Alex Sutherland, husband of the British ambassador Dame Veronica, was the only man among 46 women at a lunch in Dublin last week. While the Taoiseach and the Prime Minister were discussing affairs of state over a working lunch in Government Buildings on Thursday, and their officials (including the ambassador) were in attendance, Bertie Ahern's partner Celia Larkin entertained Cherie Blair to lunch in the Royal Irish Academy in Dawson Street and invited some leading Irish women to meet her. Guests at the top table included Pat Hume, Maureen Haughey, Kathleen Reynolds, Olive Braiden, Kathleen Watkins, Justice Catherine McGuinness and Alex Sutherland. Finola Bruton, Joan Fitz- Gerald, Vera Cosgrave, Maureen Lynch and Daphne Trimble sent their regrets. The other tables were hosted by Ministers Mary O'Rourke, Sile de Valera and Liz O'Donnell and Marian McGennis TD. Guests included Annette Andrews, Justice Susan Denham of the Supreme Court, Sinn Fein's Lucilita Bhreathnach, Councillor Ellen Mongan, Liz Quinn, wife of Ruairi, the new insurance ombudsman Caroline Gill, Olivia O'Leary, Angela Kerins of Rehab, Noreen oirin Byrne of the National Women's Council, Rosaleen Glackin of the ICTU, and women from business, the unions etc.
Apart from the wives of former Taoisigh, all were invited in their own right, it was emphasised. There was a harpist at the reception and a string quartet played during lunch. There were no speeches; instead, the two principals moved from table to table, and all dined on feta cheese and sea bass.