Hours before the day was marred by a lunatic in Nice, Tootlafrance’s Deirdre Lane attended Bastille Day celebrations at the French Ambassador’s Residence in Dublin 4
“Deirdre would you mind being a guest of the French embassy on Bastille day?”
Baah… Oui. Pourquoi pas?

Partying like it’s 1798… French Ambassador Jean-Pierre Thébault and his wife amidst the large crowd who attended the Bastille Day Garden Party at the French Ambassador’s Residence in Dublin
An impressive line had already gathered outside the home of Mr & Mrs Jean-Pierre Thébault, inspecting the COP21 Climate notices on 53 Ailesbury Road gates. No-one was skipping the queue. I guess that’s something you learn at diplomatic school. Grovelling with the check desk to replace Tootlafrance editor (the original invitee). Despite the heavy security, they generously extended their hospitality and ushered me through.
I was greeted by Mayo Pikemen and United Irishmen in original(ish) 1798 garb and treated to a welcome Humbert himself may have enjoyed. Humbert – that’s General Jean Joseph Amable Humbert to you and moi. I imagine Maman calling him for dinner “J J Amable Humbert vien ici your petit dejuener is prêt !” I’m already giddy and I haven’t had any champagne yet.

Blasting blanks… Members of the Irish Legion frightening the neighbours in impressive style in the garden of the French Ambassador’s residence, Dublin
The 1803 French group – the Irish Legion – were fiercer than our Irish ones- ’til I caught them squabbling over whose bayonet was whose. Boys, huh! Heard one of the Irish ones say that he would not play (or rather fight) with them again because they were too dull, except for their shiny harp badges. I was reprimanded when I called their satchels handbags.

Flowering for the Fourteenth… a barrowful of baguettes formed part of the splendid backdrop to the wonderful Bastille Day garden party at the French Ambassador’s residence
French delicacies tend not to be vegan-friendly and so I helped my green friends there by scoffing their scrumptious Bayonne and Pyrénées cured meats, cornichons and Comté and Blue d’Auvergne fromage… Délicieux!
Ambassador Thébault regaled us with tales of Irish WW2 veterans praising their strength and exceptional honour.
“Freedom comes when you want to defend it,” he said. “There is no good party on water! We like Champagne!!”

Beer of freedom… Reel Deel’s Humbert beer was just the thing to quench the military thirst
A tree-planting ceremony followed and there were generous helpings of Côtes de Gascogne wine and lashing of Jameson cocktails. The audience seemed to be mostly too busy chattering to pretend to listen politely to the Paralympic Rio 2016 team accomplishments. Let’s hope they emptied their pockets upon exiting to support our teams. Only hushed whimpers joined the chorus of the Marseillaise. Amhrán na bhFiann fared no better despite the words printed on our programmes. Someone swapped a Valrhona Bonbons palet gold sign in front of the swirls of Bordier butter, and so we watched to see who fell for it. No one.

Impressionant… The impressive Irish Legion show how drilling is done
The “soldiers” were preparing to depart – returning to their normal lives in France or Mayo. I was bundled into the Mayo bus and regaled with tales of General J J Amable Humbert to much spirit and tales or Franco-Irish cooperation. It was a fitting end to a wonderful evening.
Then I watched the news. Bastille day Nice News. From flowing Champagne to flowing tears. Finery finishing in shrouds. May their souls rest in peace and retaliation cease. Vive l’Irlande et Vive la France.