Butch Conlon still king
ARDEE Hospice Homecare were the big winners from the ‘Fiver Friday’ fundraiser held in Reilly’s of Ardee recently.
The music opened with the youngest performer of the night 18 year old Lauryn Ryan of Philipstown Dunleer with her fantastic vocal style.
After Lauryn came the wonderful duo Trish Rodgers, Drumcar and Gerry Mulroy from Drogheda with a few country tunes which included a lovely rendition of the Red River Valley. David Starkey and John Farrell and the” Shy Teds” played some lovely guitar Solos and backing music right throughout the evening. Anne Starkey (nee Nevins) sang a beautiful rendition of the late Dolores O’Riordan’s Song “Zombie” and the big rocker himself Willie Reilly sang his heart out.
Peter Farrell played that great old sing along” Walk Away Talk Away” and Gerry McQuillan from Ardee stepped in at the last minute to play the Beat Box all through the evening.
Liam Reynolds one of the main organisers of the evening performed with his band Dunleer based “Full Shilling” consisting of John Hand and Bernard Carrie on vocals and guitars, Liam on whistle and James Taffee on banjo.
The “Nearly Made Its”, Sean O’Brien on mandolin, Adrian Conlon on guitar and Shane Conlon on Bass Guitar and Willie Reilly on vocals played some great tunes to the delight of the crowd. Ardee man Butch Conlon with the support of Friends performed some real big numbers and Butch sounded as good as ever raising the roof with his powerful vocal range.
Ardee man Tom Reynolds and Dunleer man Hugh D Conlon performed last, with Bee Gees songs and Bob Dylan numbers.
The organising committee would like to thank the following spot prize sponsors. Ravel Removals Dunleer, Spar Supermarket and St. Jude’s B&B Dunleer. Also John Joe Reilly for his Function Room at Reilly’s Bar Castle St. Ardee and his very generous donation towards Ardee Hospice. At the time of writing the night raised over €1000
They would also like to thank Dunleer men Gearoid Conlon and Owen Clare for doing the door and Pauline Farrell (née Taffee) and her daughter Ceadaoin Farrell for taking charge of the finances for the evening. Thanks to the sound desk and lighting men Bernard Carrie from Dunleer and Niall Mc Cullough from Philipstown
Local Councillor Dolores Minogue and her husband Tom came along to support the good cause.
Executive members of the newly formed “Scoraiocht Nios Fear Group” Liam Reynolds, Bernard Carrie and Hugh Conlon were delighted to be able to help in the organising of the event from the Dunleer end of things.
Liam recalled the Dunleer and Ardee Live Aid fund raisers of the early eighties and said that many of the musicians from back then had performed during the evening. He has always tried to maintain that bond between the two towns down the years and was glad to see it has remained very strong.
Bernard Carrie Treasurer said that the Scoraiocht Nios Fear were delighted to be able to help out in raising funds for such a worthy cause and Hugh D Conlon Chairman of the new group said that there were a huge amount of requests from the general public to help out during the Christmas and New Year with various fundraisers.
He said that the committee would love to do more to assist local community bodies but there was only so much that they could take on with and organise properly.
Musical Director of “Scoraiocht Nios Fearr” Liam Reynolds said that the group are looking at the various offers on the table from home and abroad for 2019.