EPIC NIGHT AT FRIARY YOUTH CLUB REUNION
There really was only one party I couldn’t have missed at any cost and it too place on Saturday night in Oriel Park when the Friary Youth Club Reunion was used as a fundraiser for the Zoe Murphy fund.
The night was organised by Ollie Ralph from Parnell Park and Mary O’Hare from Tom Bellew Avenue and the place was completely packed by the time I got there.
I was only in the door when I met up with Maurice and Denise McElroy from Ashbrook who were enjoying the company of Ollie and Trish McShane from Newry, Brian McGuinness from Doolargy Avenue and Jim Lane from Oaklawns. I was delighted to see Ollie there as he was, for me, one of the main driving forces with the club when I was growing up.
Beside them was one of the reasons we were all there Zoe Murphy with her mum Lyndsey Bannon and dad Eamonn Murphy who were enjoying the evening with everyone there.
Not too far away I then got talking to organiser Mary O’Hare from Tom Bellew Avenue who was delighted with the turn out and was enjoying the company of Julia and Paddy Mackin from Belfry Drive who wanted a big shout out for Jimmy and Michelle McCourt over in Boston and to tell them they were missing a brilliant night. They were also in the company of Eithne Lambe from Fr. Murray Park who said he recognised plenty of the faces, not all, but plenty!
Meanwhile up near the bar I got talking to some of the lads who included Paddy Woods originally from Pearse Park, now from Bay Estate, John McKenna Blinds from The Rise in Mount Avenue, Gerry Woods from Kingwood and Brendan Donnelly from Bay estate who were having a great laugh together and probably would have starved only John went and got the cocktail sausages!
I then met up with Larry and Jackie Hughes from Ard Easmuinn who told me to be careful because all the old Toribio team were there! He was enjoying the company of Paul and Bernadette Ralph from Faughart and Paul’s mum Betty Ralph from St. Malachys Villas who had life long links with the Friary Youth Club.
Not too long later I headed over for a chat with Linda Sweeney from Ard Easmuinn who was with Muriel Burns from Oaklawns, Teresa
Martin from Grange Drive and Margaret Hearty from Anne Street but now living in Castlewelland and the girls said yes, they recognised everyone there but it was great to get back together for a laugh.
Seated close by was Brendan and Marie O’Callaghan from Blackrock who wanted to welcome their grandson Oisin and say congratulations to his parents Jennifer and Fergal for such a beautiful child.
Seated close by were one of the organisers Ciaran and Margaret Higgins from Kingswood who was enjoying the company of Fergal and Paula, Declan and Margaret Smyth all from Blackrock, Brendan and Olivia Smyth from Kilkerley who were having a right old laugh together.
Not too long later I headed over for a word with Tom Hughes Jnr. from Seatown who was having a laugh with Gerry and Mairead Califf from Ard Easmuinn who told me they first met at one of the Dundalk Area Association nights in London back in October 1989 which had been organised by Ollie McShane, started dating, got married and have been together ever since. They even had the centre page of the Argus which had covered the event with them on the night!
They were also enjoying the company of other family members Larry and Jackie Hughes, Elizabeth and Mark Sheils from Carrick Road, Gerry and Caroline Hughes from Newry and Bernie Ralph from Faughart who were having a great laugh together.
Not too far away I met up with Cecilia Toal and Carol Reenan both from Mary Street South, Carol Martin and Barbara Gormley from Dublin Street who were the cool girls in the club back in 1972 and just loved it.
After this I caught up with Mary Reilly from Park Street, Adrienne Mathews from Kincora Terrace and Anita Reilly from Park Street who were reminiscing about old times and all the great days they used to have together.
I then bumped into Francie and Mary Agnew from Knockbridge who told me it was great to see all the old friends again.
Next, I was delighted to see a couple who had travelled down from Dublin specially for the reunion Jim and Terry Halpenny who were in great form. One decent man when I was growing up, it was great to see Jim again, oh yes and Terry too, obviously!
Heading for another table I then had the pleasure of talking to Fionnuala Farrell from Heynestown ad Georgina Ralph from Knockbridge who told me it really was a trip down memory lane!
Next, I met my old friend John McArdle from Manydown Close who told me he and Jim had represented the Youth Club in table tennis and five-a-side down in Limerick and it was a great place to be on a Friday nights. I then caught up with Olivia Larkin from Parnell Park who told me her husband Tommy had brought along his membership card for the club and it was 40 years old.
Meanwhile over in the corner high chairs I then met up with Joan Cunningham from Avenue Road and Jackie Ralph from Parnell Park whose husband was the one of the main organisers, they told me they thought it was a really great night.
Not too long later I got talking to Flash Farrelly from Pearse Park who was recounting stories from his epic days in the club to Bernadette and Edel Beatty both from Parnell Park, Philomena McGivern from The Quay, Margaret and Ciaran Higgins, Hugh and Barry Finnegan from Marian Park along with brothers Chris and Stephen Carragher from Hoeys Lane, Sean Kinney from Ard Easmuinn and Denis Mullen from Railway Terrace who were all regulars in the club down through the years.
Finally, before I departed, I caught up with Anne Byrne from Point Road who was there with Arthur Reilly from Meath and when I asked Anne if she recognised many of the revellers she said “no, sure I’m far too young to know any of these people!”