It's a feast and a famine

LAST week was such a whirl of July 4th celebrations it's a wonder the American Ambassador has any energy left.

This week, Jean Kennedy Smith threw open her house and garden for two separate events. On Sunday she hosted the Stars and Stripes Barbecue in aid of Big Issues magazine in her beautiful rose lined walled garden. The Corrs played and although the 90 minute queue to get a burger tested the patience of parents with small children, it was a perfect summer afternoon. At the same time in another part of the grounds, there was the launch of the Great Irish Famine Event. It will be a huge concert in Millstreet next June 1st with Donal Lunny as musical director and Riverdance's John McColgan as its TV director.

Noel C. Duggan came up for the launch as did Gabriel Byrne who was there with Aine O'Connor the two old friends are currently working on Draoieht, an Irish language film for TnaG.

Casting agents Ros and John Hubbard came to lend their support. Their next project is casting a film they've taken to calling The Untitled Love Story. Written by Graham Linehan and Arthur Matthews of Fr Ted fame, it's loosely about some US presidential aides sent here to find their boss's ancestors. They get involved in a matchmaking festival with, presumably, hilarious results.