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Golden Jubilee Dinner Dance
This was the night when everyone wanted to be part of the St John Bosco GAC family. A wonderful night starting off in the foyer of the hotel for a champagne reception when friendships were renewed, old friends caught up and then it was up the stairs to the Millers Suite which looked resplendent, decked out in the blue and yellow with balloons, flags and flowers.
The Jubilee organising committee did an excellent job in organising the event and no stone was left unturned in ensuring that the night went off without a hitch. Following a beautiful rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann, Simon Burke brought the guests on a whirlwind tour of the world as Boscomembers who couldn’t be there on the night sent in video messages. From Melbourne and Brisbane to Boston, New York, Charlotte, the Far East, France and more, it was great to see all the folks. The message was clear and somewhat poignant for whilst they all sent their best wishes they would all have loved to be in Newry for the celebrations and home with their family. Burren man John Francis McClorey (aka Frank Mitchel) was MC on the night and guest speaker Benny Tierney (from that famous 1 in a row Armagh team) kept the craic flowing on the night.
All of the guests including Michael Ruane the Mayor of Newry & Mourne, Seamus Walsh the Chairman of the Down County Board and many others remarked that it was a special evening, an honour to be present and compared it to a large family gathering where all were at home. That’s what is so special about the St John Bosco GAC, we are one large family and Friday night was the perfect occasion when all could gather in person or in spirit, bound together by a love of the GAA, a love of Newry and most of all a passion for St John Bosco GAC. This passion was captured by
Canon Brown ADM in a very simple but powerful moment that touched all when before he said prayers before dinner he prayed for all members who couldn’t be present on the night and for all those family members who had passed away. A sentiment that epitomises Cumann Naomh Eoin Bosco.
The night went all too quickly and before you knew it the band were playing the last song, the dance floor had never emptied all night and it was time for the resident’s bar or home (depending on who was driving or in charge!) Many of the areas of Newry were well represented in St John Bosco over the years – Monaghan Row by the famous Tumilty family and more, the Meadow by the Jackson’s, Rooney’s, Shield’s and the McGrath’s, Daisy Hill Gardens by the Rock’s and Brady’s. Even the 13 houses (now 15 post Celtic Tiger boom) of Aileen Terrace provided many players for the yellow and blue. The ‘Terrace’ was well represented on the big night with Denis
McGivern (U16 1979) – he of 6 tuxedos, Patrick McParland (now a Clonduff man, but by postcode only), Paul McCormack (PRO lately returned to the club with Pól Óg in the U10’s when his 3 girls moved on from Irish dancing), Terry O’Neill (Transferred to Downpatrick by marriage), Leontia O’Neill (now Mrs Rossiter and with her two boys playing for the Bosco) and several more of the O’Neill clan (#1 Aileen Terrace).
Summing up – A wonderful night, solid company and treasured memories!
