Róisín McCarthy sits perched on the edge of a seat on the number seven bus. She fidgets nervously, but every few minutes an excited smile turns up the corners of her mouth.
She wears a crisp white trouser suit, but a lime green cotton top, with mirrored detailing on the neckline, is the only clue to her destination. Aside from this splash of disco style, Róisín looks like she could be heading for an interview.
Róisín from Cork was one of thousands who travelled from all over the country to audition for the X-Factor TV talent show yesterday, in Jury's Hotel in Ballsbridge. When she received notification of her audition, however, it came as a little bit of a shock, considering she couldn't recall ever applying. She chose to come along anyway, and is grateful to whichever family member or friend decided to give her a helping hand.
It is the first time that auditions for the show have been held here. All potential auditionees had to submit an application if they wanted to be in with a chance of securing an audition slot.
From early morning, hundreds queued for what was to be only a preliminary audition. Those who got through yesterday's audition successfully were invited back for today's big test, where they will get the opportunity to wow the celebrity judges with their singing talent.
The queue contained the usual mixture of young and old, male and female, weird and wonderful, its length a testament to the continuing popularity of this strange fusion of reality television and old-fashioned talent show.
Daniel McHugh from Dungannon, Co Tyrone, confidently strummed out a catchy Green Day tune for a section of the queue who sang along enthusiastically. Daniel didn't think he could bring his guitar into the audition and is nervous about how he'll perform without his "crutch". Eddie Kenny (41) seemed to be looking for a second chance, rather than that first step on the musical career ladder. During the Eighties he sang in Brush Shiels's band and had now rehearsed a number of rock and blues tunes for the X-Factor judges, but he was keen to stress it was all a bit of craic really.
Today, Louis Walsh, Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne will be finding out all about a peculiarly Irish brand of that elusive X-factor.