A queue of glamorous, happy people stretches out the door. The line winds from the foyer of the Hugh Lane Gallery through several large rooms to the back of the building where there's a peephole. No-one minds waiting. At the end of the line, each guest at a party of over 1,000 is invited to peer into the silent studio where Francis Bacon worked for over 30 years.
It's a week of celebration to mark the historic opening. The painter's younger sister, Ianthe Knott, who was born in Abbeyleix, Co Laois, has travelled from St Francis Bay in South Africa to attend the event. She's here with members of her family, including her grandson, Andrew Knott, who works in Swords, Co Dublin. Bacon was born in Dublin, in 1909, on Lower Baggot Street (No 63), and lived in Ireland until he was 16. He died in London in 1992 and his estate was inherited by his life-long companion, John Edwards. The night before the gala opening, a private dinner to honour John Edwards, who donated the studio to the gallery, is hosted in City Hall. Paul McCartney and Heather Mills attend.
Moving up and down the line in a long flowing dress is Margarita Cappock, project manager of the operation, which moved the studio in all its chaotic brilliance from 7 Reece Mews in Kensington, London to Dublin. "Pink and orange are the Bacon colours," she explains, looking at her own lilac and orange ensemble. Brian Clarke, sole executor of the Bacon estate, is here with his son, Daniel Clarke (12). They visited the studio in London together during the artist's life. The young boy is stunned on viewing the little room. "Spooky," he says in a quiet voice.
Also queuing is a dramatic couple from London in matching midnight blue with shocking pink trimmings. They are Clare Conville, a London literary agent, and Sebastian Horsley, a painter. Look out for his autobiography, A Dandy in the Underworld, next year, he says. Also in the queue are Green Party councillor and Dail candidate in Dun Laoghaire, Ciaran Cuffe, with his stylish partner, Jackie Bourke, and their seven-month-old son, Cuan Cuffe. Art appreciation starts at a very young age in their house, you see.
Former Lord Mayor Carmencita Hederman and her husband, Billy Hederman, retired Mater surgeon, are here too, just back from a week in Tuscany where her brother, Frank Cruess Callaghan, now lives. Molto bello! Just ahead of them in the line is Desiree Shortt, china restorer, chatting to Armani-clad Christina Ryall, who is Christie's representative in Ireland and just back from the annual Irish Sale in London, where a Jack B. Yeats made £1 million sterling. John Magnier, the horse trainer, is being linked with the purchase.
The world famous sculptor Brian Flanagan goes among us, unrecognised by many. Outside, in the cool of the evening, he chats to painter Helena Caulfield and print-maker Margo McNulty. "We studied you in Galway," they tell him, delighted at the discovery of his identity. He poses for a photograph with them. He's just donated a stone carving, called H'om, to the Guggenheim in Venice. Another major Flanagan piece, Drummer, will be on view at IMMA shortly as part of the museum's 10th anniversary celebrations. As we leave, he shouts the artist's greeting of good craftsmanship, buon lavoro, or baill o Dhia ar an obair as others might say. An bhaill ceanna ort, a Bhriain.