On the Town: There was 33 years of laughing, reminiscing and catching up to be done at the annual Lilliput Press and Sitric Books Christmas party. It was where Michael Colgan, director of the Gate Theatre, was reunited with his great friend, Ken Bruen, after three decades.
Colgan and the Galway-born writer, who was delighted to report that his book has just won the prestigious US literary prize, the Shamus Award, for his novel, The Guards, hugged for the cameras, both delighted to be in Stoneybatter for the party.
"We were great friends in Trinity," said Colgan. "We haven't seen each other since."
Their host, Antony Farrell, managing director of Lilliput Press, was another mutual friend from their undergraduate days.
Many others packed into the publishing house on Arbour Hill to enjoy the party: Arthur Mathews, co-writer with Graham Linehan of Father Ted, chatted to Christine Dwyer Hickey, whose novel, Tatty, was published earlier this year.
The film-maker and writer, Bob Quinn, travelled from Connemara for the party, which coincided with the publication of his book, The Atlantean Irish, an examination of Ireland's maritime links with north Africa and beyond.
"Tá an ualach taighde déanta agam," he said, explaining that he has done a huge amount of research for the book, which began 20 years ago with his television series about the subject.
Others at the party included Enrique Juncosa, the director of the Irish Museum of Modern Art; Trevor White, editor of the Dubliner magazine; and Gary Jermyn, a performance poet whose book, My Life as a Chatshow Host, has been published by Brownbear Press.