It has been an arty week, pink banners fluttering along the Liffey quays heralding the arrival of the Francis Bacon exhibition at the Hugh Lane Gallery, which hosted an opening party on Wednesday evening for a modest 1,000 guests.
Dublin City Manager, John Fitzgerald, who hails from Galbally, Co Limerick, is bursting with proprietorial pride. The show, which runs until the end of August, is remarkable enough but there is also the reconstruction of Bacon's studio to look forward to, which should be finished by November.
Barbara Dawson, the gallery director, appears as usual in a vivid streak of colour. The "cadmium orange" Indian-style dress is, she explains, inspired by Francis Bacon who often used this colour in his work. She reminds us that the artist, who died eight years ago, was born in Dublin in 1909. "He always had an ambivalent relationship with his place of birth," says Mary Freehill, Lord Mayor of Dublin.
Charlotte McDonnell (12) who is here from Ballsbridge with her parents, Aiden and Anne McDonnell, is also honouring the great artist by wearing shocking pink Buffalo shoes.
Pat Murphy, chairman of the Arts Council, is a long-time Bacon fan. "I've always admired him," he says. "Even though some of his imagery is tough stuff, his expression is very strong, original and very beautiful."
Denis O'Brien, chairman of ESAT and sponsor of the exhibition, chats to its curator David Sylvester, who is acknowledged as a world-wide authority on the artist. Bringing a hint of Mediterranean sun to the evening is the Le Brocquy family - Louis, Anne Madden and their son Pierre.
Margaret and Desmond Downes are here also, preparing to leave in time to catch the opening of a new play The Last Days of God by Colin O'Connor at Theatre Space@Henry Place. It is co-produced by their son Alexander with Conor McPherson and costume design is by their daughter Lucy.