Glitter and elephant dung - an unlikely concoction for a popular work of art, don't you think? As dazzling a piece of art as it is, the elephant dung is a big turn-off for me. The artist is Chris Ofili who, with his Dublin-based artist sister, Paula Ofili, was at the opening of the Absolut international art collection at the Rubicon Gallery, Dublin, featuring 16 artists. Sandie Hurley from Cork said the Ofili was her favourite in the exhibition precisely because of its strange ingredients.

This is the first time that Absolut Classics - a collection of modern artists' interpretations of the Absolut Vodka bottle - has come to Dublin. The show includes a specially commissioned piece by Irish artist Michael Kane, who was at the opening with his architect wife, Shelly McNamara, and children Aoife and Ois∅n. The most famous names in the collection are those of Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst, who contributed colourful pieces. Waitresses wove their way through the crowds, serving Absolut Mandarin cocktails. The party attracted such a buzzing crowd that poets Dardis Clarke (son of poet Austin Clarke) and Elisa-Marie Robertson, both in black hats, nearly fell out of the window. Artist/critic Campbell Bruce was there with his wife, Jackie Stanley, and fashion designer Antonia Campbell Hughes.

Treasure Island contestant Padraic Doorey was there too, looking tanned and healthy after his castaway experience. "It was an amazing experience; I had such a great time," he said, but point-blank refused to divulge the name of the winner of the £50,000 treasure. Despite much pleading, he stood his ground, denying us even a teeny clue, such as whether the victor was a boy or girl. "That I can't tell you," he said firmly. All he'd say was that he left the island with the rest of the group on June 10th, and so we'll just have to watch the rest of the series.

Well, there goes my near- exclusive scoop.