Marie gets a surprise 70th party
ON Friday night I headed for the Bodhrán Bar in Bridge Street where a rather special surprise 70th birthday party was taking place for Marie Hernon from O’Hanlon Park and there to make sure she had a fantastic night were her son and daughter, Derek and Emma, grandkids Stephanie and Conor and a huge collection of family and friends.
Marie had been tricked into coming to the party by her friends Joanie and Jimmy Martin. They had been to the Lisdoo and told Marie they wanted to drop into the Bodhrán to meet friends, only to find everyone waiting for her when she got there!
I wasn’t too long in the door when I met up with Marie’s loving son Derek with his wife Siobhan and kids Stephanie and Conor who told me that Conor had come home from Sheffield specially to be there for his granny’s party.
They were joined by Marie’s neighbour and friend Helen Conroy from O’Hanlon Park who wanted to wish her all the best and hoped she had a lovely night.
Next I got a word with Pat Jackson from Woodview Terrace who wanted to wish Marie all the best on her big night too.
After this I then got talking to Marie’s sister Barbara Duffy from McSwiney Street with her son Kyle along with Sandra and Nadine Doherty from Muirhevnamor who were in great form and said it was going to be a brilliant party.
Seated close by were Jacinta O’Rourke, Jim Martin and Terri Litchfield all from McSwiney Street who tried to tell me it was going to be a very quiet celebration, as if!
Beside them were some of Derek’s mates Louie French and Joanne Fulton who were down from Belfast specially for the party and were definitely up for making the best of the night.
Also in their company were Rachel Sullivan and Ivars Ore from Doolargy Avenue who were with Tracy Morton from Tallanstown who told me that Rachel has been friends with Emma for 23 years now and that is the way it’s going to stay. They also wanted to wish Marie a very happy birthday.
I then headed for a table where I met Lily and James Bond, oops I mean Lily and Jim Fitzgerald from St. Alphonsus Road who were with daughter Sharon and grandson Luke Fitzgerald from Woodbury Gardens who told me that Maria was their bridesmaid and wanted to wish her all the best on her big night. Certainly didn’t recognise Jim in the beard though, shaken, not stirred!
After this I headed over for a chat with Stephen Sammon from Newry Road, Siobhan Lynch from Ardee, Samantha Doran from Darver and Sean Doran from Distillery Mews who are friends of Marie’s and were up for making it a great night with her and family.
I then got a word with Amanda McGinn from Muirhevnamor who was in great form and wanted to wish Marie all the best on her big night.
Not too far away I caught up with Caroline Myers-McCabe from Woodview Terrace, Colette O’Sullivan from Omeath and Catherine Caraher from Dromiskin who tried to tell me they are colleagues of Marie’s, but why were they standing right beside the chicken curry and rice, I wondered, just there for the food!
I then headed for the bar where Sarah McCann from Greenacres told me that ‘ life is fabulous’ and she was with Margaret Maguire also from Greenacres who both wanted to wish Marie a happy 70th.
They were with granddaughter Stephanie Hernon from O’Hanlon Park who was having a laugh with Dean Doherty from Muirhevnamor and along with Marie and the rest at the party, they all wanted to wish every happiness for the future to Mark and Lisa McArdle from Blackrock who had got marries the previous day and were enjoying the celebrations in the bar.