In the evening, all of our Irish members – from north and south – hosted an Irish cultural evening on the Committee’s premises. There were speeches and music and dancing and whisky and Guinness (of course!) and hosts of distinguished visitors, including Maire Goeghegan-Quinn, the new Commissioner for Research and Innovation (picture) and everybody had a lovely time. It was one of those occasions where you have to drag yourself away reluctantly. Full marks to our Irish members and particularly to Jillian van Turnhout (Gr III, Ireland, also in the picture) who was the chief coordinator of the festivities and did such a brilliant job.