Great turnout for Ben’s 21st party
ONE birthday party I certainly wasn’t going to miss last weekend was Ben McGirr from Glenmore Riverstown who was celebrating his 21st in the Lisdoo on Friday night and a huge crowd had turned out specially to celebrate with him.
There to make sure he had an excellent night were parents Michael and Sandra, grannies Ann McGirr from Enniskillen and Bridie Duffy from Marian Park and girlfriend Claire McDonald from Faughart, along with a huge collection of family and friends.
I wasn’t too long in the door when I met up with Ben who is studying Marketing in DCU and told me not to forget to give a mention for brother Luke who is only 4 and was a bit young to be at the party and to thank everyone for coming to make it a great night.
I then decided to have a look to see who was there and met up with Linda Carroll from McSwiney Street and Donna Baldwin from Rathmount who are family friends and were looking forward to a major night of fun.
Next I caught up with aunties Yvonne Gallagher who had travelled over form Leeds specially for the party and Margaret Duffy from Bay Estate who told me it was going to be a mental night for sure.
Next I caught up with the Marian Park Posse who included nanny Bridie Duffy, Reinee Nordone and Shible O’Connor who all went to school together and were there to party the night away and it was up to the young ones to keep up with them!
Heading for an adjacent table I then got talking to Ben’s main squeeze Claire McDonald from Faughart and she was with Ben’s cousins Charlotte and Rachel Barry from Riverstown and they told me they were going to have a mad one with Ben.
Charlotte and Rachel were also there with sister Amy and parents Sean and Elaine who wanted to wish the birthday boy all the best on his big night.
After this I headed for another table where I had the pleasure of talking to Nuala Barry from Glenmore who was with husband Aidan and kids Chloe and Craig and also wanted a major shout out for daughter Ciara over in Sydney whom they were missing loads, but all wanted to wish Ben a very happy 21st.
Up near the bar I then got a qword with my old friend Paddy Lennon from Seatown who was with his wife aunty Christine and son and Ben’s cousin Patrick who all wanted to wish Ben a fantastic night on such a mega occasion.
After this I met up with Karen and Leo O’Donoghue from Newry who were with kids Tegan, Keri, Kacie and Bailey who are all family friends and were looking forward to a great night.
Next I got a word with Ben’s dad Michael from Ardee who was enjoying the company of Ben’s granny Ann McGirr who was over from Enniskillen, cousin Aoibha Hoey from Donabate, her dad Liam, Michael’s sister Cathy Hoey also from Donabate and his sisters Louise Bartel from Loughshinny and Kate Hoey from Donabate who were up for a good night and wanted to wish Ben all the best on his big night.
Not too long later I got talking to Karen McArdle from Chaplins who was with Elaine McGeough from Rockfield Manor who are family friends and were looking forward to a great night with everyone there.
Next I got talking to Sandra’s husband Padraic Barry from Glenmore who wanted to wish Ben a very happy 21st and hoped he had an excellent night.
Heading for another table I then caught up with Chloe Barry from Cooley who was having a laugh with Jordan Judge from Bettystown who told me he is Ben’s Bestie and has known him “since the womb” saying his mum and Sandra met when they were giving birth and they, along with Jordan and Ben, have been solid friends ever since! I asked him when he celebrated his 21st, he said two weeks ago and he and Ben have been celebrating since then till his party and were going to keep it going too. They were joined by Paddy Stent from Bettystown, another ‘partner in crime’.
Finally, before I departed I caught up with Ben’s mates Sammy Wakrim from Carlingford, Cian Duffy from Ravensdale and the crutched Patrick Hanlon from Cooley who smashed his kneecap in a game against the Gaels recently, but it wasn’t going to stop the lads having a totally insane night with Ben, that was for sure!