IS Chris de Burgh about to buy an antique emerald ring for his wife, Diane? The lady in lilac looks on. It's the gala charity preview and opening of the 34th Irish Antique Dealers' Fair in the RDS.
The dealers are dressed in period costume. Complete with long tresses, whale-bone frames, chalk-white makeup and subtle beauty spots are Anna Mooney and Chantal O'Sullivan, of O'Sullivan Antiques. Looking like members of Marie Antoinette's entourage, they win best stall of the night.
Kathleen Reynolds, the former Taoiseach's wife, says she's been too busy chatting to her friend, Jennie Hanley, to have bought anything. "All we did was talk since we came in," she says. "We'll have to come back another day." Later they meet up with her daugher, Leonie, and her friend, Siobhan Callanan.
Former model Karla Elliott-Walsh is there with her mother, Vicki Ramdhani, and her fiance David Walsh. Designer Louise Kennedy, who opens the event, says it's true she's going to design the Tipperary hurling and football team jerseys. Her father has three all-Ireland medals, so she's delighted. The fair continues at the RDS today and tomorrow.