PERPETUA CALLS TIME ON HER TIME IN DUNNES STORES
On Saturday night I headed for the Malt House where a very special retirement party was taking place for Mary Malone from Clontigora Court who had hung up her uniform in Neighbourhood Dunnes Stores after 13 years in that store for the last time, although she had been in other Dunnes before finishing her time in the popular premises on the bypass.
Mary had no idea that her husband Gerry and kids Geraldine, Gerard, Majella and Teresa had organised a special party for her with all her family, relations, friends and workmates and got the shock of her life when she arrived in to find them all sitting there.
I wasn’t too long in the door when I caught up with daughter Geraldine who was with husband La Dunne from Stabannon who was sitting with sister Majella and Patrick Gregory from Mosstown who had kids Thomas and Aoife with them, brother Gerard who had come all the way from Donegal with Delia and baby Adda, sister Teresa and Thomas Pepper from Stonetown as well as Mary’s sisters Anne and Marie and brothers Sean, Thomas and Kevin who were all there to make sure she had a fantastic night.
I then headed over for a chat with brothers Gavin and Darren Lennon from Greenacres, who were with Perter Burns from Ashbrook and Vick Sunyasi from Grange Drive who all worked with Mary, said she was a lovely lady and will be sadly missed.
Making my way over to another table I then got talking to Mary’s brother Sean and Josie Byrne from Louth Village who were having a laugh with family friends Tony and Margaret Maguire from Louth Village who all wanted to wish her all the best in her retirement.
Not too far away I then got a word with son Gerry who was chatting to Patrick and Majella Gregory who assured me it was going to be nothing short of an epic night.
After this I got a quick word with Mary’s sister Anne and Sean McArdle from Louth Village who were up for making the best of the night and wanted to make sure Mary did too.
I then caught up wit Mary’s godson Sean Byrne from Louth Village who was with mum Marie, sister Annmarie and dad Tommy who is Mary’s brother who all wanted to wish her all the best for the future and said that now it’s time for her to get on with enjoying herself.
Seated close by were Brendan and Margaret Pepper from Stonetown who were all on for a major blast with Mary and her family.
Meanwhile up near the bar I then got talking to Bobby O’Reilly from Brookwood Lawns and Ciaran Corry from Dublin Road who both worked with Mary saying she is a great character and will definitely be missed.
Next I caught up with niece Aoife Gregory from Dunleer who wanted to wish her all the best and was looking forward to an excellent night with everyone there.
I then headed over for a chat with Margaret McEnteggart from Redbarns Road and Catriona Cantwell from The Loakers who said Mary is a wee dote and will definitely be missed, specially the GAA with Catriona being a Tipp woman and Mary ready to cheer on the Kilkenny hurlers.
Not too far away I then met up with Kayleigh Monaghan from Oakland Park who told me that yes, she worked with ‘Mad Mary’ and she was with fellow workers Katie Lennon from Greenacres and Geraldine Haughey from Glenmore Park who said she is an absolute lady and she is definitely going to be missed.
Beside them I got a word with Tomas Pepper from Stonetown who was there on the night with Mary’s daughter Teresa and told me it was going to be a good night.
Teresa was also there with her friends Niamh Markey from Carrickmacross and Conal Duffy from Castleblaney who were taking their time getting into the swing of things, but I’m sure they would catch up with the party vibe later on.
Making my way over to another table I then got talking to more of Mary’s workmates and they included Catherine Doyle from Oakland Park and Noeleen Fearon from Muirhevnamor who said she’d be sadly missed because how would they know when their break was?
They were joined by Hugh McShane from Glenwood who was with Geraldine Haughey whom I’d met earlier, Vytautas Valincius from Avenue Road, Katie Lennon and Aine Sharkey from Greenacres who all agreed Mary is a lovely woman, they’re not sure what they’re gonna do without her and were there to give her the big send off she truly deserved.
After this I headed over for a chat with sister-in-law Marie Byrne from Louth Village who was with son Sean and they wanted to wish her all the best for the future.
Finally, before I departed I got talking to Sharon Gallagher from Doolargy Avenue who sad Mary is a wee pet and they don’t know what they’re going to do now she’s gone but wanted to wish her every happiness for the future.