Never mind the Merriman or the Humbert, this was the Magill Summer School; a chance for many of the city's journalists to get together and talk shop. The occasion was Wednesday evening's launch party for the revamped Magill, Vincent Browne's infamous political journal, and all eyes were on Browne himself and John Ryan, the new managing editor.
The changing editorship of Magill is renowned, a point referred to by Vincent in his speech when he humorously pointed out that John had lasted "at least a month". There was obviously no hard feelings from previous editors Brian Trench, Colm Toibin, and RTE's Sean Whelan, who all turned up to enjoy the party. Noel Pearson, film producer and one of Magill's original founders, congratulated the team before wandering off to talk with Eamon Dunphy, one of the contributors to the first issue. Of course much of the talk was about Charlie Haughey, who adorns the first issue, with another columnist, Pat Rabitte, a particularly fine source of stories.
It is doubtful, however, that anybody was quizzing either the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, or former taoiseach Garret FitzGerald, both of whom popped along. Mary O'Rourke, Avril Doyle, Tony Gregory and Conor Lenihan were among the other TDs who came along. Indeed, there was a particularly poignant moment when Conor chatted with Jim Duffy, the man who made those tapes in the last Presidential struggle and who is interviewed in the magazine.
John Ryan was looking tired but elated after bring the magazine back to life, while his girlfriend, Cliona Ni Bhuachalla, joked "Ask me what's on any page, I bet I could tell you!". Cliona, who has recently left Radio Ireland and returned to her producer's role in Tyrone Productions, was also accompanied by her father, Prof Brendan O'Buachalla. Another family group who came along were the Fennells; Cillian is the producer of The Late Late Show and was accompanied by his sister Natasha, also of RTE, and father Desmond Fennell. Garech de Brun made a brief appearance at the start of the night, fresh from having hosted the McAlpine wedding last weekend. He was in the company of artist's agent Isobel Smith, actor John Hurt and his partner Sarah Owens, while poet John Montague and his partner, writer Elizabeth Wassell, put their heads in later.
Other well-wishers at the party included Vincent's friends from the Bar where he will soon begin devilling; Frank Shouldice and Marion Cullen, fresh from putting on a play in the Project; Rachel Sexton, who was chatting about the new supper club she is opening on Stephen's Street, Digges Downstairs; journalist Damien Corless, who is to write a book on Dublin's nightclubs in conjunction with the British "lads" magazine Loaded; and The World Of Hibernia editor Tom Farley, over from New York for a quick Hibernian visit.