Guests at the Residence de France are able to savour a double treat at a piano recital. They meet their hosts, the new French ambassador and his wife, Gabriel and Cecile de Bellescize, who arrived in the country 45 days ago, and they hear the young Belfast pianist, David McNulty (21), play a selection of Brahms, Ravel and Schumann.
Champagne corks pop at the concert on Ailesbury Road, which is held to spread the word about the Music in Great Irish Houses programme. Hugh Tinney, the new artistic director of the event, is here, enjoying a relaxing evening before setting off to Stockholm on Monday for one week to play in a number of concerts with violinist Catherine Leonard.
Mary Colley, wife of the late George Colley, is here with her son, Eoin Colley, a director at the Irish Music Rights Organisation Mark Byrne, of Brown Thomas, and his wife, Jacky Byrne, store manager of Marks & Spencer, are here too. Dr Mervyn Taylor and his wife from Aberystwyth in Wales, Helen Taylor, are enjoying the concert.
The music event takes place over a week in June, between Friday, 8th and Sunday, 17th, with different performers playing on particular nights at locations such as Castletown House, Birr Castle and Killruddery House. For more information about the concerts, check out the programme's website at www.musicirishhouses.com