All roads lead to Cork city, which is in carnival mood. Think posh. Think the real capital. Think merchant princes and all that flows down "by my own lovely Lee". Strobe lights streak across the night sky. The newly refurbished Cork Opera House is one day on since its official opening by Minister Sile de Valera, and about to host the gala opening of the 45th Murphy's Cork Film Festival.
The opening film, About Adam, written and directed by Gerry Stembridge, wows the audience. "The response went off the Richter scale," says Mick Hannigan, festival director and expert on gauging audience appreciation levels. Brendan Dempsey, who plays "that poor hapless husband" in the film, as Gerry Stembridge tells us, is here as himself, delighted because he's off to Rome to meet Martin Scorcese shortly to audition for a part in the director's latest mega film. Charlotte Bradley, one of the film's stars, is here too with Joe Jackson, broadcaster, journalist - and tonight, amateur video wielder who films all through the party.
The film was "great fun", says Vida Breen, whose late husband, Dermot Breen, founded the festival in 1956. She is here with her granddaughter, Aisling Breen. Trixie Leahy, from Charleville in Co Cork, is here enjoying the vibe also. Other impressed viewers include Joan Hannigan (mother of Mick) who is here with Teresa Murphy and Eileen Dorgan and her daughter Marguerite Dorgan.
Kilmactranny woman (as in Co Sligo) Marena Hughes, one of the film's producers, is also spotted welcoming friends who've made it down to Cork for the gala event. The man with a pony tail, Andy Ruane, head of Anner International, is looking forward to his company's new show, which Twink will present on TV3. Perfect Match, he promises, will be a "raunchy dating show". Em, brill.
And a great number of Stembridge's family are also down from Limerick to enjoy the evening and party on late at the post-screening bash on Cork's Coal Quay upstairs in the Bodega. As the third bottle of champagne is about to be uncorked, the family members noted include his mother and father Tony and Louise Stembridge, his brother Dominic and his wife Girlie with their two daughters Niamh and Eva, and his brother Tony Jr and his wife, Mary Stembridge with their daughter Aimee.