They were shuffling the deck as the guests arrived. A pack of cards will ultimately raise £1 million for the Irish Hospice Foundation. A unique image has been created for each of the playing cards to help raise money for the foundation.
The result is "a mini art gallery in the palm of your hand", as Marie Donnelly, chair of the Art:pack organising committee, explained. The deck of cards features work by artists including Patrick Scott, Pauline Bewick, Felim Egan, Robert Ballagh and Dorothy Cross.
The packs, which went on sale earlier this week at a party in the Royal Hibernian Academy, cost £20 each. The artists' original work will be auctioned later in the year. There is interest in the pack outside Ireland also. Roll up, roll up.
Kathy Gilfillan, the committee member who came up with the idea, said the pack has impressed world-class poker players such as Donnacha O'Dea and Noel Furlong, who are already planning a night of poker at the Merrion Casino Club in Merrion Square early in December.
Many contributors, such as Cahir-born Alice Maher, were there. Unfortunately her husband of three months, artist Dermot Seymour, another card contributor (who was given the romantic Two of Hearts as his card and came up with the equally romantic image of two sheep), was at NUI Galway delivering a lecture. Maher's "History of Tears" collection is currently on view in London in the Purdy Hicks Gallery.
Other card-shark contributors were artists Guggi and his wife, Sibylle Ungers who were both present for the launch. As the cards fell, artist David McDermott - originally from New York but living in Dublin for the past eight years - spoke of his upcoming exhibition in the Big Apple. Being in Ireland is "like dying and going to heaven", he said, with a lilt. Sure, 'tis.
Contributor Fergus Martin was there, too, talking to his friends Seβn and Rosemarie Mulcahy.
Bill Shipsey, a Waterford-born barrister, was present, as chairman of the Irish Hospice Foundation.
And from Thomastown in Co Kilkenny, Hughie O'Donoghue, whose own show was to open in the nearby Rubicon Gallery in an hour's time, came along with his wife Clare O'Donoghue, to meet his friends (see Weekend 5).
For further details, telephone the Irish Hospice Foundation on 01-6765599, or buy online at www.artpack.ie