There were good vibes all around at a reception this week to mark the 1,000th episode of Fair City. With a cast of 40, a crew of 80 and a regular audience of almost 700,000, the atrium of the Civic Offices was soon buzzing with the talk of friends, supporters and well-wishers.
Paul Fitzgerald, one of the series' five directors, was there. "I love it even after 10 years, " he said.
Stuart Dunne, the powerful presence who was the villain Billy Meehan for almost a year, told me: "I was happy to move on. I'm a deep actor. I gave a lot to it." He's currently working on a six-part series, Collection Day, the cast of which includes Mick Nolan, another familiar Fair City face, who plays Ray "the lazy mechanic". The series, which is to be be screened shortly, is all about lap-dancers and Dublin gangsters, they said.
Fair City's Hilda Fay, from East Wall, who plays Tracey, "a hard sassy character", was there too. "It's a brilliant part," she said. "She's a drug addict, but she's a good person at heart. Hopefully they're going to rehabilitate her."
Killian O'Sullivan, who plays Lorcan, "a troubled teenager who killed his stepdad", is currently studying for his Leaving Cert at Templeogue College. Alan O'Neill, the soap's latest love interest, Keith, was also at the party. Frank Melia, who plays sleazy politician Sean McCann, was looking around the Civic Offices. "I feel like I'm in the lion's den," he said.
Pete St John, writer of The Fields of Athenry and Dublin in the Rare Auld Times, and singer Lorraine O'Reilly, were both pleased that the official World Cup anthem is one of St John's latest compositions, Spirit of the Gael.
Niall Mathews, the soap's executive producer, came along, as did RTÉ director-general Bob Collins. And John Fitzgerald, the Dublin city manager, suggested they rework the opening credits in August to include a new view of O'Connell Street - and the new spike.