The centrality of Dublin in the Irish literary world was highlighted this week when Salmon Publishing gave Mary O'Donnell's new collection of poems a second launch in the capital. Unlegendary Heroes, Mary's third collection, had already had one coming out party - at Kenny's Bookshop in Galway during the Cuirt Festival last week - but was given the full treatment again on Wednesday at the Irish Writer's Centre in Parnell Square.
The sunny evening provided the perfect accompaniment to the proceedings. Sun streamed in through the long, Georgian windows, and after violinist Paul Fanning had played three beautiful pieces, poet Eithne Strong paid homage to Mary's extraordinary aptitude for imagery.
Mary then read a few herself, in the temperate voice familiar to many through her role as presenter of RTE radio's weekly poetry programme, The Darkness Echoing. The programme's producer, Seamus Hosey, promised they would be back on the air in June for a 12-week run. The national broadcaster was also represented at the party by RTE Players Colette Proctor and Cathryn Brennan, who chatted to politician and writer Liz McManus.
Among those soaking up the summer atmosphere was a host of award-winning writers, including barrister John O'Donnell, whose attainment of the Listowel Writers' Week Poetry Prize is due to be announced any day now. John chatted with poet Greg Delanty, now a lecturer in Vermont, who was in Dublin for the launch of his book The Hellbox only the night before.
Novelist Clair Ni Aonghusa compared notes with poets Ted McNulty and Sheila O'Hagan, while commercial interests were represented by Joseph Hoban, who buys Irish literature for the Dublin Bookshop.