THE entrance was roped off, the photographers were like sharks at a feeding frenzy, big cars jostled for parking - Ron Wood's art exhibition had come to town and all the glam things were determined to party.
A dozen flash bulbs went off as Jasmine Guinness, Ireland's serious contender for supermodeldom, arrived in leopardskin pants. Jasmine, whose boyfriend is Jesse Wood, Ron's son, was delighted to be back in Dublin for some time out of a ridiculously hectic schedule. After recent shoots with photographer Mario Testino, she is now looking forward to working with Peter Lindburgh for Italian Vogue and the start of the Paris couture shows.
She doesn't know yet who she'll be modelling for but as her recent cat- walk experience includes Chanel and Prada, she's likely to be busy. She chatted with Lainey Keogh about the designer's next show and leant over to straighten her grand-father, Desmond Guinness's tie. Meanwhile, Jesse Wood assured his father that his speech - in which Ron rather modestly inquired of his work,"Is it art? I don't know" - had been just fine.
Jean Butler was the other femme fatale of the evening. The redhead arrived with a stunning cream leather coat and her boyfriend Richard Boyle, and ended the night surrounded by drooling men as she danced a very sultry lambada.
In a little oasis of calm downstairs, Boyzone manager Louis Walsh (the boys are currently holidaying in Mexico) chatted with Michael O'Connell, manager of boyband OTT, and Radio Ireland producer Hilary Fennell. Enda McGrallan, king of event management, was celebrating the fact that his new partner, a San Franciscan with the too-good-to-be-true name of Benjamin Buddy, is moving across the pond so they can be together.
Rick Savage from Def Leppard arrived late and was pounced on by all his old friends; event organiser Catriona Ward's snappy turquoise trouser suit was matched only by friend Virginia Fortune's similar-hued dress Cindy Cafolla was hard at work on the Epilepsy Conference in the RDS, and Caroline Desmond was similarly busy with her July 4th barndance plans, of which more later.
Gerry Ryan was just back from his summer break in Florida with wife Morah and spent much of the evening talking to Robbie Wooton, band promoter and shareholder in Radio Ireland. Gerry, who had a very snazzy new haircut, commented with a smile: "I am getting a little tired of people wondering what radio station I'm going to work for."
Claddagh records founder Garech Browne chatted happily with Paddy Moloney of The Chieftains and RTEs Michael O'Sullivan who was full of excitement about the biography of Brendan Behan he is working on. He promised, it would greatly revise the perceived idea of the bould Behan and will include the identity of his prominent Irish lover.
Meanwhile Lord Henry Mountcharles, who was there with his wife Iona, was discussing his hopes, of entering the Seanad; he is standing in the Trinity constituency.
Gavin O'Reilly and his wife, model and actress Alison Doody, were there, as were actor Patrick Bergin who opened the exhibition singer Gavin Friday, boxer Barry McGuigan; RTE's Dave Fanning and his wife, Ursula Courtney, and Shay Healy. Actor Sam Waterston, who is perhaps best know for his role in The Killing Fields, is shortly to finish filming Miracle Before Midnight in Dublin and came along to the party with his wife.
Exhibition sponsors Absolut had created a special cocktail for the night, Absolut Ron Wood (vodka, orange juice and a passionfruit Iiqueur) and Ron paid them the compliment of drinking the brew all evening.
Most of the crew moved on to Renards, Robbie Fox's South Frederick Street club where late-night revellers were still arriving at 2 a.m.
However, a few of the guests, including film maker Aine O'Connor, actor Gavin Murphy, barrister Frank Callanan, and stylist Alanna Gallagher retired to the Shelbourne where another musician was having his own night on the town.
Ex-Take That star Gary Barlow was in Dublin for one night only before, an early start, appearing on Atlantic 252 FM in the morning. Be fore moving off to Lillie's Bordello, Gary confided that his poison wasn't the black stuff but a good Irish whiskey.