Author and lead actor miss `Angela's Ashes' premiere

Three of the four Corrs joined film director Alan Parker and the cast of Angela's Ashes when the film had its Irish ere premiere in Dublin last night. Cast members from Mr Parker's last Irish film, The Commitments, were also among the 700-strong audience for the premiere, most of whom paid £100 a head for the privilege. The proceeds of the event went to the Irish Youth Foundation.

Neither the author of Angela's Ashes, Frank Mc Court, nor the film's lead male star, Robert Carlyle, attended the showing at the Savoy cinema. However, the lead actress, Emily Watson, was joined by all three of the young actors who play McCourt in the film: Joe Breen (9), Ciaran Owens (13) and Michael Legge (20).

The Government Chief Whip, Mr Seamus Brennan, and the US ambassador, Mr Michael J. Sullivan, were among the attendance, which also included film director Neil Jordan, the manager of U2, Paul McGuinness, and the managing director of Independent News and Media, Mr Gavin O'Reilly, with his wife, Alison Doody.

Brendan Gleeson, Colm Meaney and Pauline McLynn were among the many actors who attended. Commitments stars Andrew Strong, Robert Arkins and Maria Doyle-Kennedy were also there. The Corrs - minus drummer Caroline - provided the musical entertainment at a party in the Burlington Hotel last night which was expected to raise £100,000 for the Irish Youth Foundation.