Hollywood figures, Irish-American dignitaries and travel business executives thronged the foyer of the Sony Lincoln Plaza in Manhattan for the glittering American film premiere of Dancing at Lughnasa last night.
Afterwards the Minister for Tourism, Dr McDaid, hosted a reception in a Central Park hotel at which he celebrated the unique writing and listening skills of his fellow Donegal man, the writer Brian Friel. And the young members of the Glenties dance troupe almost stole the post-show party.
The lives of the Mundy family of Ballybeg and their celebration of the pagan festival of Lugh, the pagan god of the harvest, touched the hearts of many at last night's premiere. The film's promoters are hoping for good reviews in this morning's newspapers.
The Minister for Tourism is hoping for more than that. Bord Failte is using the release of Dancing at Lughnasa as a platform for a campaign to increase tourism from North America. Dr McDaid is leading that effort, meeting many senior executives in the travel trade here this week. North American tourists spent £348 million on visits to Ireland last year.