OnTheTown: Old schoolteachers can bring on a case of the jitters in even the most successful of past pupil. A tanned and seemingly relaxed Colum McCann, whose latest literary offering, Zoli, was launched on Wednesday night, confessed to feeling very nervous, particularly when he spotted a former teacher across the crowded first floor of the new Hughes and Hughes flagship shop in Dún Laoghaire.
McCann has just returned from Edinburgh, where he shared the stage with Cloud Atlas author David Mitchell, and spoke excitedly about having managed to catch Roddy Doyle reading from his new book, Paula Spencer.
He has also been in the west of Ireland recently, after reprising his successful partnership with film director Gerry McKendry, and the pair are currently working on a feature-length version of another story from his collection Everything in this Country Must.
"It's hopefully going to be shot in Achill next summer, but we'll see, I don't know if it's ever going to get done," cautioned McCann, who has been working on Zoli for almost four years, ever since he became fascinated by the true story of a Polish poet exiled from the gypsy community. "You never really know what a novel is about until people tell you," McCann noted. "Sometimes it can take a year or two to find out."
One of the few people at the launch who had already read Zoli was John Kelly, presenter of RTÉ's The View, who described Zoli" as "a great book" with "an unforgettable central character", praising McCann for his ability to mix serious research with boundless imagination.
RTÉ presenter Ryan Tubridy came along to the launch to support another Irish author earning a crust, jokingly adding "we need to be more Hibernian about this book club lark". Moya Brennan from Clannad and singer Brian Kennedy led the musical contingent on Wednesday evening. Actor Frank Kelly was in attendance, as well as writers Maeve Binchy and Jennifer Johnston. The two female authors sat together, singing the praises of the "so unassuming and so nice" Dublin-born author.
Johnston agreed to say a few words, with a little gentle persuasion from McCann, as no writer had been scheduled to speak on the night. She likened McCann's prose to "someone singing in your ear", and predicted Booker success for his latest novel. The assembled crowd of literary luvvies lost their dignified composure for a moment, and roared in support.
Waxing lyrical about the merits of home
'I don't have an eye for art at all," confessed John O'Neill, chief executive of AXA, to a packed Hallward Gallery on Tuesday night as he opened batik artist Bernadette Madden's latest exhibition.
Madden, who is the company's art consultant, allegedly turned down an offer of favourable car insurance for training the chief executive's artistic eye, joked O'Neill. "But for a lady who doesn't drive, that doesn't mean she doesn't travel," he said.
The Dublin-based artist's show is a testament to this love of travel, and of home. The exhibition spans the globe, depicting scenes from Singapore, Florida and Israel, but the whole exhibition is informed by the old Wizard of Oz adage.
"It's called East, West, Home's Best, so the underlying theme is there's no place like home," said Madden.
Included in the exhibition are a number of pieces from the artist's recent show at the Kenny Gallery in Galway, Vanishing Skies, which examined the country's ever-changing skyline.
Karla Lawless of BSF Ireland, and her daughter Lara, both describe themselves as "big fans" of the artist. Like many at the opening, Karla has a long association with the artist and in 2005 she organised an exhibition at BASF in Schwartzheide, Germany.
Another old friend, former EU commissioner David Byrne and his wife Geraldine came along on Tuesday to offer their support.
Alice Leahy, director of Trust Ireland, who attended the opening with her husband Charles Best, described the mixture of vibrant and muted colours as stunning, "You'd love to just sit down in front of them for hours," she enthused.
Robin Adams, librarian at TCD, and his wife Linda, were fascinated by the intricate process involved in batik, which uses wax and dyes on linen to create a detailed image. O'Neill was similarly intrigued by the technique.
"I can't understand how it's not blurry," he said.
East, West, Home's Best is at the Hallward Gallery until Sept 14
A ship to launch 1,000 pianos
How exactly do you get a grand piano on to a replica famine ship? That was the conundrum faced by the organisers of Tuesday's launch of the inaugural New Ross Piano Festival in New Ross, Co Wexford. Connie Tantrum, of the Music for New Ross group, admitted it was a risky task to undertake, but described the process as "surprisingly easy." The answer is to take off the legs, and roll it along the gangway like a keg of beer.
More than 160 people boarded the Dunbrody Famine Ship, a sea-going replica of the 19th century three-sailed barque, to launch the festival.
An eclectic mix of musicians, music lovers, local business people and artists mingled beneath a brilliant blue sky, and a sail was ingeniously employed as an awning. Attendees were treated to a recital by renowned pianist and festival artistic director, Finghin Collins, who is also one of the five pianists taking part in the festival.
"It's a really important festival for the area," said Collins. "And it's a unique one, as there is no other piano festival in the country. When you think of Cork you think of chamber music, and Wexford you think of opera."
According to the pianist, the festival is set to become an annual event, which will develop into other areas of piano playing.
The county's arts officer, Rosaleen Molloy, praised the "dynamic committee of music lovers" behind the festival, and the judiciously chosen programme of popular classics and less well-known works. Molloy also paid tribute to the piano itself, alluding to the childhood memories people may have of their knuckles being rapped as they tried to learn "the king of instruments".
The New Ross Piano Festival opens on Sept 29, and runs until Oct 1, with concerts taking place in St Mary's Church, New Ross
Harlequins and high spirits
It was a case of old friends catching up at Spirit on Thursday afternoon as TV3 launched its new autumn schedule.
The Middle Abbey Street nightclub was transformed for the event, the result something between Willy Wonka's chocolate factory and Moulin Rouge.
A heady mixture of dry ice and candyfloss wafted around guests, who sipped pink champagne and satiated their hunger on candyfloss and mini hot dogs.
Pink Afro-wearing stilt-walkers and ladies transformed into harlequins by way of clever body paint, mingled with a slew of TV3 personalities and a number of UK soap stars.
Alex Carter, who currently plays Jamie Hope in Yorkshire-based soap Emmerdale, caught up with his former co-stars from TV3 newbie, Channel 4's Hollyoaks, on his visit to Ireland.
Carter's co-star Verity Rushworth, probably better known as Donna Windsor, nibbled on a cone of miniature fish and chips as she recounted the latest twist to her character's story line.
"I've been practising with the police force, as Donna is going to start a new career soon. I'm going out with them in Leeds on Friday night, and I'm going to do a real arrest," the 20-year-old actress giggled.
Keith Duffy, who was announced as host of TV3's new reality quiz The Box, got a chance to chat with Jenny Platt, his "old bar mate from Corrie" who plays Violet Wilson in the popular Manchester soap.
Duffy, who has just returned from his holidays, said he was looking forward to his stint as a reality quiz presenter. The show is due to start in October and will run for three weeks. Duffy suggested that he has a few projects in the pipeline for after The Box, and admitted it was "possible" he would be back on Irish screens again.
Duffy also chatted with his one-time band manager Louis Walsh, whose reality show The X-Factor has just started another run on TV3.
TV3 new girl and Ireland AM presenter, Sinead Desmond said she is settling in to her new role on the sofa beside Mark Cagney well, although she is still trying to adjust to her new early bedtime. "I think the new schedule is fantastic," she enthused. "I'm a huge fan of reality television, and when I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here starts up again, I'll be glued to it."