A big send off for Conal and Aoife
THERE really was only one place to be on Saturday night and that was Kennedy’s bar where a rather special going away party was taking place for Conal McGeough from Kilkerley and his girlfriend Aoife Leamy from Kildare who have their bags packed and are heading for Canada next week for at least two years.
The couple have been together for a year and a half and got the opportunity to up stakes and head for Vancouver to start a new life and decided to have a bash before they left.
Conal is son of Kennedy’s owner Eugene and Geraldine McGeough from Kilkerley who were with their other kids Aoife, Pauric and Eoghan. Aoife was joined on the night by parents John and Mairead, sisters Fiona Leamy, Hannah Deegan and daughter Piper Leamy, Niamh and Conor McLaren, brothers John Jnr. and Jennifer Harris, Darren and Emma Leamy and family friend Chloe Grogan all from Kildare.
I was only in the door when I met up with Conal’s uncle and godfather Donal McGeough from Blackrock who wanted to wish the couple all the best on their adventure together. He was joined by his sister Patricia and PJ O’Kane from Seabank who assured me they were going to get a marvellous send off.
Heading for a table nearby I then met up with Martin Healion from Offaly and Aisling Claffey from Cork who are friends of Aoife’s and when I asked when the couple were heading off Martin replied with a smile “the sooner the better!”
After this I headed over for a chat with Aoife’s friends Lauren Flynn and Dara Callanan both from Drogheda who told me they have been Irish Girl Guide buddies with her for more years than they were prepared to admit to and hope they have a fantastic time in Canada.
Not too far away I then got a word with Conor Smyth from Willow Grove who was sitting with Darren and Emma Leamy from Kildare who assured me it was going to be anything but a quiet send off.
Making my way through the crowds I then got talking to Ben Mortimer from Letterkenny who is with Conor’s sister Aoife and he was chatting to Annika Burkel from Bavaria who is with Conal’s brother Pauric and they wanted to wish the couple all the best on their big move.
Seated nearby were Robbie Lynch from Haggardstown, Mark McDonald from Forkhill, Caolan Rooney and Adam Reid both from Blackrock who were getting stuck into the party games left on all the tables and told me they are friends of Conal’s brother Pauric and yes, the goujons were mentioned!
I then headed over for a chat with Conal’s mum Geraldine who said she was very excited for the couple and said they are bound to have great experiences in Canada and wanted to wish them both well. She was up for making the best of the send off with her two sisters Pauline Molloy from Monaghan and Kathleen McCusker from Navan who tried to tell me it was going to be a quiet, refined evening.
Not too long later I caught up with Conal’s uncle Seamus McGeough from Willow Grove who was with wife Marguerite and kids Vourneen, and Conor and they were there to make sure that Conal and Aoife had a fantastic night before their big adventure.
Finally, I had the pleasure of meeting up with Lorraine and Colin Tinnelly from Redbarns Road who were enjoying a laugh with Gordon and Yvonne Lennon from Belfry Gardens. They weren’t there for the going away party, no they were just winding down after a fantastic day when Lorraine and Colin had their brand new daughter Sarah Tinnelly christened. Congratulations to them on their new arrival and I want to wish the trio all the best for the future!