IT is one of the best read books of recent times. Who could forget this magical opening line: "Bh cna ar mhuintir Dursley in uimhir a ceathair Privet Drive, agus le maomh acu go raibh said an-normlta go deo, agus iad bre ssta de."

Ah, brings back memories doesn't it? But only if you're fluent in the Irish language.

For this is Harry Potter, Gaelic style, which a friend discovered in York Central Library this week.

The Diary applauds the library for pushing back linguistic and cultural barriers by stocking Harry Potter Agus An rchloch (or Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone).

While it would be wrong to say that York's Irish community has rushed to take advantage - the special translation has only been borrowed once since its arrival in November 2004, and that was by our friend - we are sure that will soon change. We can hardly wait for the rest of the set to arrive: Harry Potter Agus Seomra Na Rn, Agus Prosnach Azkaban, Agus Cuach n Lasracha and Agus Ord An Fhinics.

THERE has been talk, of course, of York Central Library upping books and moving to a swish new Hungate HQ. The council floated the idea one day and sank it the next, demonstrating municipal dynamism that leaves the rest of us giddy.

But if the relocation is ever revived - and who knows what tomorrow may bring - reader Annie Wright has a brilliant money-saving idea.

"I do not see why it should cost any money at all to move York city library," she writes.

"All the council has to do is arrange for books to be issued at Museum Street... then insist books can only be returned to the new premises in Hungate.

"That way the borrowers will transfer the stock themselves at no cost to anyone at all."

YORK-born Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren looked happy enough as he emerged from Sarah Coggles, in Low Petergate, yesterday, and well he might, his team having demolished rivals Sunderland the night before. His wife looked chuffed too. Perhaps she's on a win bonus.

Disappointingly, however, Steve's price on eBay has not changed. He remains up for sale for a penny.

THE Diary must add our own tribute to Tom Adams, the York architect who died at the weekend.

Tom was a wonderful character whose vision of the "magic fabric" of York, allied to a crafty determination, helped see off some of the worst buildings which could otherwise have sullied York.

Famous for the black cat motif, his other trademark was "to make the building suit its surroundings". If only most city planners and out-of-town architects felt the same way.

We last spoke a week ago, resulting in a short piece appearing in the Diary after he had died. Pontificating from beyond the grave: Tom would have chuckled over that.

We also discussed the hideously out-of-place development soon to be built behind Stubbs. Suffice to say, Tom was not keen. Walking past the site on Tuesday, we noticed that several mature trees lining the River Foss had been reduced to woodchip to prepare for the five-floor block which will utterly overshadow one of the gems of historic York, the Merchant Adventurers' Hall. Now Tom's gone, who will stand up for the magic fabric?

Updated: 08:44 Thursday, February 02, 2006