Happy birthday to the Irish Georgian Society, which is 40 this year. In rather typically IGS style, Desmond Fitzgerald, Knight of Glin and president of the society, and founder member Desmond Guinness have decided to throw a big ruby anniversary bash in the grounds of Desmond G's place, Leixlip Castle. The Royal Garden Jazz Band have been invited to supply the soundtrack for the day and Jim Bowe is in charge of the food.
Most of the invited guests, who include the British ambassador, Veronica Sutherland; the Italian ambassador, Ferdinando Zezza; IGS founder members Terry Chalmers Trench, Grainne Weir and Ann Dillon Carrigan; conservationist and artist Peter Pearson and Freddie O'Dwyer of the OPW, will have to park their autos in the adjoining fields, unlike the members of the Twenty Ghost Club. This great title is the name given to a party of 20 Rolls Royce Ghost owners who travel around Britain and Ireland, often with the help of members from the London chapter of the IGS, who sit in the back seat and share the exorbitant petrol costs.
Twelve members of the club will be pulling up at the door of Leixlip Castle to help the society celebrate in style.