Hoteliers are winding down; it's nearly the end of the tourist season - time to launch the newest edition of the Blue Book.
The members of the Irish Country Houses and Restaurants Association left their country seats to attend a reception in the Four Seasons Hotel in Dublin to launch the 2002 edition of Blue Book.
John Brennan of the Park Hotel in Kenmare left his brother, Francis, at home minding the fort. Dermot McEvilly of the Cashel House Hotel in Connemara took the day off too to attend.
Hazel Allen of Ballymaloe House in east Cork said she got married the same year as the Blue Book was first launched - 27 years ago, a memorable year. Both institutions are going strong, it seems.
Finola and John Cooke of the early Georgian Lisdonagh House in Co Galway, were at the party too, before heading off to Capetown in South Africa on their holidays.
Kay O'Flynn is the newly elected president of the Irish Country Houses and Restaurants Association (and originally a native of Dungarvan, Co Waterford). She was accompanied by her son, David O'Flynn, a corporate financier. Her elder son, Joe O'Flynn Junior, was at home minding Rathsallagh House in Co Wicklow. Her husband, Joe, was on his way in to join the party. She took her opportunity to deliver a rallying speech.
"This is going to be a hard year, but we don't take our beatings lying down," said O'Flynn to her 37 members.
"We are the jewel in the crown of the Irish economy and there must be recognition for our efforts and investment."
What have Blue Book members got in common?
Their properties "would be comfortable and not commercial", said John Brennan. They boast "mostly open fires" where you can "lie back and kick off your shoes . . . They are more personal, that's the cornerstone of the service", he said.