The queue outside Eason’s on West Street on Saturday morning at 7.30am for the Harry Potter book. Picture: Paul Mohan.

Evanna Lynch from Termonfeckin who was let out of hospital to get her copy of the new Harry Potter book. Eason’s kindly presented her with a signed copy of the book. Picture: Paul Mohan.

By Caroline Kavanagh A DREAM came true for a true Harry Potter fan, Evanna Lynch (11), when she received a copy of the latest Harry Potter book signed by author JK Rowling, one of just a half dozen in the country.

‘The Order of the Phoenix’ was released for sale at 7.30am last Saturday, and after consultation between the Lynch family, Our Lady of Lourdes hospital and Eason’s booksellers, Evanna was allowed out of hospital for an hour to collect her book.

Dressed in a Harry Potter t-shirt, and ‘I love Harry Potter’ written down her arms, Evanna painted her nails in blue with Harry Potter written on every second nail and the golden snitch on every other one. She drew black Harry Potter glasses on her face, which looked very authentic indeed!

The Termonfeckin girl, who is a pupil at Cartown NS, has read and re-read all of the other Harry Potter books, and has been waiting for the publication of ‘The Order of the Phoenix’ with bated breath.

Evanna and her older sister Emily had planned to camp outside Eason’s to make sure of getting the first copy sold. When she was admitted to hospital recently she was bitterly disappointed at the thoughts of missing the book, but the authorities came to her rescue and allowed her an hour’s leave.

Mum and dad, Marguerite and Donal, collected her after 7am and made their way to Eason’s West Street bookshop. ‘I was surprised there weren’t more children queueing,’ said Evanna. Her father observed that there were plenty of sleepy looking dads there along with himself!

Eason’s staff facilitated Evanna’s purchase, putting a signed copy aside for her. Clutching her prized possession, Evanna went back to the Lourdes hospital, and had read 69 pages by lunchtime!

‘We would like to thank the hospital and Eason’s staff, especially Mary Biggins and John Belton,