THERE'S a distinct frisson in the air today, as hordes of French rugby fans fill the streets of Dublin in anticipation of adding yet another defeat to the beleaguered Irish team. One team which couldn't lose, however, was the Ireland Fund of France, which hosted a lavish dinner and reception in UCD's O'Reilly Hall last night, wining and dining French VIPs in grand style.

This eve-of-match event has become a bit of a tradition for the fund, and last night's was the biggest yet, with no fewer than 520 guests. At the end of the night, the fund was about £25,000 richer - the generous contributions will go toward scholarships to help disadvantaged students to study in France.

The co-hosts for the evening were Chryss Goulandris O'Reilly - who has a special interest in matters French - and her husband Tony. Guests included the vice-president of the Ireland Fund for France, Tadgh O'Sullivan, Norma Smurfit, Desmond Guinness and the Earl of Rosse.

The French guest list was headed by Ireland's consul-general in the south of France, Pierre Joannon and his wife Annick, and also in attendance was Pierre Dauzier, the head of HAVAS, the biggest press and communications conglomerate in France. South African ambassador Pierre Dietrichsen attended, as did Irish ambassador to France Patrick O'Connor, French writer Michel Deon, and the president of the American Ireland Fund, Loretta Glucksman, with her husband Lou.

During the evening, pianist John O'Conor was honoured with the Wild Geese Award, which is given every year to people who have enhanced Ireland's image abroad. Previous recipients include John Hume and Michael Smurfit.

The Irish line-out at UCD included Bill Cullen and Jackie Lavin; Olivia O'Leary and Paul Tansey; Paddy Teahon, secretary of the Department of the Taoiseach; Carmel Naughton, chairwoman of the National Gallery, with her husband, Martin, head of Glen Dimplex; Pat Donlon, director of the National Library; Bride Rosney, special adviser to the President, Mrs Robinson; Patricia Quinn, director of the Arts Council; horse trainer John Magnier and architect Sam Stephenson.

The academic world was represented by the provost of Trinity College, Tom Mitchell and the presidents of UCD, DCU and UCG - Art Cosgrove, Danny O'Hare and Pat Fottrell.