A GALA NIGHT OF MUSIC AND SONG IN GOLF CLUB
On Thursday night, I headed for the Dundalk Golf Club where ‘A Gala Night Of Music and Song’ was taking place as a fundraiser by the Dundalk and District Lourdes Invalid Fund who were showcasing local talent to help raise money for the annual trip to Lourdes.
I wasn’t too long in the door when I had the pleasure of talking to the Committee’s Vice Chairperson Mary Murphy from Greenacres who told me that this year there will be 70 people travelling from Dundalk with 21 invalided or sick. This is part of total of 650 from the Archdiocese of Armagh who go between May 12th and 17th and the night was a fundraiser to help defray some of the costs of the journey. Performing on the night were a diverse collection local talent including Bronagh Cahill, Aoife Erraught, Ann Carroll, Roddy McCollum and Kevin Sheilds, Conall Duffy, Caroline Manning and Donnchadh Hughes to name but a few.
I then decided to have a look round to see who was there and met up with a group of ladies who included Iris Carr from Bay Estate, Bernie Doherty from Oaklawns and Briege Connolly from Greenacres who told me they were all there to support the cause, but really wanted to see Ann Carroll in action.
Not too far away I then caught up with Lucy Holmes from Riverstown and Madeline Carroll from McSwiney Street who were in great form and said they were just there to support the cause and were looking forward to seeing everyone playing equally.
I then headed over for a word with Evelyn Fallon from Blackrock who was with Angela Maguire and Briege Stewart both from Dublin Road and Ann O’Callaghan from Dromiskin who told me they are all golfers in the Dundalk Golf Club and were delighted to be there to lend their support to such an important night.
Next I had the pleasure of talking to Bernie Morgan from Wolfe Tone Terrace who was up for a night of it with her mates Carmel Cooney from St. Alphonsus Road, Christine Mulligan-Flood from Bay Estate and Tracy Flood from Carrick Road who were having a great time together and had some of the best seats to enjoy the night of music and song.
Front row seats was where I caught up with John Daly from Blackrock who told me he was looking forward to seeing the show and that he has been a member of the golf club since 1950. He was there with Blaithin Hughes from Blackrock who was there to cheer on her brother Donnchadh who was getting ready to play the harp later on and wanted to wish him all the best.
I then headed over to wellknown classical singer Aoife Erraught from Ravensdale who told me she was looking forward to singing later on too. She was enjoying the evening in the company of her parents Brianán and Joe, granny Mary Dooley and aunt Aileen Mulligan all from Ravensdale who were up for making the best of the occasion.
Not too long later I headed over for a word with Anne Kirk from Mount Avenue and Bernadette Breen from St. Marys Road who were in great form and were there to support the cause to.
Making my way to another table I then got talking to more of the club members who were there to lend their support to the night and they included Rosemary Daly from Blackrock, Joyce Connolly from Blackrock, Mary Crummie from Crossmaglen, Una Delaney from Black- rock and Anna McKenna from Kilkerley who were just getting ready to get a meal after their round and were going to have some excellent music to enjoy while eating it.
Just arrived in the door were committee members Eilish Giff from Suil Na Mara and Annette Mullen from Railway Terrace who were there to support the night and Eilish told me they were only delighted to be there!
Finally, before I departed I met up with Ann McElroy from O’Hanlon Park and Catrina Loughran from Headford who told me they had travelled to Lourdes on the very same trip 20 years ago and they were delighted to be there to support this year’s effort.