‘Where will he be staying?’

‘Muskerry Castle,’ Alice said.

‘Needless to say.’

Muskerry Castle is Cork’s finest hotel. Backing on to an oak wood and overlooking the Lee valley, with a top tier golf course, and private salmon and trout fishing, it is world famous for its legendary hospitality.

‘He’s been before, apparently. Loves it. I’d love it too, if I could afford it. But he offered to pay his own bill, in fairness to him, though Muskerry agreed to sponsor us anyway so we didn’t have to argue about it. Anyway, the next day at noon, he’ll be doing a public interview with Tiernan McDevitt, again in the Opera House and, unbelievably for a Wednesday in the middle of the day, that’s sold out too. And then in the afternoon a workshop with film students and young film-makers. End of official programme. He’s booked to stay on the Wednesday night in the Castle again but his assistant said he might go to Dublin to visit the mammy instead so they’re not sure yet.’

Film students and young film-makers.

‘That’s a bit of a coup, him doing the workshop, isn’t it? How did you swing it?’

‘He was the one who suggested it, wants to give back to the city and the festival. He’s really appreciative that ours was the first award he ever got. We wouldn’t have dared to hope for such commitment. I mean, can you imagine the opportunity it’ll be for those kids? It’s just amazing. Fair fucks to him, is all I can say.’

He was the one who suggested it.

‘Tell me more,’ I said.

‘Not much more to tell. It came in an email. Limited numbers. No more than twenty film students, wants an even gender balance and has a special interest in film fans from local secondary schools. So generous of him, no sign of any ego at all so far. I was blown away. We all were.’

‘Wow. Fantastic,’ I said.

Young people, young girls, and Jeremy Gill. Potentially hazardous? Or not? But I needed to make sure it was safe for those kids or I’d never sleep again.

‘Hey listen, Alice,’ I said. ‘Any chance I could go along to the workshop, maybe as some sort of steward or board of directors’ representative or something? You know I’m a big fan, I’d give anything to be there and you’re going to need some responsible adults, right, remember our child protection chat earlier? Not that there’s any concern or anything but still, huh, what do you say?’

‘You’re shameless, you know that?’ Alice said, getting up from her desk. ‘Yeah. All right, I’ll sort it for you. And actually having a board representative there is a good idea. Now please get out of my office or we will have no Film Festival to put on.’