Last night was the European premiere of Jim Sheridan's The Boxer, and people gathered in their hundreds at the Savoy cinema on O'Connell Street, Dublin. Although there were plenty of homegrown celebrities arriving into the foyer, most of the throng were there for one man - Daniel Day Lewis, who plays the title role.
A brass band played to keep spirits up in the chilly evening and a small number of demonstrators unfurled a banner which read: "Saoirse, Free Political Prisoners Now". The issue of political prisoners is a strong theme in The Boxer, which is set in Belfast during a fictitious ceasefire.
One youngster cared little for such political matters, piping up: "Isn't that the film about Barry McGuigan?"
In the Gresham Hotel, the cast was trying to clear up exactly this mistake. "I am gratified that I inspired this film," commented Mr McGuigan, "But, honestly, it is in no way the story of my life."
However, the former champion boxer was Day Lewis's boxing coach for the film and was full of praise for the actor's fighting skills. "I am now a boxing commentator and I can honestly say that if the top 10 boxers in his weight were eliminated, Daniel could be the best."
Day Lewis was sporting a green velvet waistcoat and his hair was cropped shorter than in the film, in which he plays an IRA man released after 14 years in prison.
He said he realised this was a very fragile time to be making films about the situation in Northern Ireland. "I do think that it's a situation that gives story-tellers the will to describe what is going on. The film is ultimately saying that you can live in a place that demands involvement and yet not get involved in a violent way."
Sheridan, who was accompanied by his wife, Fran, and his mother, Ann, agreed that the film had a constructive message. "I think it says that you have to start out somewhere."
The director, best known for the Oscar Award winning film My Left Foot and the Oscar nominated film In The Name Of The Father, said that The Boxer was his last "political" film. He hinted that his next directorial venture would be a comedy.
Many of the cast arrived at the cinema to see the film's premiere, which was in aid of the charity L'Arche Dublin. Among those attending were Brian Cox, Ken Stott, Eleanor Methuen, Gerard McSorley and 14-year-old Ciaran Fitzgerald. Emily Watson, who co-stars with Day Lewis, was unable to make the event as she is filming in Liverpool.