This article is from page 92 of the 2008-04-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 92 JPG
THE champagne flowed amid the glitz and glamour of the foyer of the West County Hotel on Saturday night – and this was even before the official proceedings of the night kicked off.
It was the prologue to Avenue Unit- ed’s big party to celebrate 25 years that took the form of a champagne reception.
As the bottles were uncorked, there were Samba dancers on hand to add a little bit extra colour to the occa- sion.
Then the long night that stretched
into the late morning hours began in the Liam McCarthy Suite.
It all took place 25 years to the day that Avenue United was established – it was 12 April, 1983 and time had now raced on to 12 April 2008.
The maiden voyage was in Mickey Kerins’ bar in Lifford with a meet- ing chaired by Gerard ‘Paddlers’ O’Grady from Marian Avenue. What to call the club was one of the most important items on the agenda. Some said Marian Rovers, the mouthful of Boreen Rambling Rovers had a few supporters, but in the end Avenue United was adopted unanimously.
Paddlers lives in Mayo now, but just as he journeyed down to the old town for the launch of Ollie Byrnes’