THERE was so much happening this week with at least four major events on every night that there was stiff competition as to who would attract the best crowd. The RHA opened its annual exhibition in its gallery in Ely Place on Monday usually a fairly quiet night but numbers were still down on other years. Among those spotted taking an interest in the paintings on show were the architect of the K Club, Brian O'Halloran, artist Carmel Mooney who's just back from a successful show in Hong Kong where buyers included Governor Chris Patten, and Irish glass designer Jody McGrath.
Last week, Jody sold his impressively large house. Weaver's Hall in Foxrock, for a tidy £1.2 million. It was snapped up by property man about town Dave Arnold.
A healthy spread of red dots showed that the crowd was in buying mood. One painting by Louis le Brocquy was the subject of much whispered speculation. It had no price tag and was labelled as "property of the artist" but rumour had it that it could be bought for £25,000.