WARNING: THE Burlington Hotel is crawling with politicians this weekend.

Last night, the Labour Party held their annual Rose Ball, where “every cent raised will go to Michael D’s election campaign”.

Tickets for the “red tie” bash were €100 each, with Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and full parliamentary party complement putting on the style for the night’s revelry.

Entertainment on the night included Sharon Shannon and Mickey Harte and his band. Mickey is a first cousin of Senator Jimmy Harte from Louth.

The 260 guests kicked off with pre-dinner drinks, although the man whose campaign they were funding was otherwise engaged at the Late Late Showpresidential debate. He did a reverse Cinderella by dashing in after the clock chimed midnight and not turning into a pumpkin.

No sooner will Labour be gone than the hotel has to do it all again with Fianna Fáil. The party holds its annual president’s dinner tonight, though the partying will be scaled down from previous years. We hear leader Micheál Martin, in a departure from tradition, has not invited special guests to join his table.

Tickets are €85, cheaper than Labour’s shindig. But then, they don’t have an election candidate to fund. “Given that Fianna Fáil has no money and no candidate, maybe we’ll send Michael D over to read a poem for them,” said a senior Labour figure, taking no pleasure whatsoever in the reduced circumstances of the Soldiers of Destiny.

Others were surprised they were going to the Burlington. “I heard they’d booked the Dawson Lounge” said our Labour comedian, referring to what is said to be the smallest pub in Dublin.