Circus theme for Strictly dancing
THERE really was only one place to be on Saturday night and that had to be the Carrickdale Hotel where ‘ The Greatest Showman’ themed Strictly Come Dancing night in association with McAteer’s Food Hall to help raise much needed funds for Dundalk Dog Rescue was taking place and 16 couples were doing battle for the overall prize on the evening.
I wasn’t too long in the door when I caught up with Paddy and Ann Monahan from Woodbury Gardens were there with Ann Moore from Walterstown and Edel Nolan from Redbarns Road were there to welcome everyone into the event, are volunteers with the dog rescue and were looking forward to great night with everyone there.
I then headed in for a chat with Rita and Gerald Duffy from Crossmaglen with daughter Louise, brother Sean Hughes and Gary McDonald from Newry, a number of whom are volunteers and were there to cheer on Siobhan Collins or Lyndsey Marmion when they were on stage.
Not too far away I then got talking to Kenny Gray and Davina O’Hanlon both from Omeath who were in good form and told me they were really looking forward to seeing Ryan Doherty and Paddy McKenna when they got on stage later on.
After this I met up with Hugh and Yvonne Murphy from Faughart who were there to cheer on son Kurt who was dancing with Geraldine Clarke on the night.
They were also with Kurt’s granny Margaret Keenan from Medebawn, his brother Hugh Jnr. who was with girlfriend Maria Bordea from Belfast, brother Kyle and girlfriend Colleen Burns from Faughart and Elisha McEneaney from Bay Estate who couldn’t wait for the event to get going to see them performing ‘Rewrite the Stars’. Not too long later I managed a few words with Amanda, Eugene, Chad and Kodie McEneaney from Knockbridge who were up for making the best of the night with Mary and Emanuel Keenan from Faughart who were also there to cheer on Kurt too.
After this I caught up with Maria and Maire McAnearney from Bangor who wanted a big shout out for Jennifer McEvoy who would be tripping the light fantastic with Paddy McKenna in ‘ Tango Objection’.
Making my way through the crowds, I then got a word with Colin, Emily and Charlotte Marmion from Ballymascanlon who were looking forward to seeing their son Leo Marmion who was going to be walking a dog during one of the routines!
After this I had the pleasure of meeting up with Denise McManus from St. Nicholas Avenue, Jenny Gartlan from Willow Grove and Pauline McManus from Mulholland Avenue who Geraldine Clarke and Kurt Murphy.
were there to support Darren Guest who was in action with Martina O’Callaghan and their interpretation of ‘One Night Only’.
Not too long later I then got talking to newlyweds Emma and Ben Holland from Redbarns Road who were with Lorraine Durnin from Saltown who told me they didn’t care who won, they were there to support the night and fair play for McAteer Food Hall for their efforts in making it such a successful night.
I then got a quick word with Susan and Keara Marcus from Carlingford who were also impartial as to who won, they were just there to support the cause and make the best of the night.
After this I headed over for a chat with my old friend Margaret Lambe from Plaster who was with Heather Curran from Haggardstown and Mary Fagan from Plaster who are all volunteers with Dog Rescue and were staying impartial as to who won, they were just looking forward to a good night’s entertainment.
Just arriving in and looking for some good seats were Jim and Catherine Pepper, Brendan and Kate Judge all from Greenwood Drive who were there to see Mark Pepper dancing first on stage with Olivia McGee doing their interpretation of ‘Pencil Full Of Lead’.
Finally, before I departed and the show got under way I met up with the girls from Byrne’s Pharmacy and they included Sinead Hughes, Amy Martin, Michelle Murtagh and Claire McEneaney who were there to give the loudest shouts to Sharon Maguire who would be dancing with Mark Matthews on ‘Nowadays’ and couldn’t wait to see them in action.