The painters of flowers are here in profusion. Their story is now published in a book. Their blue poppies, orchids and hart's tongue fern are centre stage. Brendan Parsons, the Earl of Rosse, launches the "stunningly beautiful" Irish Botanical Illustrations and Flower Painters by Patricia Butler.
It's "full of nuggets of information", he says. The elegant launch in a Georgian building owned by Bank of Ireland Asset Management, on Fitzwilliam Place, is full of Butler's friends and fans. They listen with interest to Parsons, founder of the Birr Scientific and Heritage Foundation, at Birr Castle, speak about the book's "fascinating insights into 200 years of art history". The artists present include Raymond Piper, from Belfast, who has studied orchids since 1976. Through his work, he has discovered the very rare woodland orchid, Epipactus laptochila and the ghost orchid, Epipogium aphyllum. Frances Poskitt, based in the Burren, in Co Clare, loves to paint wild flowers. Daphne Levinge-Shackleton from Mullagh, in Co Cavan, is another wild flower woman. "It's a lovely way of life," she explains. "It makes you look at things in a detailed way."
Some of the author's family and friends have come to enjoy the celebration too. Vanessa Butler, the author's daughter and curator of the Dalkey Heritage Centre and Art Gallery is here also. She mentions the work of ceramist Marcus O'Mahoney, from Lismore, in Co Waterford, which is currently on view at the centre.
Taking the sight out of our eyes in a shocking pink et boucle jacket is Audrey Conlon, deputy film censor and long-time friend of Butler's. And the author's son, solicitor Charlie Butler, is here, saying hello to Petronelle Clifton Brown from Cashel.