Gala Dinner
The Club held a gala black tie dinner at the Europa Hotel on Saturday 15th November with 300 hundred people in attendance. The glittering occasion was very professionally organised and a hugely enjoyable event: more significantly, however, it raised a substantial sum which will be extremely beneficial in helping finance the promotion and development of Gaelic games within the club.
Jim Herron commenced proceedings thanking club members and local companies for their generous support. Jim revealed the club’s ambitious and innovative development plans for a state of the art 3rd Generation pitch, a Highway to Health community walking trail, new pavilion and gymnasium and an additional grass pitch. To make this vision a reality will require the support of ventures such as the Gala Dinner. During the meal a power point display depicting a pictorial history of the club was shown and it evoked many memories and stimulated many discussions around the tables of famous club personalities, events and achievements.
As tea and coffee was being served, Joe Brolly captivated the crowd with the delivery of a very entertaining and witty after-dinner speech. The high standard of entertainment continued with Sean Crummey’s stand up satirical comedy act where he superbly impersonated local politicians, showbiz personalities and sports stars, much to the delight of the laughing audience.
A Musical DVD titled The Hills are Alive with Gaelic Games in 2008 was shown and provided a comprehensive quality pictorial round up of club events and activities and the crowd thoroughly enjoyed the DVD and clapped and sang along to the tunes of Sunday Game, Galway Girl and Daydream Believer and set an excellent atmosphere for the auction
Our charismatic compare, Harry McGavock, and Sean Crummey conducted the auction and have to be complimented for sustaining the interest of the patrons and for generating great sales returns for the quality prizes on offer. Ipswich Trip
The McGowan School of Irish Dancing produced a top class and thoroughly entertaining display and received a rapturous standing ovation which clearly reflected how much the crowd enjoyed the dancing.
Club Chairman Sean Maguire drew the ballot and extended his thanks to the organising Committee and to all club members and patrons for contributing to a very successful and profitable event.
The Night concluded with music by the dynamic Marty Fay and the Bandidos as our members danced away into the early hours of the morning.
The Club and Gala Dinner Committees would like to thank club members and sponsors most sincerely for their generous support of the event.
