A dream came true for six Irish schoolchildren who were yesterday among the few granted a live audience with the Harry Potter author, J.K. Rowling.
The students from the multi-denominational Educate Together National School in Lucan were the only ones from the Republic selected to attend the event after an Internet draw was entered by a parent at the school.
A school spokesperson said yesterday tickets were made available to everyone at the school, but only six children made the trip.
She added that the children, from fourth class, who flew to London on Wednesday morning, were all "huge fans" of Harry Potter and were "very excited" at the opportunity to see his creator in the flesh. Ms Rowling appeared at London's Royal Albert Hall yesterday to read passages from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, as well as taking questions from the audience of about four thousand children.
The event was organised by Bloomsbury, publishers of the Harry Potter series, to celebrate the latest instalment.
The company is projecting a significant rise in profits for this year, due in no small part to the popularity of the boy wizard.
According to official figures Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix sold 33,700 copies on its first day in Ireland alone.
Bloomsbury distributors here say new copies are being reprinted and demand is still "very high" in outlets across the country.