The National Library in Dublin embraced two authors of very different styles on Thursday when Mount Eagle celebrated the publication of its first two books: An Irish Voice, a collection of essays and stories by Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, which first appeared in the American newspaper of the same name, and The Woman Of The House, a first novel by Alice Taylor.
Adams looked relaxed while Alice Taylor, surrounded by friends and family, oozed with her usual enthusiasm for life. Fellow authors who turned up at the reception in Kildare Street included Benedict Kiely, Ulick O'Connor, Vincent McDonald Ursula de Brun and Ronan Sheehan. James Hickey, chairman of the Abbey Theatre, was also there. Gerry Adams's younger brother Liam made the journey from Dundalk, where he is a community worker. Two of Alice Taylor's sisters, Teresa Allen and Phil Grace, travelled from Cork. Mount Eagle publisher Steve McDonagh, who claims Taylor's book has already hit the best-seller's list, is now in Frankfurt negotiating rights. Adams's book, meanwhile, will be published by Reinhardt in the US and Britain.