Irish fans break dawn to meet Twilight stars

It wasn’t quite Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, but for the hundreds of Twilight fans gathered in Dublin’s Convention Centre, many after queuing since early morning, it was the next best thing.

Nikki Reed, 24, and Kellan Lutz, 27, who both star in the upcoming Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2, arrived to high-pitched screams and the flashes of cameras when they walked into the fan event.

The pair joked with fans, posed for the cameras, and generally lapped up the limelight as the crowd went wild.

Some 500 had turned out to greet them. Many had queued from early on to get spaces at the front.

They came clutching Twilight memorabilia, mainly DVDs and well-thumbed books, to have them signed by the stars.

Reed, who plays Rosalie Hale in the film saga, and Lutz, who plays Emmett Cullen, laughed and joked with the fans, signing autographs, and posing for pictures. At one point Reed, who was accompanied by her guitar-playing husband Paul McDonald, stepped out front and sang a song from the new film.

The pair have been promoting the film in Europe, while their better-known co-stars Pattinson and Stewart were on similar duty in Japan and Australia.

They arrived in Dublin on Friday, but Lutz came early to see the sights. It was the first time in Ireland for both of them.

“I was just so happy to finally come to Dublin,” said Lutz. “I saw the Book of Kells in Trinity College and visited the Guinness brewery and the Jameson distillery. I also loved St Patrick’s Cathedral.

I managed to cram a lot in. I’ve really enjoyed it all. And the fans have just been fantastic.”

Adoring love filled the cavernous room of the Convention Centre. There would probably have been meltdown had Stewart and Pattinson shown up just then.

* Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 will be in cinemas nationwide from Nov 16.