Fans queue to shake Clinton's hand

Around 500 dedicated fans travelled from across Ireland to be in Dublin today to meet Bill Clinton.

Security was tight around Eason’s flagship bookstore on O’Connell Street as Secret Service minders patrolled the premises hours before the former US president signed copies of his memoirs, My Life.

At the front of the queue, which stretched the length of Middle Abbey Street, were two sisters who had waited in the wind and rain for 12 hours.

Mary Lavin, from Naas, and Kathleen Cunningham, from Galway, said they were tired and cold but were looking forward to shaking Mr Clinton’s hand.

Ms Lavin said: “I have always been interested in politics and admired Bill Clinton. He has been a wonderful friend to Ireland.

“We’re hoping that John Kerry wins the election this year and will then send him over as an ambassador.”

Around 80 people queued throughout the night to have their copies of the book signed but most braved the early morning rain and the crowd swelled from 6am.

Singer George Murphy, a You’re A Star finalist, got up at 5.30am to bring two copies of his latest single, The Land You Love The Best, for Mr Clinton.

He said he was hoping one copy would be passed on to Mr Kerry as it contains a note asking if he could sing in the White House next year on St Patrick’s Day.

“There’s no bigger stage than that,” he said. “It’s a bit of a long shot but I hope Bill Clinton enjoys the music and passes it on to Kerry.”

Mr Murphy said he thought the fans who had queued all night were “crazy”, although he acknowledged that many Irish people wanted to shake Mr Clinton’s hand just as he did.

The store has ordered more than 2,000 copies of the autobiography, which customers must buy in the store before having them signed.

My Life, which was published in June, was at the top of the best-seller list for four weeks and remains in the top five.

Mr Clinton arrived in Dublin last night with his wife, Hillary.

After the signing, the former president will have a private meeting with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern before he travels to Belfast on Thursday.