TUESDAY evening's gathering in the Writers' Museum in Parnell Square was not the usual book-launch crowd. Apart from being a first-time novelist, Alan Roberts is also a philosophy teacher at Mountjoy prison and when Roberts, lost for words, faltered in his speech, prison officers and some of Roberts's pupils on day-release indulged in some good natured heckling.
Ciaran Benson, chairman of the Arts Council, welcomed Roberts's The Rasherhouse, and those enjoying the party - it went on and on - included DCU's media maestro, John Horgan; singer Frank Harte; Alan's sons Ciaran and Ronan Roberts, who came back from Germany specially for the event and actors Anne Kent and Ashley Mellet.