TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern launched Cast a Cold Eye, Michael Yeats's biography of his father, W.B. Yeats, on Wednesday. The Taoiseach found himself upstaged on arrival at St Stephen's Green's Stauntons Hotel, as the entire south side of the Green had been requisitioned by film-makers of the genre that are perpetually shooting on the outskirts of the park. The Taoiseach had no fear, however, and wasn't long beating a path through the clip-board-wielding throng to the sanctuary of Stauntons.
Ushered in by hotelier Fionn Mac Cumhaill, the big man beamed for photographers and graciously posed with Mac Cumhaill, who announced that the picture was bound to do wonders for his overdraft. Yasser Arafat smiled down on proceedings from the wall, captured in celluloid with another of Fionn's associates. The hotelier never mentioned what effect that had on his bank balance.
When he laid eyes on Yasser, the Taoiseach beamed even more and told the hushed group of hacks and snappers how the PLO leader had a lot on his plate. He recalled staying in his house only a few weeks ago and said it was a very nice house indeed. Yasser probably invited him on the strength of him leading the republican party.
Meanwhile, Michael Yeats, a sprightly septuagenarian, mingled with guests, completely unfazed by an imminent bypass operation.