When The Weeping Of Angels opened at the Gate on Tuesday evening, it turned into an O'Connor family reunion. Playwright Joseph O'Connor was there of course, accompanied by his partner, film producer Anne- Marie Casey, but he was also joined by his sister, singer Sinead O'Connor, who sported an auburn bob as well as a bag with the words "Diana, Queen of Hearts" emblazoned in gold across it.
Their brother John O'Connor, who is a Joe lookalike, was also there. The proud father of all the O'Connors, John O'Connor, and his wife, Viola O'Connor were also at the show.
Paul McGuinness, who recently became Sinead's manager, was home from U2's Popmart tour for just two days and was keeping a protective eye on his new protegee, as well as chatting with his sister, film-maker Katy McGuinness and her husband, architect Felim Dunne.
The chairwoman of the Hospice Foundation, Marie Donnelly, was spreading the word about a ball to be held in the newly restored ballroom of the Powerscourt estate on December 12th - the first in the house since 1965, which Grace Kelly attended.
Director Paddy Breathnach and producer Rob Walpole were there, just beginning to relax after the release of their film I Went Down last week. Paddy's first film Ailsa was adapted from one of Joe O'Connor's stories, and they are currently collaborating on the film of Cowboys And Indians. Paddy and Rob were chatting to Deirdre O'Kane, a true Renaissance woman - actor, award-winning comedian and casting director of I Went Down. Hugo Hamilton is another Irish author soon to hit the big screen. His most recent novel, Headbanger, will start filming next spring with Cathal Black directing and David Collins as producer. Other audience members there to support their family included the Dubliners' Ronnie Drew, whose son Phelim Drew was in the play, and Grainne Fricker, there to applaud her sister Brenda Fricker, who plays the lead role. The firstnighters included journalist Nell McCafferty; Ruairi Quinn TD and his wife Liz; novelist Anne Enright; Gay Byrne and Kathleen Watkins; playwright Bernard Far- rell and director Ben Barnes.