Honesty the key for Dunphy

A SCENE on the steps of the National Concert Hall this week provided an all-you-need-to-know lesson about celebrity, charisma and endurance in show business.

Gay Byrne was posing for photos with former Miss Ireland Andrea Roche to promote his upcoming series of concert hall interviews and for once, noone was looking at Andrea's legs. A woman of Byrne's vintage in floral frock and cardie gazed in delight. "He's wearing well," she said reverentially.

Another middle-aged, sombre-suited and busy-looking stopped in her tracks, squinted, pulled her glasses from her handbag, had a good look and took off purposefully, her mouth already forming the words of the news she was dying to pass on.