The party in the Irish Writers Centre for John Kelly's book about growing up in the North, Cool About The Ankles, was a laid-back affair, but then he's a laid-back kind of guy. Although John's daily show on Radio Ireland, The Eclectic Ballroom, has attracted a huge following, most of these guests knew John's sense of humour of old and not from the air waves.
The whole Heaney clan were there; Seamus and wife Marie who were just back from a holiday in Italy and Greece; sons Michael, a DJ and journalist; Christopher, a teacher, and daughter Catherine. Both mother and daughter were bemoaning their fate to be stuck inside studying in such fine weather; Marie is completing a thesis while Catherine is in the middle of post-graduate exams. Prof Bert Hornback, a family friend, was over from Louisville University in Kentucky - he has made the trip regularly since living here seven years ago.
Neil Martin of Flying Fox Films popped down from Belfast for the party although he is hard at work both on a series on the 1798 Rebellion for Channel 4 and organising John's Belfast launch party next Friday.
John's colleagues from Radio Ireland were represented by John Caden, controller of programmes, and Donal Dineen, fellow DJ and previous presenter of RTE's No Disco. Other old friends included Ciaran Tourish, Mairead Mooney and Dermot Byrne of the band Altan, and Paul Brady. The party moved on to the Music Centre in Temple Bar, where Van Morrison got up to play a set with jazz musician Richie Buckley.