Family and friends join Ray’s 50th birthday party
HUGE PARTY ENJOYED BY ALL IN BYRNES OF HILL STREET
ON Friday night I headed for Byrne’s Bar where a huge 50th birthday party was taking place for Ray Murphy from Old Muirhevna and there to make sure he had a fantastic night was his partner Maria Ballantine, mum Noeleen from Littlemills, sisters Aileen Twibill from Dunbin, Fiona Coleman from Kilkerley, Niamh O’Connor from Lordship and brother Barry from Old Muirhevna and huge collection of relations and friends.
I wasn’t too long in the door when I met up with Caroline and Keith Walsh from Blackrock who were up for making it a mad night with Lorraine and Gary Clarke from Doylesfort Road who disagreed that it was going to be a major night once Ray was involved and were only there for the one drink and were going to be heading straight home afterwards!
Next I caught up with Jay Coleman from Kilkerley who is married to Ray’s sister Fiona and he too was under the impression it was going to be a quiet one saying they were on for a few cans, a game of pool and home by nine. Byrne’s don’t sell cans in the lounge, they don’t have a pool table and it was well past that hour when we got there?
I then met up with one of the main men of the evening Ben Twibill from Dunbin who was trying to organise me for waiter service for pints from the bar! He was there with his dad Paul along with Ray’s uncle Frank and aunty Marian Carolan from Darver who were expecting a major night of fun for sure.
Not too long later I then got talking to Stephen O’Connor from Lordship who is married to Ray’s sister Niamh and when asked if he was going to be there for long he said yes for maybe one or two, or three or four!
Meanwhile over at another table I then met up with Maria’s brothers John Ballantine from Medebawn and Jim and Katriona Ballantine from Belfast who wanted to wish Ray a happy 50th and were definitely up for making it a real night to remember.
After this I caught up with a couple of Ray’s friend Niall and Karyn McCooey from Avenue Road who assured me it was going to be a fantastic night and wanted to wish him all the best on his big night.
Meanwhile up near the bar I then got a word with Brian Hearty from Manydown Close who was with Johnny Fairplay whom was talking to Stephen O’Connor and they told me to be sure and mention Keith Lynch from Castle Park too who all had their sights set on a quiet and respectable celebration. Had I slipped into a parallel universe I wondered?
Not too long later I then got taking to Aileen Murphy from Dublin Road who was with husband Barry and they said they were really looking forward to the party and were sure it was going to be a major night of fun.
Also up near the bar I met up with Ray’s friends Carol McShane from Bellurgan who was with Adrian Keenan from Monaghan who weren’t too long in and were ready for some major celebrations now that Ray had reached 50!
Finally, before I departed I met Aileen Twibill again and she was with daughter Chloe and Ray’s daughter Katie Murphy from Knockbridge who were just in and looking ford to having a laugh with the birthday boy and everyone else there.