They meet to discuss Greek mythology, Renaissance art and popular music. It's stimulating, heady stuff. The fans and supporters of Challenging Times, the nationwide quiz series for third-level students, are gathered in UCD's Memorial Hall for a little party. Sean Hogan, obituaries editor of this newspaper and originator of the quiz series, which began 11 years ago, is here to witness the filming of the final, to be screened on Network 2 in May. The identity of the winning team is known only to a handful of people, and we're sworn to secrecy.
Brid Connolly is here - she is the mother of the famous author, John Connolly, whose latest book, The Killing Kind, is currently top of the bestsellers' list. The writer himself is in the UK, touring and fielding questions about the likely sources of inspiration for his gore-filled thrillers (em, he worked in this newspaper for a number of years!).
Bernadett Benczekovits, an English student from Budapest, Hungary, comes along too to hear what questions the teams are asked. Dublin tenor Emmanuel Lawlor, who can be heard at the National Concert Hall tonight singing a selection of Percy French songs and old Irish favourites at a concert to celebrate St Patrick's Day, is here with his wife, Sarah Lawlor. Educationalists Vivian Cassells and his wife, Anne Tuffy (dressed in Armani), arrive to take part in the revelry. They are especially impressed with the erudition of the contestants. We all are, really.
Carmel Keenan, former owner of The Mullingar House in Chapelizod, and her friend, Anna Hutchinson, from Clonmel are here also, enjoying the quiz and the jizz. And Paula O'Gorman, head of education services at this newspaper, officiates brilliantly, as usual, over everything.