“Wasn’t that the best night”

This is what the woman announced in Mullingar on Monday and how right she was. Certainly, it was up there with the best of our social gatherings and those who stayed away were the losers. Bloomfield House Hotel was buzzing and a sea of green and white … and the staff served up a superb meal … Get Hitched played brilliant music … the organizing committee were meticulous in their preparation and the results were obvious … Will O’Callaghan was a superb MC … Chairperson, David Nohilly welcomed the guests and explained the Development Plans … Ray and Eileen Smyth, and Kevin and Helen Lynch were special guests and were applauded for their role in making the future possible for Mullingar Shamrocks … the newly elected President of the GAA, Jarlath Burns honoured us with his present and delivered a superb bilingual address that centred on the Mullingar Shamrocks club and the manner in which it has embraced the numerous initiatives of the GAA and the LGFA … Jarlath missed his first Armagh game in 20 years to be present … Presidency brings new demands … “I could listen to him all night one” one member commented … the numbers wishing to be photographed with Jarlath was an indication of the impact of the new man at the helm … our own President, the great Detty was acknowledged in Jarlath’s address … 3 sets of medals were presented … each group of recipients were fantastic ambassadors for the club … their sartorial elegance could only be admired … the night featured 3 excellent videos … one featured the Minor campaign to the background music of Van Morrison singing Days Like This … Living in the Hall of Fame compiled by Niall Masterson featured the year’s highlights for Mullingar Shamrocks … the third video was the special one as Bressie, David Clifford, the Two Johnnies, Donnacha O’Callaghan, Joe Schmidt “a Shamrocks supporter from way back”, Dessie Dolan and the legend that is Marty Morrissey congratulated the Minors on their success … all the celebs called on the Minors to push on and make an impression at senior level … the paparazzi were out and about … Ned’s interview with Will and his memories of the 3 & 4-in-a row was a bit special too with memorable quotes that expressed his pride and love of the club … on what constitutes a Mullingar Club: “when you play in Mullingar you’re playing Shamrocks” … “Express yourself, shove yourself out there, show your colours, sing your songs” … this interview came before what was one of the real surprises of the night when Ned revealed a hidden talent: Ned the poet/songwriter and singer of his own composition.

Where else would you find a night like it?