ON THE TOWN: It's a sight to see: city councillors putting on their skates. Like all good city dwellers, we averted our eyes when the socks with holes were revealed: the Lord Mayor, Dermot Lacey, pulling on the skating boots, his mayoral chain glinting in the braziers' light, was ready to glide.
This was history in the making. Dublin's first real ice-rink was opened to tremendous applause at Smithfield.
Marking the occassion, Labour's Cllr Eric Byrne photographed his party colleague, Cllr Eamonn O'Brien, and his wife, Freda O'Brien, along with Phil Clarke, who was dressed as a clown.
As the crowd pressed in under their umbrellas, Patricia Colfer, of Dublin City Council, stood out in her stilettoes and red crocheted Karen Millen dress, which was "moulded to her exquisite figure", gushed her colleague in high spirits, Mary Mulcahy. Cllr Christy Burke, chairman of the Historic Area Rejuvenation Plan, called himself a learner when it came to skating, but the Green Party's Ciarán Cuffe TD was all set to go on to the ice with his youngest son, Mobhí, of three months, strapped to his back, papoose style.
Leon Giblin, son of Cllr Chris Giblin, of Fine Gael, and Maureen Giblin, was "a veteran on ice", said his father, as he had skated with the Irish hockey squad some years back.
Tony Gregory TD came to look out at the wintry scene. Gina Bokin had her hand pulled eagerly by her son, Nathan O'Dwyer (4), with another little friend, Georgia Purdy (4), all from Smithfield and both children in junior infants at Coláiste Mhuire.
Cllr Maurice Ahern and his wife, Moira Ahern, and their daughter, accountant Aimée Ahern, came in later to enjoy the Dublin Gospel Choir under the leadership of Orla McGovan sing What a wonderful world in Chief O'Neill's Hotel.
And as the rain eased off, Smithfield did look wonderful.