Banville blurb boosts Kilroy's delight on devilish dustjacket

THE SOCIAL NETWORK:Author Claire Kilroy was in great form at the launch of her new book, The Devil I Know, at The Gutter Bookshop in Temple Bar, Dublin on Wednesday evening. Her editor, Angus Cargill of Faber & Faber, who also edits the work of Sebastian Barry and Eoin McNamee, had braved the stormy weather and travelled from Scotland for the event.

Cargill said he was really pleased “when we got a quote from John Banville, a writer whom Claire has always admired”. He had sent Banville a proof of the book in May and received a polite rejection letter from the Booker Prize winner, informing the publishers that he didn’t blurb any more.

Then, a few days later, Banville emailed and said he’d sat up through the night to read the proofs and he really enjoyed the book.

Kilroy received the good news on her wedding day. Unfortunately, her husband, Alan Downey, was in Helsinki on Wednesday evening and couldn’t make the launch. Their first baby is due in November.

Kilroy also expressed her sorrow that there are two people in particular who she will always miss at her launches: her uncle John Long, to whom the book is dedicated, and Caroline Walsh, the former literary editor of The Irish Times, “who came to all launches, loved all writers and spread her affection very sweetly. She is greatly missed.”

Who we spotted: Writers Chris Barry, Paul Murray and Kevin Barry; Kilroy's cousin, the solicitor Kirstie Flynn, who works for Willis, arrived with her husband, solicitor Brian McGovern of BNY Mellon.

What we drank: Silver Leaf sauvignon blanc 2011