MARTIN ENJOYS ANOTHER GREAT NIGHT IN ORIEL
One birthday party I certainly wasn’t going to miss over the weekend was the 50th birthday of the man known as “the heart and soul of Dundalk FC” Martin Connolly from Mill Road the General Manager of the club. There to make sure he had an excellent night was wife Aisling, kids Jonathan, Aoibhín and Aidan, sisters Mary Kerley and Veronica Connolly and brother Andy Connolly along with a huge collection of family and friends.
I wasn’t too long in the door when I met up with their friends David and Deirdre Minto from Medebawn who wanted to wish him all the best and wondered why he wasn’t going to replace King Kenny as the new manager!
They were sitting with Aisling’s twin Aidan Hearty from Fatima, Anne and Pauline Duffy from Boyle O’Reilly Terrace who said they’d keep the celebrations going until 4, and Deirdre agreed, that was 4 the following afternoon.
Next, I got talking to lifelong fans Eamonn and Ann White from Dromiskin who assured me it was going to be an epic night.
I then headed for a table where I caught up with Martin’s daughter Aoibhín who was with Kayla Minto from Medebawn, Brea Coburn from Avenue Road, Amy Kerley from Ashbrook, Hannalore Mackle from Priory Villas, Johnny Connolly from Mill Road, Maria Duffy from Ballykelly and Aoife Feeney from Avenue Road who were all looking very well and ready for a major night of fun together.
Heading for the bar I then got talking to the legend that is Bagger Brady from St. Patricks Terrace, James Browne (the original) from Fr. Murray Park and brother-in-law Simon Connolly from Dunmor who were expecting a nice quiet respectable night, in a parallel universe maybe lads.
Not too far away I then got talking to u15s youth coaches Tiernan Mulvenna from Muirhevnamor and John Sharkey from Greenacres who told me Martin is their boss, he keeps them very busy and is always a big help to them and wanted to wish him a happy 50th.
Heading for another table I caught up with Sharon Ward from Avondale Park, Briege Browne from Fr. Murray Park, Martin’s sister Veronica, Laylah and Glen Connolly from Dunmor, Mary Kerley from Ashbrook and Carrie Kerley from Brookwood Lawns who were there to party with the best of them.
Not too long later I got talking to two ladies Aoife Burns from Marian Park and Carol Neville from Malahide who told me their husbands Liam and Mick both work in the club and were delighted to be there to celebrate his 50th with him.
They were also joined by brothers Jimmy and Francie Fisher from Barton Park who wanted to wish Jimmy’s boss all the best on his big night.
I then caught up with the Ard Easmuinn possee Kevin Sweeney, Feargal Byrne and Sean Grant who are all mates of Martin’s and assured em it was going to be an epic night for sure.
Not too far away I met up with Mary Ryan from Avenue Road, Karen Ryan from Seafield Lawns, Liam Burns from Marian Park and Jacinta Byrne from Marian Park who are all actively involved with the club also were on a bit of a busman’s holiday but wanted to wish Martin all the best on his big night.
Meanwhile back up near the bar were Ian and Jane Callan from Manydown Close and Aidan McBride from Knockbridge who told me they have been long time friends of Martin’s and Aidan said he remember being at Martin’s 21st, a mad night held in the AOH!
Not too far away I then got talking to Colm Murphy from Greenacres, Frank Watters from Thomastown, club CEO Mal Brannigan from Howth who was with wife Denise ad son Cian and they were looking forward to a respectable celebration, with Frank there and the Stormers playing, I’d be thinking no, no, no!
Finally, before I departed, I caught up with former Dundalk star player Georgie Poynton from Laytown who was chatting to tie wrap gangster Garett Doyle from Lower Point Road who was awaiting the arrival of the rest of the gangsters and both lads wanted to wish their friend a very happy 50th. PicturesbyAidanDullaghan/Newspics