However, since the world is a small place, I should mention that Quinlan is an investor in Bono and the boys' Clarence, so I guess that song would not have been appropriate.

Quinlan's company bought The Savoy Group -- which included the Savoy, Claridge's, Berkeley and Connaught hotels in London -- in 2004. Del Boy later sold the Savoy Hotel to the Bank of Scotland and Saudi billionaire, Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal Alsaud. He also owns the Four Seasons hotels in Milan, Budapest, Prague, and, of course, Ballsbridge.

There was no shortage of guests willing to make the short journey to London to help Quinlan -- and his beautiful wife Siobhan --celebrate his big day. Gerry Purcell and his wife, Aisling, Paul and Margaret Anderson (Shrewsbury Road neighbours of Quinlan's), former Attorney General and Four Seasons investor Dermot Gleason and solicitor Peter Donnelly.

Doubtless, the U2 star and the birthday boy enjoyed a long conversation on An Taisce's on-going difficulties with the various planning permissions to extend the Clarence. Or maybe Bono, who has property investments in New York, was looking for advice from Quinlan, who has a giant portfolio in America: last year his company paid $18.7m for a five-storey Upper East Side townhouse with its own wood-panelled library, a garden and elevator straight to the top. Where it's tough, I'm told.