Last weekend, the Sunday Express, no great friend to Ireland, gave a rundown of the best political parties in London this Christmas. Peter Mandelson's was mentioned, and Robin Cook's, because of the grandeur of its Foreign Office setting, and Gordon Brown, who has the most parties because he hopes to move next door to No 10 and needs supporters. But, said the Express, the shindig of the year is the Irish Embassy party in Grosvenor Place - "sore heads all round next morning".
This is not news to Quidnunc. Some 400 guests were greeted by Ambassador Ted Barrington who, as well as the usual suspects, included unionist MPs Jeffrey Donaldson, Roy Beggs and Cecil Walker, ministers from the Scottish and Welsh offices, many MPs from both sides and the inevitable crowd of hacks.
Possibly the most important person there was Lord Falconer, Tony Blair's close friend, whose responsibility for the Dome rather overshadows his role in bringing the NI police legislation through the Lords. Falconer will be having more to do with Ireland soon. His government is to sell the so-called white elephant to a trio which is 80 per cent owned by Johnny Ronan and Richard Barrett's Treasury Holdings.
Quidnunc is rholohan@irish-times.ie