Neighbours popped in to the Merrion Hotel on Wednesday evening this week for a chat and a drop of . . . champagne. There was suckling pig, roast goose and smoked salmon on offer too.
Patricia Quinn, director of the Arts Council, designer Louise Kennedy and Giorgio Casari from the Unicorn Restaurant across the road, were among the friends who came to toast the award-winning hotel, which celebrates its fifth birthday this month.
Since opening, it has hosted 64 weddings, opened 23,000 bottles of champagne and served 76,000 punnets of strawberries, according to Peter MacCann, the hotel's general manager.
The Merrion was created from four Grade 1 listed terraced houses, which were sold by Albert Reynolds on behalf of the government when he was finance minister, to a business consortium, which developed the hotel. Reynolds, who came along to toast the hotel's success before heading to Fadó Restaurant in the Mansion House for an exhibition of paintings called Sea of Blue, by Claudio Viscardi, celebrated his 70th birthday last weekend, said his daughter Cathy Reynolds.
Sir John Leslie, of Leslie Castle in Co Monaghan, who has become famous for his love of "raves" in his 84th year, also attended the party - despite the absence of a dance floor.
Horse trainer James Bolger and his wife, Jackie, from Coolcullen, Co Kilkenny, relaxed as the flat racing season is over until March.
David Collopy, of Opera Ireland, which begins its winter season tonight, chatted to John Colclough, of Adams & Butler, which sources luxury castles, yachts, islands and other venues for clients. For readers who want to dream about luxury, check out www.irishluxury.com