They're in jeans, jumpers and duffel coats - but wait for the transformation. On the night of Friday, May 11th, as if by magic, they'll be transformed into gleaming tuxedo-wearing young men. There are great plans being made at a reception to announce details of Trinity Ball 2001. Yes, students such as fresher Tim Walker and third-years Ian Russell (from Richmond, Virginia) and Owen Finch Lipsett (from New York) will be brilliantly attired and tripping the light fantastic in their monkey suits.
Mayo man Joseph O'Gorman, a philosophy lecturer and secretary of the TCD Ball committee, will also be there, "trussed like a turkey" for the night. As for philosophy on the night of the event - it is Bacchanalian, perhaps? "Absolutely not, everything in moderation," he roars. Yeah, right.
Dubliner Timmy Carty, the Students' Union entertainments officer, has almost 30 bands lined up for the night with "a nice mix between Irish and international". Prof Cyril Smyth, head of microbiology and joint treasurer of the TCD Ball, who is chatting to Terry McAuley, the university's director of sport, says both will be at "the biggest private party in the world".