Jackie and Maura’s 50th anniversary
ON Friday night I headed for the Lisdoo for a rather special 50th wedding anniversary. This celebration was for well-known painter Jackie and Maura Callan from Balregan Kilcurry and the place was completely packed with family, friends and well-wishers for what turned out to be an excellent night.
The couple were there with their children Nairn and wife Kellie with kids Conor and Sean from Littlemills, Celsus and wife Gail from Carrickmacross, Eunan and Joanne with sons Niall and Ciaran from Dungooley who were ready to make the best of the night.
The night was also a fundraiser for the Renal Unit in Drogheda as part of the Irish Kidney Association and everyone attending was asked to make a donation instead of bringing a present!
I wasn’t too long in the door when I met up with Lily and Eamonn Dowdall from Hackballscross who told me that the couple’s bestman and his wife Eamonn and Mary Callan from Faughart were there along with their daughter Orna and grandson Caolan who were up for making it a real night to remember.
Not too far away I caught sight of Maura’s brother Dermot and wife Annmarie Woods and daughter Aiveen from Hackballscross who wanted to wish the happy couple all the best on their big night.
After this I caught up with Gerry and Rosemary Kelly from Killin who were with Elizabeth Martin from Hackballscross, Pauline Nixon and Mary Flood both from Falmore who were in great form and wanted to wish Jackie and Maura all the best on their big night and with their fundraiser.
I then headed for the rowdy table where I caught up with Maureen and Ciaran Traynor from Cooley, Briege and Francie Bergin from Newry Road, Seamus and Phillis Malone from Kilcurry, Felix McConnell from Dromiskin, Jean and Mick Brady from Mill Street, Mae and Paddy Craven from Balregan who told me they are very neighbourly neighbours. Briege told me that Francie and Jackie were biking buddies back in the day too!
Making my way over to a not so rowdy table I had the pleasure of meeting up with in-law Theresa Callan from Fatima Drive who was with Pauline White also from Fatima Drive who said it was a great idea about the fundraiser and wanted to wish the happy couple all the best on their big night.
Easily the best table I visited on the night had to be the one which included Karina Brennan from Ashbourne, Orla Meegan from Termonfeckin, Cecilia Cosma from Drogheda, Jacqueline Larkin from Monaghan, Nakita Millar from Ballybay and Latee Seriki from Drogheda, the delightful nurses who have been attending to Jackie and were representing the Renal Unit in the Lourdes Hospital.
After this I headed over for a word with Mary Harrison and Kitty Roe both from Faughart who were then joined by Kathleen Sherry from Scottstown. Kitty told me she had worked with Maura in the Ballymascan- lon Hotel back in 1959 and 1960, she is a lovely woman and they were all delighted to be there on the night.
Next I headed for a word with Moira and Sean Conlon, Mary and Enda Kelly all from Kilcurry who told me it was going to be an excellent night with plenty of dancing.
I then had the pleasure of meeting up with nieces and cousins Aiveen Woods, newlyweds Aine and Gerard Callan from Culloville and Grainne Dowdall all from Hackballscross who were in the company of Frank and Theresa Carney from Knockbridge and Thomas and Bernadette Wills from Shelagh who were up for making the best of the night and Frank said he has been friends of the couple’s for 50 years now.
Finally, over at another table I then caught up with neighbours from Brid-a-crinn and they included Theresa McVeigh with her son-in-law David McGurk along with Marion McKay, Mary McGuinness, May Rice, Joe and Ann Frawley who said it was going to be a fantastic night and they were all looking forward to “a bit of Strictly” later on.