GAELS SCALE THE HEIGHTS ON GREAT WALK
On Saturday night I headed for Kennedys Bar where local football club the Gaels were hosting a bar-b-q as the finale of a fundraising day where over 100 members and their families took part in a sponsored walk in the Cooley mountains.
The walk took place in beautiful sunshine between The Lumpers and Carnawaddy and back and is the only fundraiser the club hosts during the year. After a swift pint in the Lumpers it was back to Kennedys for a bar-b-q and a few laughs.
I was only in the door when I met up with Walter and Brenda Lambert from Muirhevna who told me they had completed the walk with Tony and Sheila O’Connell from St. Malachys Villas, Peter and Catherine McGinnity from Rath and Andrew Coleman from Kingswood and had a fantastic day. He wanted to thank his brother Michael Lambert from Knockbridge who was the main organiser of the day on a really great job.
After this I had the pleasure of talking to Rosemarie Coleman from The Loakers who told me she had had an epic day along with Elizabeth Coleman from Kingswood and were now going to ease the aches with a drink or two!
Next I caught up with Anne Watters and Ashley Copas both from Muirhevna who were up for a night of it Sheila O’Connell from St. Malachys Villas and Una Connolly from Mount Avenue who had really enjoyed the walk and was looking forward to a good night with all the other Gaels.
I then met up with a man who thought the walk was far too short, he is more of a 20 mile man, yes, it’s Oliver McGinnity from Willow Grove who was with his wife Mary and daughter Olivia and he was still giving off about missing the sandwiches. They were enjoying a few drinks with Bruno and Anne Murphy from Muirhevna.
Making my way through the crowds I then got talking to Teresa Oakes from Mount Avenue who was chatting to Maria McGuill originally from Kilkerley but home on holidays from Australia and was out with her parents Gerry and Maria to support the club.
I then headed over a chat with the man described as a Gaels legend, Jasper McDonnell from Headford with his wife Margaret who were getting ready to make a night of it with James and Miriam Twomey and Kitty McCann all from Priorland Grove who was missing husband Pat. Jasper told me his injury kept him off the hills but was looking forward to the bar-b-q.
Not too long later I then got a word with Mark Keller from Priorland who was there to support his wife Ciara who had taken part in the walk and assured me the night was going to be a cracker.
Meanwhile up near the bar I got talking to Niall Morgan from Meadow View who said he had completed the walk with wife Karen and kids Sean and James who just managed to get finished before the heavens opened.
After this I met up with Brian Conlon from Redbarns Road, Patrick Hearty from Park Avenue, Gerry Copas from Muirhevna and Tony O’Connell from St. Malachys Villas who told me it was great day and yes, Tony is still celebrating Limerick’s epic All Ireland hurling win a couple of weeks ago!
Just arrived in the door was Ciaran Boyle from Manydown Close who hadn’t managed the walk, but was there for the bar-b-q and all the craic with the lads.
Making my way through the crowds I then got talking to Ger Minogue from Carrick Road who told me that she had done the walk but husband Roddy didn’t make it. They were enjoying the night with Gerry and Teresa Oakes from Mount Avenue who told me it turned into a real family day with all the kids that joined in.
Finally I headed over for a word with club president Noel Connolly from Mount Avenue who said the day was a huge success and introduced me to Padraig Keenan from Chapel Road who provided the spiritual support on the day and they said the evening was only getting going and should be an epic too.