It was November the fifth and the celebration party for Dublin Stories, A New Collection went off with a bang in Irish Distillers HQ in Smithfield. As last year's collection, which is a compilation from Inkwell, Dublin's oldest writers' workshop, completely sold out, the print run has been increased dramatically this year.
Vinnie Caprani introduces the collection and he also came along to the party; Vinnie is well-known for his Rowdy Rhymes And Recimatations which contains his ballad on the blowing-up of the statue of Lord Gough that is often attributed to Brendan Behan. Breda Nathan was also enjoying the party - her short story, Footballics, has been produced as a radio play by RTE Radio 1, albeit under a more "respectable" title.
Various other contributors came along to celebrate the book which was officially launched by novelist Eugene McEldowney, including Alexis Guilbride, who was also busy as script consultant on Peter Sheridan's new movie about the Magdalen laundry, and Paddy Ryan and Brian McCabe, whose voices will be familiar to regular listeners of Sunday Miscellany.