The rain didn't deter bibliophiles from attending two simultaneous book launches in Dublin city centre on one stormy evening this week.
A packed auditorium at the National Museum of Ireland gathered to applaud publication of Treasures of the National Museum of Ireland, launched by Kathleen Watkins. Meanwhile, more guests arrived at the National Library to hear Gay Byrne launch Éanna Ní Lamhna's book, Talking Wild.
This is "all our work over the years brought together in a popular way, in an accessible way", said Raghnall Ó Floinn, co-editor with Pat Wallace of their book about the National Museum's collection of antiquities.
A tome like this has not been produced since the early 1970s "when Irish publishing was less confident", according to Fergal Tobin, of Gill and Macmillan.
"It seemed time to do a pictorial survey at this stage. There have been many acquisitions since then. And our ability to produce high colour work is vastly improved." The book retails at €39.99.
Playwright Bernard Farrell and his wife, Gloria Farrell; Barbara Nugent, the National Museum chairwoman; Malachy McCloskey, chairman of the Boyne Valley Group and a key supporter of the publication; maritime historian John de Courcy Ireland, and Father Gerard Rice, parish priest of Kilcloon in Co Meath, were among those in attendance.
"What I love more than anything are the amber necklaces, such as the one found at Tooradoo in Co Limerick," said Mary Cahill, assistant keeper of Irish antiquities, whose chapter in the new book focuses on the gold and bronze antiquities.
"The big gold collars are very rare; they show amazing skill but survived in very small numbers."
Brendan O'Donoghue, director of the National Library, with his wife, Bernie O'Donoghue, had a busy night dashing from one building to the other. Then they stepped out again to attend another book party at the National Gallery.