Hard to believe, Ridley’s 30 years old
IT’S hard to imagine that last Friday night was the 30th anniversary of Ridleys nightclub opening its doors for the very first time and easily one of Dundalk’s most popular club decided to have a reunion in the Rum House to mark the occasion.
I was only in the door when I met up with three ladies who were far, far, far too young to remember the crazy days of Ridleys (even too young for the Teen Disco, I thought) Alison Murphy from Blackrock, Joanne Duffy from Oaklawns and Sinead Duffy from Knockbridge who were looking exceptionally well and were up for making it a real night to remember.
After this I got a word with ex staff member Finbar Gethins from Knockbridge and staff member Fintan Sheridan from Ard Easmuinn who told me he started working there 1994 and to date has been called in to work for 24 New Year’s Eves, but it was a bit of a busman’s holiday and the lads were definitely there to party.
Taking a break from their Order Of Malta duties were Catriona Clarke from Parnell Park and Thomas Traynor from Seatown who admitted to remembering the early days and the now infamous spiral staircase which he fondly remembers wrestling with on a number of occasions, me I remember falling up it for some strange reason.
I then headed over for a word with Damiel Michael who told me he’s a student at the DkIT and had no idea the celebration was taking place, he was definitely in for a good night, I thought.
I then caught up with Colette and Martin Clerkin from Braganstown who said they were really looking forward to the celebrations.
Not too far away I got a word with Conor Kearns and Katie McCurtin both from Dublin who had absolutely no idea what major celebrations were about to happen so it was going to be a good night for them too.
One man who would certainly have remembered the heady Fintan Sheridan, Ard Easmuinn and Finbar Gethins, Knockbridge at Ridleys 30th birthday celebration night in The Rum House.
days was David O’Hagan from Long Walk and he was with his daughters Jade and Leah O’Hagan from Bay Estate and Daniel Suhoruchenkov from Kilcurry and David admitted he was far too young for the popular club.
After this I had the pleasure of talking to Joanne Loye and Tara Coyle both from Crossmaglen who were looking extremely well and yes, they were far too young to even know about Ridleys in its heyday, but didn’t care because they were up for the celebrations.
I then headed over for a quick word with Renee Duffy from
Littlemills who was with her delightful daughters Michelle and Susan. The ladies had been in Dublin all day and when they got home on the train, it was into Kennedys for a swifty before the girls encouraged their mum to keep the party going in the Rum House
Ironically, I then headed for a table where a special 30th birthday party was being held for Mark Hoey from Knockbridge who was with his lovely wife Michelle and members of staff from Tullyallen NS who were there to help him celebrate and they included Brendan Winters from Tul-
lyallen, Mags Brennan from Termonfeckon, Brid Fogarty originally from Tipperary and now from Drogheda (who thought the place was savage), Marietta Reynolds from Termonfeckon, Ailis Hughes from Carlingford, Lyndsey Smyth from Monasterboice, Ruth Clarke from Collon, Andrew and Neoma O’Connor-Brady from Baltray, Megan Kelly from Monasterboice, Jessica Smith from Kingscourt, Gary Sheehan from Limerick and Michelle O’Brien from Galway who were all in party mode and wanted to wish Mark a happy 30th on the 30th anniversary of Ridleys!