lingus flight EI853 from London which was cancelled due to lack of numbers. For commercial reasons, Aer Lingus decided to consolidate the flight with a later one, ensuring Mr Wogan would miss his date with his Irish banking friends.
"Pretty dirty trick, building up my hopes of a trip to Dublin with the promise of free drink and a hang sangwich, and then Aer Lingus pulls the rug out from under me," the broadcaster wrote in an e-mail message to the assembled bankers.
An Aer Lingus spokesman said the airline made its decision for economic reasons and that it had offered alternatives to the broadcaster.
"We had 13 people booked on a 110-seat aircraft. Obviously it does not make economic sense in the current climate to operate a flight which is 10 per cent full. While that is disappointing for our customers, we combined it with the next flight which would have got him in at 2.45 p.m. which would have been too late for his appointment. We did telephone Mr Wogan this morning to tell him it was cancelled and we offered a flight from Gatwick to Dublin which would have got him in at 1.20 p.m., which he declined."
The veteran broadcaster would feel complimented by the number of photographs taken of the empty seat bearing his name, quipped Mr John Collins, the president of the IBF, at the launch.
It was left to Mr Jim O'Brien, director of the European Parliament Office in Ireland to fill in for the silver-tongued one. And, as he told the assembled guests, it was not the first time he followed in the footsteps of the broadcaster, who was a few years ahead of him at Belvedere College. Both men also served as junior clerks in the Royal Bank of Ireland in bygone years.
"But it was ever the same with bankers," added Mr Wogan in his e-mail message. "Didn't I get the elbow from the Royal Bank of Ireland, Phibsboro."
Mr Wogan recalled visiting his former branch years later.
"And then, when I called in some time later, thinking I was famous, the cashier told me that I'd left at the wrong time, and that Mick Molloy, who'd joined the bank with me, was no assistant manager in Sneem.
"Now another missed opportunity," he added.
"May I wish you well, and Ireland a seamless changeover. Drink a toast to the euro from me."
For those who missed Mr Wogan's dulcet tones yesterday, fear not - his voice will grace an extensive radio advertising campaign in support of the banks' and building societies' information booklet on the euro.