St. Conleth's Parish Newbridge - Newbridge Parish

Monday night, May 13th 2013 in
downtown Newbridge. The street,
not quite deserted, has a few late night
strollers meandering along, glancing
occasionally into shop windows. As
they approach the intersection of
Edward and Henry Street they become
aware of the old Bee Gee’s classic “Words” emanating from
McDonnell’s bar, aka Neeson’s.
A peep inside would have revealed an interior, heaving
with merry makers, all singing along with Johnny Peters
(Newbridge’s best interpreter of Bee Gees music) with
Derek McNamara and Billy Joyce on guitar and Miley
Wickham on sound.
It’s only words and words are all I have to
take your heart away.
60th birthday balloons sway to the rhythm of the music as
the birthday girl, Rita Sheridan (Smullen), surrounded by
friends and family takes to the floor.
Rita and Johnny, who had celebrated
his own special birthday a couple of
months earlier, affirm the new saying
that 60 is the new 50 or even 40. (I
reckon both have portraits in the
attic!!) Special guest on the night
was legendary singer Red Hurley
who, at the behest of her friend
Debbie, made a surprise appearance
for Rita, his number 1 fan. Tears
were shed as Red, whose voice is
still powerful, crooned a number
of his favourite songs including
the Eurovision hit “When” and
we transported ourselves out of the
recession and back to a world where
we were young and the future appeared golden.
Looking around the bar I watched as the younger generation
sang along with us to the old favourite “Delilah” and we
oldies in turn belted out The Killers “Are we human or
are we dancer” - No generation gap evident. A few more
dances to Joe Dolan classics like “It’s you, it’s you, it’s you”
and the night ended with Johnny’s famous rendition of
Noreen Bawn, the poignant song portraying the old and
new, curse of emigration.
• EDITORIAL •
We are the Rock and Roll Kids:
By Breda Reid
We are a spirited group, those of us who entered this
world in 1953; the year Hillary and Tenzing conquered
Everest. We are the baby boomers, who occasionally
refuse to act our age and occasionally act our shoe size to
the embarrassment of our children and grandchildren. A
rock and roll generation whose childhood musical tastes
were whetted by a young Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry;
we reached teenage-hood in the 60s with the Beatles,
the Stones and later Woodstock and San Francisco’s
flower power. We danced the night away embracing the
discotheque era of the 1970s with ABBA the Eagles and
John Travolta. We reared our children to the music of
Michael Jackson, Pat Benetar, Toto and Berlin on MTV
with Vincent Hanly in the 80s. We watched our children
develop their own musical tastes as the Boy and Girl bands
began to take hold in the late 80s and early 90s. A-ha, Bros
and TakeThat being the favourites of our eldest daughters
at that stage. Their musical tastes have matured since then
I am glad to report. The demise of Top of the Pops has
meant I have missed out the trends
of the noughties and am nearly
completely out of touch with the
myriad groups and singers on the
scene today. Rihanna, Lady Ga Ga
and Beyonce being the exceptions.
The dance mania sounds our
youngest children danced to did
not get my feet tapping. I am oldfashioned
enough to, admit that
Rap music also left me unmoved
although I did love Eminem and
Dido’s song “Stan”. Good music
with a melody and good lyrics
encompasses all generations. Jeepers
I do sound old!
Rita Sheridan with Red Hurley on her 60th
Birthday in McDonalds Newbridge.
Photos. Jimmy Fullam.
Anyway I’m putting out a call for
those of you entering your diamond decade or any other
decade for that matter. Why don’t we organise a party
for all of us sometime during this summer? The theme
being “1953 A Vintage Year”. We can recall the decades
with music and/or dress if needs be. Give me a call on
045)432444 if you are interested in organising such an
event.
That's all for now,
Till next month!
Lumville House
The Curragh
Phone
441376
* All Family occasions catered for
* Weddings a Speciality – Landscaped Garden
* Lounge Bar open every Evening
* Dancing Classes on Sunday
* Adult Dancing Thursdays - Live Bands.
* Large Selection Menus – Prices Available
on Request
Get your Nokia Mobile repaired
under warranty by Nokia, no matter
where you purchased it or what
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Nokia Care:
Middle Eyre Street, Newbridge,
Co Kildare. 045-437726
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