Big 50th celebrations for Quay FC
On Sunday night we headed for the Ballymascanlon Hotel where the Quay Celtic FC 50th Anniversary Dinner Dance was taking place. One of the most successful teams in Dundalk boasts a staggering 18 teams running from u11s through to u18s and two senior teams who compete in the Meath and District League and Summer League and even find time for an under age 6 to 9s academy which runs during the summer.
The night was being hosted by MC Nicky McCourt from Medebawn who was also the club’s first secretary all those years ago.
I was only in the door when I met up with current secretary Trevor Giff from Suil Na Mara with his wife Eilish who told me they were really looking forward to a major night of celebrations.
Making my way through the bar I headed for the beer gardens where everyone was relaxing having a drink before the night got going and there I met up with Ian and Jane Callan from Manydown Close who told me that Ian and son Stephen had both played for the club. They were with committee member Ray and Marian Savage from The Meadows who were up for making the best of the celebrations.
Not too far away I then got talking to Louise and Johnny Winters from Belfry Drive who is the captain of both Senior teams, so I guessed boot of the car was going to be brimming with trophies on the way home.
Making my way through the crowds I then got a word with two committee members Tony Monahan, and Ollie Agnew who were with their wives Amanda and Sharon all from Lennonstown Green who assured me it was going to be a most relaxing and quiet night, eh, I somehow doubted it?
Chilling over at another table were Stephen Callan from Manydown Close, Cody Magill from O’Hanlon Park and Stephaine Bond from Dulargy Avenue who said that Cody plays with the seniors in both leagues and Stephen used to kick with the team but doesn’t now. They assured me it was going to be a major night of fun for everyone there.
Trying to get out of my way was committee member and u16 Quay Olympic manager Paul Black from Ard Easmuinn who was up for making a night of it with his delightful wife Rita.
I then headed for a table where I met up with Tom and Geraldine Carroll from Ard Easmuinn who played with Quay Celtic and also refereed too. He said they were reminiscing about some of the greats who strapped on their boots for the quayside legends including Jimmy Clancy, Cathal Mulholland and Geraldine’s brother Tommy Dobbs, say in was a pleasure for him to know them and to play alongside them too.
Not too long later I caught up with Breda O’Connell from Blackrock who told me their son Luke kicks with the u11s and they were with Finola and Jim McCumiskey from Greenwood Drive who coaches the u14s and they were there to make the best of the half century celebrations.
Seated close by was Caroline McArdle from Bay Estate with committee member husband Matt who said their son Sean plays with u14s and Caroline was there with Dorothy and Ken Cairns from Racecourse Road, Carol and Stephen Savage from Ashbrook whose son Luke plays with u16s and is loving it.
Not too far away I then caught up with Mr. Quay himself James Clarke from Tom Clarke’s Bar who was with his delightful wife Mary and he told me it was going to be a fantastic night for sure.
After this I had the pleasure of meeting up with Patsy Maguire from Hyde Park who has been the club’s treasurer for 48 years and he was having a laugh with assistant treasurer Paul McMahon from Manydown Close who told me they were still trying to work out how they were going to pay for this lavish night!
Just arriving out to the beer garden I met up with Therese Mulgrew from Muirhevnamor who was there with her main squeeze Stephen McDonnell from St. Josephs Park and their third wheel on the night Karl O’Connor from Cedarwood Park. Well not exactly, the lads are the dynamic double act responsible for the senior team being promoted to the premiership this year (where they are going to stay for a considerable time) with Stephen as manager and Karl as his assistant.
Next I got a word with committee member and recently brought in along with Stephen Savage as manager of the u6, Terry Kelly from Manydown Close who was with wife Petrina, Lisa Taylor from Redbarns Road, Wally and Linda Parkin from Cluan Enda, Alannah McElroy from Silverbridge, Tommy Tiernan from Forkhill and Pamela McElroy from Silverbridge who were all looking forward to the night and particularly the performance by Roy Taylor later on.
After this I got a word with Tony and Ursula Shevlin from Barrack Street who told me their son James plays with u16s and they were with Andrew and Joanne Brodigan from Shore Road who said that Andrew did play with the club for quite a number of years and all were up for making it a real night to remember.
Not too long later I caught up with Orla and Liam Kilgallen from Belfry Avenue who were with Elaine and Paul Gorham from Mourne Vale who told me their kids Luke and Mark both played with the club and they were delighted to be there for such an auspicious celebration.
I then caught up with Martin and Mary O’Brien from Hazelwood Avenue who was with wife Mary and told me he had played for the club for 17 years and they were looking forward to a bit of a late one!
Next I met up with Willie Crawley from Lower Point Road who was with wife Louise and daughter Andrea and boyfriend Mark Cassidy from Blackrock and he told me they just couldn’t have missed such a special night with the club and all their friends.
Finally, arriving ‘fashionably late’ just as the meal bell was ringing was Gavin Toner from Brookwood Lawns who plays with the team in the Summer League and told me he was going to have an exceptional night with all his mates in the club and was looking forward to another 50 successful years.