Held in the beautiful surroundings of the Museu-Biblioteca Condes de Castro Guimarães, a capacity audience had a lovely evening celebrating the launch of the Portuguese translation of ‘Brooklyn’, Colm Tóibín’s latest novel. To open the evening, the renowned writer and journalist Francisco José Viegas spoke about Mr. Tóibín’s work and in particular, about ‘Brooklyn’.

Colm Tóibin then took the floor and gave a fascinating talk on the work of Brian O’Nolan who wrote under the names of Flann O’Brien and Myles na gCopaleen and the similarities to be found with Portugal’s Fernando Pessoa, another many-faceted author. He then read an extract from ‘Brooklyn’ and took a number of questions from the audience. Guests were then offered cocktails and canapés in the courtyard of the Museu, a house that was originally built by Jorge O’Neill, a direct descendant of Hugh O’Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone and a leading figure in Irish history.