Tequila was served on the lawn and Rodrigo y Gabriela played their trademark flamenco music as the Mexican embassy held a farewell reception for the Mexican ambassador, Dr Agustín Basave, who is returning home after a three-year stint in Ireland.
Politicians, ambassadors and diplomats mingled with playwrights and musicians at the event last Wednesday, which coincided with Mexican Independence Day.
"It is with mixed feelings that I leave Ireland," said Basave. "I was getting homesick, but I know I will miss Ireland. I will think of Ireland frequently and every time I do so I will have a smile on my face and a lump in my throat."
On his return to Mexico he is looking forward to resuming his career as a politician and academic. He plans to participate in a current affairs programme on television as well as writing a newspaper column.
Although he was scheduled to fly to Mexico the next morning, Basave was looking forward to attending an independence day party later in the evening, organised by the Mexican community in Ireland.
Earlier in the day ambassadors and diplomatic representatives from many embassies gathered in the Mexican embassy for a private ceremony. Unusually, the Italian ambassador, Alberto Schepisi, a close friend of Basave, rather than the Papal Nuncio, Dr Giuseppe Lazzarotto, gave the farewell speech.
Among guests enjoying enjoyed the Mexican food and music on offer were the Deputy Mayor of Dublin, Mary Freehill, her husband Dermot Murphy, and Mary Caulfield, from Howth, who, along with the Irish Byron Society, is looking forward to celebrating the 150th birthday of Oscar Wilde next week.
Also present at the farewells were the European Commission's new ambassador to the United States, John Bruton, who attended with his brother, Richard Bruton, Fine Gael's director of policy; former taoiseach Albert Reynolds; Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs Tom Kitt; playwright Tom Murphy; and broadcaster John Kelly.