25 Years and going strong

Twenty five years ago four decent Ballymore people got together to carry on the work started by the local St. Vincent De Paul Society in caring for our senior citizens. Mary Queally, Mick Horan, Ossie Hunter and Dermot O’Reilly started the work that we have come to expect year in year out.
Sady both Mary and Mick have gone to their reward but their work is continues today by the Kathleen Jordan, Kathleen Lawlor, John Queally, John McCarville, Dermot, Tommy Dwyer and Tim Grace. Since 1982 they have provided a Christmas Party to rival the best anywhere. Every December over 100 sit down to a delicious dinner with entertainment, Santa and the chance to catch up with friends old and new. Down through the years it has been held in the Auld Triangle, Poulaphouca House Hotel and the Ardenode Hotel. I’m a few years off it yet but I’m looking forward to it already.
Each year when the weather turns fine a group venture off to a town in Ireland for a days outing. Armagh, Kilkenny, Drogheda, Athlone are among the places visited. This year the outing is to Limerick.
Last month as Chris Dennison’s pictures show, the group had a celebration dinner in the Ardenode Country House Hotel. The food was superb, the entertainment, by Country Pride had everyone singing and dancing and Gus Kavanagh did a brilliant job as Master of Ceremonies. It is a tribute to the committee that they were able to entertain some 170 people, amongst their number was a lot of people who had contributed, both financially and in kind to their efforts. As we go through the the 21st Century it is gratifying that there are so many people ready to help out in many ways.
The senior citizens committee were worthy winners of the Person of the Year award in the past. It’s hard to put a price on the work they do. So we won’t. They are priceless.

A date for your diary
Foster & Allen
Ardenode country House Hotel.
Sunday 9th September at 8 p.m.
Tickets €27.50 will be available soon form committee members and local outlets. And you can find more details in The Bell.

A great night for a great cause.
Tim Ryan.