The faithful have gathered in the former Boys' Brigade Chapel upstairs in Waterstone's to pay homage at the altar of tradition. We have come to hear excerpts from Well-Remembered Days - Eoin O'Ceallaigh's Memoir Of A Twentieth- Century Catholic Life, read to us by actor Frank Kelly. There is much sniggering at the back. There is no respect.
Arthur Mathews, co-author of the cult comedy series, Father Ted - who is also responsible for Well-Remembered Days - is sitting under the leaded rose window, a beatific look on his face. It is a proud moment for the man who has unearthed the manuscript of a civil servant. He has unveiled the great fictional character that is Eoin O'Ceallaigh, a poet, nationalist and defender of traditional Irish values. Among those present are film-maker Stephen Bradley and comedian Deirdre O'Kane, who is off to perform at the Melbourne Comedy Festival next month. Actor Kathy Downes is here also. Comedian Patrick McDonnell from Dundalk, who plays in the HQ Hall of Fame tonight with Joe Rooney, is here too, laughing at many of O'Ceallaigh's most moving reminiscences. Two who remain thoughtfully respectful throughout are Co Donegal sisters Anne and Rose MacBride.
Also spotted laughing is Sean Quinn, guitar player in Belfast rock band The Vivid. Their album, Stripper, is due out shortly. Simon Roche, art director of Hot Press, chats afterwards to Buzz O'Neill, who opens a new club at Vicar Street with singer Oisin Lunny this month. The new "Northern Soul club" will be called Feel No Pain. There's no such thing as "southern soul", he says. That's what he thinks.
Agus Seachtain na Gaeilge agus La Fheile Padraig ag sleamhnu uainn, deirimis cupla focal faoi thraidisiuin na mbard is na naomh. Eoin O'Ceallaigh "made it a lifelong resolution to learn a new word of Irish every day". Fair play dho. He was a man ahead of his time. As he might say himself: labhraimis Gaeilge is linne i. Agus beannachtai na feile oraibhse go leir, a mhuintir sheimh Ui Cheallaigh. Agus ol siar e.