After telling the amazing story of heroics at the siege of Kohima in India in 1944, Fergal Keane made everyone laugh when he told the audience he would be taking a collection at the door to help bail out the Irish economy. Too late somebody shouted.

Simon King and Julia Donaldson enraptured audiences of parents and children while Alastair Campbell unexpectedly charmed and disarmed many – but not quite all. In the Great Hall’s atmospheric surroundings, authors such as Maggie O’Farrell, Josceline Dimbleby and Mary Contini entertained and informed. And on Sunday night, Philip Contini’s Be Happy Band were superb.

In all 4,600 tickets were sold, and many books bought to carry on the afterglow of a great festival. Roll on next year.