Lured by the promise of a special opening-day discount on all purchases, customers turned out in force yesterday morning at the 20th annual National Crafts Fair in the RDS, Ballsbridge.
As the early arrivals spilled into the hall, the more experienced among them snatched up several paper carrier bags on offer and set off down the aisles with well-trained eyes.
As they made their advance, it became clear not all the 278 stands were fully prepared for so many visitors so early in the day. Cleaners were caught making a hasty exit and in their place was an array of the familiar and the distinctly unusual.
Some recipients of Christmas presents around the country might be lucky enough to unwrap, say, a jar of banana jam from the appropriately-named Offbeat Bottling Company or of geranium jelly from the West Cork Herb Farm.
Alternatively, a gift with its own distinctive character could be some wild boar pancetta from Sillfield Farm Products or an ionising salt crystal lamp from Jo Chrobak.
According to the fair's organiser, Mr Patrick O'Sullivan, everything on offer at the fair has been made by people living and working on the island - except for the seller of the wild boar pancetta who used to live here but moved back to England a couple of years ago.
Obviously, it is worth his while coming back here. Before the fair closes for business on Sunday evening, more than 35,000 visitors are expected. That adds up to a lot of potential pancetta consumers.