Writers dressed up as druids, warriors and ancient Irish heroes earlier this week for the launch of World Book Week 2001. They don't get out much, you see. Siobhan Parkinson was in a flowing black velvet gown as Granuaile.
Larry O'Loughlin was Fionn Mac Cumhaill and Malachy Doyle was a druid. Nuala Hayes was a warrior queen. Friar Tuckaka Don Conroy, presenter on Den2, was there too.
Welshman and literary agent Jonathan Williams, led the Dun Laoghaire Welsh choir in a number of rousing choruses and brought the house down - all were speechless in admiration. Also spotted enjoying the fun at Dublinia, Christchurch were Marion Richardson and Noelle O'Reilly, producers of Today with Pat Kenny; Avril Hoare of 2FM; Easons director Tom Owens, writers Anne Chambers and Sarah Webb and Dublin conservationist Peter Pearson and writer of Heart of Dublin.
John MacNamee, vice president of the Booksellers Assocation, told the party, which included almost 100 schoolchildren, that World Book Week is about making books more accessible to people.
As part of WBW, a £1 book voucher will continue to be given out in The Irish Times for all of next week.