THE very jolly and sociable party planned for the Presidency launch makes you realise how rare it is to see professional Euroson the social circuit during the year. Their New World counterparts - the American and Canadian ambassadors, Jean Kennedy Smith and Barry Mawhinney - are undeniably social, turning up at all types of arts, sporting and charity events. Among the Europeans, Veronica Sutherland his the most publicly sociable - especially where the theatre is concerned. As a genuine theatre buff, she doesn't only appear at the obvious Abbey and Gate openings, but turns up at other more modest venues.
Next in terms of sociability is the French Ambassador, Francois Mouton, who together with his cultural attache, Alexandre de Fay, is often spotted at art openings.
Other than that, it's a fairly quiet life. As a member of the diplomatic corps (who preferred, diplomatically, to remain anonymous) told me, "It's all very boring really. We have cooks so we mostly eat and entertain at home, and even at that dinner parties tend to be very stuffy and dull. Besides, if you're from a small European country, your entertaining budget is quite modest, so a visit to one of Dublin's more exclusive restaurants is a very rare treat. Other than that, it's a fairly endless round of drinks receptions and farewell parties - and protocol demands that we all have to invite each other to events, so it's not too much of an exaggeration to say that the only people the diplomatic corps socialise with are the diplomatic corps.
In fairness, some embassy parties and national day celebrations are excellent social occasions. Last weekend the Danish Ambassador, C. Ulrik Haxthausen, gave a delightful mid summer party at his Bray residence next week July 4th will be celebrated with a star studded party on board the USS JFK, and Bastille Day celebrations at the French embassy are famous for their relaxed conviviality.