The cast and crew of Country are easy to spot in the foyer of the Screen Cinema for the premiere of Kevin Liddy's award-winning first feature film. They are the ones biting their nails and jumping around. The premiere, and the after-show party at Dublin's newest bar, Number 4 Dame Lane, is in aid of Adi Roche's and Ali Hewson's Chernobyl Children's Project.
Stars of the show are 12-year-old Dean Pritcharde from Belfast, and stunning newcomer Marcella Plunkett. Marcella's parents, Christy and Kay Plunkett, are with her in the foyer, proudly talking about the young actress's achievements.
Producer Jack Armstrong is accompanied by sister Valerie, and most of the rest of his family. Dancer Jean Butler is here with furniture designer Simon O'Drisceoil, along with Today FM presenter Ray d'Arcy and musician Liam O Maonlai and wife Aoife. Writer/director Conor McPherson is also here with young actor Laurence Kinlan, who stars in Country and McPherson's Saltwater.
Number 4 Dame Lane (the one with the Olympic-style flame outside) is a new addition to the scene, developed by Paul Keaveney of Dakota on South William St and the Odeon Bar on Harcourt St, with similar exposed brick and wood in big dark spaces. Radiohead had their post-stage bash here last Friday night.
David Quirke of Nude restaurant and Skooter moped shop drops in with wife Emma. Stylists Helen Cody and Catherine Condell, along with Yetty Giwa of Absolut Hair, are here too, as are directors Ciaran Walsh and Richie Smith; Kelvin Stokes of Bang restaurant; E News' Tony Connolly drops in. and Gavin Friday and Andrea Roche.
Far from the glitz and glamour, a convoy of aid workers is currently half-way across Europe on the way to Belarus. Adi Roche and friends depart this weekend to join the convoy, bringing food, medical supplies, clothing and building supplies to the Novinki Children's Mental Asylum. The asylum is home to 214 child victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Ali Hewson doesn't think she'll be able to join this trip, but she's still deciding. "I have three children at home," she jokes.