This article is from page 31 of the 2007-06-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 31 JPG
A 50TH birthday with a difference will be celebrated in Shannon later this month.
‘The Big 50s bash’ is the multiple birthday celebration for dozens of Shannon men and women who are turning 50 this year.
The event will be twofold – it will mark the special occasion and will also form part of a reunion for many of those who have lost touch over the years.
The celebration is the brainchild of Gail Fean, who has decided that, as she turns 50, she should get back in touch with many of her former schoolfriends!
“We needed to do something like
this for years. There are at least 50 of us going to be 50 this year,’ she CrHTOR
“IT thought that we needed to locate people who have been and gone and try to get them back for one bash. We were the babies of Shannon and we are now the parents of Shannon,” she PALO
Gail grew up in Shannon and moved to Cork for many years. Although she returned to Shannon in 1994, she never regained contact with many of her former friends.
“We haven’t met up in years. We would have been the class of 1969 – 69 in St Senan’s, when there was very, very little to do. It was so tight that fifth and sixth classes shared the same room back then. After leav-
ing there, we had the choice of the Comp’ or boarding schools away from the town. People split up then. The bulk of us stayed in Shannon, but commitments pulled many oth- ers in all directions,’ she said.
“We were all very close, but we drifted,” she added.
Ms Fean said there are also plans to make this event an annual celebra- nee
“It is good to have a different out- let. I think we will do something every year to keep the spirit going. Let’s hope this is the first of many reunions in Shannon,” she said.
A number of those who will attend on the night are also planning to walk the Clare People 10k, on June 23. Participants in the 10k are given
the opportunity to donate to a char- ity of their choice and the Shannon group will donate to kidney dialysis units.
The party will take place at the Oakwood Arms Hotel, at 9pm, on Saturday, June 23. Tickets, at a cost of €30, are available from committee members Gail Fean, Fergus Cough- lan, Heather Halton and Claire Mc- Cracken or by phoning 087 4160876 or 086 8206557.