McAleese attends Narnia premier in Belfast

President Mary McAleese tonight headed a VIP guest list in Belfast for a movie premier of the new Chronicles of Narnia blockbuster.

A screening of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and gala dinner were held to raise funds towards Queen's University's new £44 million sterling library.

The facility will feature a special reading room dedicated to the Belfast author of the book, CS Lewis. With Director Andrew Adamson and Bob Iger, President and chief executive of the Walt Disney Company also walking the red carpet at the Odyssey Arena, Queen's Chancellor Senator George Mitchell described it as a unique celebration.

He said: "CS Lewis has inspired so many children throughout the world that it is appropriate the Irish film premiere of his much loved book be held in his home town. "Queen's has a solid reputation for fostering and producing creative talents through courses in drama, music, creative writing, film studies and art history that it is marvellous the university could honour this literary great in such a way."