Big shock for Niall at the Clans
ON Saturday night I headed for the Clans clubrooms where a special surprise 50th birthday party was being held for Niall O’Donnell from Belfry Avenue and there to make sure he had a fantastic night was wife Lynda and kids Dean and Amy.
Niall, well known garda who was Louth and Clans goalkeeper had no idea that a crowd including his dad Niall Snr. from Castletown Road sister Olivia and husband Colm Corrigan from Dowdallshill who were with kids Grace and Evan wanted to wish him all the best on his big night.
I wasn’t too long in the door when I met up with Carol and Speedy Thornton from Haggardstown who told me he was there representing the Geraldines and was having a great laugh with Niall’s fellow clubmates and their wives Seamus and Cait O’Hanlon from Tullyallen, Maurice and Paula Harrison from Quality Street, Gerry and Caoimhe Curran from Marian Park who wanted to wish him all the best on his big night. Maurice also wanted it known that it was actually him that helped Niall win his minor medal too!
Heading over to one of the tables, I then got a word with footballing legends Maurice Harrison Snr. from Cedarwood Park and Kevin Beahan from Ardee who wanted to wish Niall all the best on his big night and this sentiment was mimicked by
Maurice’s son Darren Harrison from Dowdallshill.
After this I got talking to Val Smith from Dromiskin who was with Liam and Linda McCarville from Navan who were delighted to be there to surprise Niall when he eventually arrived.
They were joined there by some of Niall’s workmates from Navan Mick Fitzpatrick, Pat Muldowney and Shane Curran who wanted to wish him all the best on his 50th and were up for a major night of celebrations.
After this I met up with Raymond Smith from Cavan who used to work with Niall and was delighted to be there to give it a lash with him!
Heading for another table I then caught up more of Niall’s workmates in Carl Walsh from Dublin, Colm McNally from Kells and Brian and Melissa McCabe who couldn’t wait to see the look on his face when he got there.
Not too far away I got talking to Niall’s favourite boss Martina Noonan from Ardee and Alanna and Damien Delaney from Drogheda who wanted to wish him all the best on his big night.
After this I headed over for a chat with Clarissa Byrne, Caroline and Conor Byrne all from Navan and John Brosnan from Kells who wanted to wish Niall a very happy 50th. John told me that he had been in the Clans before, yes, 10 years previously when he was there for Niall’s 40th.
After this I met up with Brian and Mary Duffy from Belfry Drive who wanted to wish all the best to their neighbour on his big night out.
Finally, I then got a word with Bob Wesley from Oakland Park who was waiting on the arrival of his wife Bernie and wanted to wish Niall a very happy 50th.