The official opening of our consulate in Shanghai last week did not go as smoothly as was portrayed on this side of the world. An email from China has reached Quidnunc with the heading "Isn't Ireland supposed to be a rich country now?" It tells of how some mischievous individual acquired the guest list of the new consul general Geoffrey Keating, registered his address and contacted all the Irish who had been invited to the morning ceremony, as opposed to the international evening reception. After detailing the time and location, the invitation continued: "We feel that it would be a nice gesture if we were to hold a casual breakfast immediately following the ribbon-cutting ceremony in the Shanghai Centre on the same morning and I would be obliged it you could bring a plate with you." It suggested that women bring a fruit plate and men bring along the rest of the breakfast.
Quidnunc's informant said he and many others arrived bearing plastic bags and croissants, to the mystification of the consulate staff who had food and drink aplenty. When Keating and his deputy, Dearbhla Doyle, uncovered the hoax over lunch at The Dublin Exchange restaurant, there was embarrassment and anger.
The deep throat provided Quidnunc with a list of suspects, but discretion and the lawyers prevent her pointing the finger. The e-mail ends: "Is it treacherous to impersonate a diplomat? An excellent practical joke and I'm sure once the consternation and mortification has worn off, even Geoffrey will see the funny side."
Quidnunc is at rholoh@irish-times.ie