Three years on from the last hugely successful Letterkenny Reunion, it’s time for another.
From this Sunday (5th) through to the following Friday, the emigrants who departed their hometown for varying reasons over the years will again get an opportunity to meet up en masse with family and friends and the Letterkenny of today.
The traditional opening mass in St Eunan’s Cathedral on Sunday (6.30.p.m.) will be celebrated by Fr Stephen O’Gorman, a native of the Bonagee area, and now ministering in Convoy and Drumkeen.
It will signal the onset of six days of entertainment and craic – and the stories of old that the Reunion invariably brings. Some of them maybe even true…!
The programme of events is available at a variety of local outlets and suffice to say there’s plenty for everyone to enjoy.
The re-enactment of the Fair Day will have them thronging Lower Main Street on Monday afternoon (1.p.m. to 5.p.m.) and on Tuesday, the attention turns to the Regional Cultural Centre for another recently innovation to the programme, Culture Afternoon.
There’ll be singing, dancing, comic sketches, poetry and a whole host more to entertain over the three hours (2.p,m. to 5.p.m.). Among those participating are John Blake, Denise Blake, Ann Doherty, Lorna Baldrick, Frances Gordon, James Ferry Jnr., Jean Curran, Eden Kelly, Amy Meehan, Andy McGranaghan, Brian Walsh, Michael Carey (plus two), Liam Ponsonby, the Down Syndrome dancers, Jim and Kathleen Ferry, and Frankie and Eileen Sweeney. A talented line-up without a doubt.
On Wednesday, it’s the always popular magical mystery tour with a fleet of buses pulling out at 11.a.m. from the Boys School. Tickets, costing 8 euro, are available from Paddy Delap’s newsagents, Brian McCormick sports shop, Callaghans XL, Paddy Gildea’s butchers, or from any committee member. But they won’t be giving away the destination…!
And plenty more activities over the week as a glance at the programme will confirm.
A minimal charge of five euro will gain patrons entry to the opening and closing receptions.
“There was a time when we got €10,000 from the Town Council but there’s no town council now and it costs money to stage these events. But we think this is a fairly modest entrance fee and we hope as many as possible support the events,” organising committee chairperson Dessie Kelly appealed this week.
“And this is an event for everybody, not just those born and bred in Letterkenny. We welcome everyone and encourage them to come along and enjoy the craic.”