BOOK launches are musical this week. Paddy Moloney of The Chieftains plays a piece by the blind harper O'Carolan after launching Brian Keenan's new novel, Turlough, at the NCH.
A song is promised from Prof John A. Murphy, who comes to launch Ruth Dudley Edward's latest book at the mystery bookstore on Dawson Street, Murder Ink. If he's "moved", he will possibly sing a political satire, he said.
And although Jennifer Johnston's crew are mostly mute in Waterstones, waiting to hear her read, she does have at least two piano-playing relatives in the audience who are ready to belt out a few songs if the need arises. We refer to her cousin Nick Fitzgerald and her nephew, Josh Johnston.
Dudley Edwards has another launch of her book, The Anglo-Irish Murders, to look forward to in London this week. This is her ninth novel in her crime series. Her Northern Presbyterian friends tell her that "the language is very ripe", she says. Tut, tut. At least "there's no violence or blood and the sex is off-stage". That's a relief.