The McAuleys of Tyrone threw a party in Eason's Book Shop on Grafton Street this week. Three of the family, who grew up in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, came to woo us with fiddles, uilleann pipes, sticks of rock and champagne. Roisin McAuley's first book, Emerald Greens, The Essential Guide to Holiday Golf in Ireland, is being launched.
"The big sister", Clare Devlin, is here from Belfast. The younger brother, Liam McAuley, letters editor of this newspaper, is here from Dublin, as is Anne McAuley, one of the musicians in the family, playing keyboard and fiddle while Gerry Mulligan plays on pipes. Friends who've also come to the launch include Maeve Binchy and Gordon Snell, who are just back from a tour of Canada. Also Barbara and Trevor Edwards are here from Belfast. Della O'Clery, who runs a home-catering company, travelled from Rostrevor, Co Down, to meet up with some old friends. Barbara Dalgarno, a retired vice-principal of the Jaffe School in Belfast, came to enjoy her friend's book bash.
The book is for golfers and golfing widows, according to the author. US publishers Interlink have already bought the rights, according to Irish publisher, John Murphy, of Appletree Press.
At another venue, the publication of Iomramh Aonair, by Clo Iar-Chonnachta, is being celebrated by the friends and family of the late Breandan O hEithir. Ta an ostan dubh le daoine do seoladh an leabhair "faoi shaol agus shaothair an oileanaigh ildanaigh chasta seo". Catherine von Hildebrand, beancheile Bhreandain, has travelled up from Ballagh, Co Tipperary. Actor Peadar Lamb is here also. The book, which is being launched by Andreas O Gallchoir was written by Liam Mcac Con Iomaire. "Taim ag suil go mor len e a leamh," says poet Aine Ni Ghlinn, of Iomramh Aonair (Solitary voyage), on her way in. "Dearfainn gur an leabhar e."