Leaders of Irish empire gather at Farmleigh

IT had the air of an upmarket society wedding as Farmleigh House basked resplendently in the cold autumnal sunshine.

But as the family silver twinkled beneath the glistening chandeliers, who would have guessed the lavish ceremony had began in such desperate circumstances?

The lonely heart ad had read: “Small country, beautiful but down on its luck, seeks rich suitor, preferably Irish descent, for good times, maybe more...”