A costume ball in the grand surroundings of Markree Castle outside Sligo later this month will find the regulars of one local pub decked out in such unfamiliar items of clothing as court wigs, hooped dresses, ruffled shirts and frock coats.
The ball is being organised both as a party for regular customers of Shoot The Crows pub and as a fund-raiser for Amnesty International and the National Council for the Blind.
The proprietor of the pub, Mr Ronan Waters, says costume from the period 1750 to 1850 is absolutely compulsory and that customers, who would not be known for slavish attention to fashion trends, are rising to the sartorial challenge. Some have already started to make their own costumes.
He is expecting between 150 and 200 people to attend the ball on April 24th and says the idea was to add some variety to Sligo's social calendar.
In keeping with the theme of the night, music will be provided by the Sligo Early Music Ensemble and local group Cadenza, while the Galway-based Screaming Blue Cats will liven things up.