The launch went wonderfully well on Tuesday night - I am only now back at my desk. Huge thanks to Bob and the team at
The Gutter Book Shop, all at
New Island Books, Gráinne Killeeen of Killeen PR, Sinéad Gleeson for the blush-inducing intro and to Karen O'Neill for the photos. It was a great night, jammed with family, friends, writer-friends and a dog, who yelped right on cue when I said we would be adjourning to the Parlour Bar in
The Stag's Head after the launch. Whisky and wine were drank, Kendal Mint Cake and shortbread were eaten, chats were had. A lovely evening. Here are some pics.
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| Flowers & a card from hubby - aw! |
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| Me with my posing smile and the book |
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| Scotch - I had fun collecting the shot glasses in charity shops here and in Scotland, and on ebay & my beloved Etsy |
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| Kendal Mint Cake features in the novel, as does the paperweight this bar is propped against |
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| Shortbread, mint cake and Scotch - mmmm! |
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| Signing! (There was a lot of that.) |
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| Mariel Deegan of New Island Books, freelance super-editor Deirdre O'Neill, Finbar McLoughlin |
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| Bob Johnston of The Gutter Book Shop (fresh off the plane from Paris!) |
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| Sinéad Gleeson and me, listening to Eoin Purcell |
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| The incomparable Sinéad Gleeson |
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| Me with a pure O'Connor expression on my face |
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| Some of the crowd, writers Mary O'Donnell & Lia Mills visible, also journalists Cathy Dillon & Sue Leonard |
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| My son, Finn, and me |
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| Writer Mia Gallagher (if you haven't read her novel *Hellfire*, please do - fab) |
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| Writer Kathleen Murray |
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| Me, my Da - Hugh O'Connor - & my brother-in-law, Alan Kerrigan |
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| Gráinne Killeen of Killeen PR |
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| Bob Johnston, superhost |
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| Joan Murphy, photographer Karen O'Neill et moi in The Stag's Head |
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| The beautiful writer Dimitra X |
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| Writers Monica McInerney and Maighréad Medbh in the signing queue |
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| View from my hotel room - the lovely Liffey |
