Father of Irish star has no magic to bilocate

Donal Lynch, father of the young Irish star of the new Harry Potter movie, Evanna Lynch, said his heart was breaking at the Irish première in Dublin last night. "It really is," he said. "If you have any updates at all I'll gladly hear them."

Referring to his desire for news of how his beloved Limerick team was doing in the Munster hurling final against Waterford, he said he was "very torn" about going to the Irish première of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. "I've never missed a Limerick match and we haven't been in a Munster final since 2001, but I couldn't let Evanna down."

Evanna, who plays Luna Lovegood in the film, was also nervous. On her way in she said: "At the London première there were other cast members and it was different. There are friends from home here too and all they've been talking about is this so I'm nervous about that."

She said her dress was specially made "in the theme of the phoenix". A white, taffeta halter-neck, it had a chiffon kick at the front in firey shades of orange, crimson and pink, with the neck-line in the same colours.

"It was made by an Irish designer, Jacqueline Holdcroft, based in Drogheda," she said.

Although there were few people outside the Savoy cinema on O'Connell Street the foyer was packed with children, some dressed in Harry Potter costumes. Catherine (9) and Nathan Kelly (8) from Balbriggan both dressed for the occasion in black wizard capes and carried wands.

"We've seen all the movies," said Catherine. "The first one was the best. I've read the first six books and I'm waiting for the seventh. I think the books are better than the movies because the movies leave bits out."