The man from Ballaghaderreen was there. He had said yes. No more sporting heroes needed to apply. John O'Mahony, manager of this year's victorious All-Ireland Galway football team, was welcomed with open arms.
The Irish Times Sporting Year 2001 collection, the inaugural book, was edited by Malachy Logan, sports editor of this newspaper, who was elegant and brooding in a dark grey suit for the occasion. The book features reports, comment, analysis and photos from each month.
The secret of the county's footballing success, according to the Galway manager, who teaches geography and business studies at St Nathy's Secondary School in Ballaghaderreen, "is hard work and teamwork . . . the hardest things in life are also the simplest".
"Sport is an addiction for me," said the wise man from Connaught, adding that "sport gives us a balance in our lives". We nod soberly, as any Co Waterford woman (who once knew the value of a camβn) would.
Among those present at the bash was Pat Hickey, president of the Olympic Council of Ireland, who is currently running for election as head of the European Olympic Committee. The voting takes place on Friday, November 30th when he's "up against a Slovakian", Martin Benko, but "it's a lot less pressure than the politics in Ireland", Hickey said.
Also spotted at the Berkeley Court Hotel was Jenny Burke, an ace forward on the Irish women's hockey team, which has just qualified to play in the World Cup next November in Australia. The team is currently preparing for the European qualifiers, which will take place in July at UCD.
Tommy Lyons, the newly-appointed manager of the Dublin football team, came along too to support the publication. Also present were many colleagues from this newspaper - too numerous to mention but too important to forget.