There are mince pies, mulled wine, glasses of Bailey's, trays of canapes, baroque music and bargains to boot. A special evening of Christmas shopping in the Powerscourt Townhouse Centre attracts plenty of party animals but very few shopping addicts. It's just too relaxing to shop.
Roisin Gaffney from Killeshandra, Co Cavan, and Cath- erine Whelan from Bagnalstown, Co Carlow, are chilling out in Mimo's Cafe after trying on a number of party outfits.
Mary Larkin, manager of the centre, sets the festive tone in a shimmering wine-coloured trouser suit of crushed velvet. Fashion designer Richard Lewis and his partner, Jim Greeley, are somewhat defensive about their sombre clothes. "Ah, the cobbler's children are seldom shod," says a smirking Lewis.
Newsreader Eileen Dunne, her four-year-old son Cormac O Fatharta and her sister, Moira, are here.
Kevin Hough, of RTE Radio 1's Theatre Nights, is holding court in Chompy's Restaurant, telling his friends that he's off to London to interview Danny La Rue and to tune in on Christmas Day at 4.02 p.m. to hear it or else . . .