Gainstown seniors enjoy long running local tradition
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Geraldine Flanagan, Mary Farrell, Cepta Earley, Margaret Cosgrove, Kathleen Conaty, Teresa O’Reilly, and Bernie Corroon, catering team, rest before they make the tea.Image 2 of 16
Teresa Gammell and Julie Burke.Image 3 of 16
Frank and Paddy McCarthy and Donal McNamara.Image 4 of 16
Margaret and Tony Ryan were some of the first people to organise this party many years ago.Image 5 of 16
Anna O’Grady, Seamus Curran and Ber Curtis.Image 6 of 16
Betty O’Rourke, Chris Mcnamara, and Patricia and Lily McCarthy.Image 7 of 16
Ciaran and Mary Geoghegan and Mick Brennan.Image 8 of 16
Geraldine Flanagan, Mary Farrell, Cepta Earley, Margaret Cosgrove, Kathleen Conaty, Teresa O’Reilly, and Bernie Corroon catering staff resting themselves before they make the teaImage 9 of 16
Ollie and Marie Campbell.Image 10 of 16
Mick and Danny Dunne.Image 11 of 16
Roe Lynch and Frank Seery.Image 12 of 16
David Corroon, Mary Wynne and Kathleen Conaty, catering crew, having their dinner.Image 13 of 16
Jimmy McDonnell, Tom Farrell and Frank Ryan.Image 14 of 16
Seamus Curran and Mary Daly.Image 15 of 16
Nora Ryan, Vera Kirwan, Mick Brennan and Anne Byrne.Image 16 of 16
Paddy Gaye and Noel Kelly took charge of the refreshments.The 70 people at the annual Gainstown Party for Senior Citizens enjoyed a traditional Christmas dinner last week. The party has been on the local calendar for almost 60 years, and some of the original organisers are now attending it as guests.
Nora Ryan, one of the organisers, said: “The party has been going on since the 1960s, some of us either died or are retiring now, I’m one of the last of the crowd, as well as Margaret and Tony Ryan.
“I think we’re one of the first to do a Christmas dinner for the elderly,” said Nora. “I can tell you we had nothing at the time, everyone had to bring something.”
The organisers have since employed the services of David Smyth Catering, and they receive funding from Westmeath County Council, North Midlands Credit Union, Mullingar Lions Club, and the organising committee also carry out church gate collections in the lead-up to the party.
“We had a great time, everyone enjoyed themselves and we were all able to chat to one another, people we might not have seen since the previous year.”It’s great for people to get out and talk to each other.”
The party was in Gainstown National school. “A lot of us would have gone to school there and it’s nice to be able to go back and reminisce.”
Music was provided by Kit Loughrey, Mick Dunne, and Anne Lennon, Anne on the keyboards and the two men on guitar. Some people were singing, and, according to Nora, there were lots of people out “on the carpet” dancing.
Nora praised the work put in by the committee this year. “The committee were under the guidance of Mary Wynne – we’re all organisers but Mary is a sort of figurehead there,
“Then all the younger people came in on Sunday to help give out the meals.”
The large number of volunteers at the event helped make it another great success alongside the committee members, and Nora also expressed gratitude to the local school principal. And, as Nora said: “If people didn’t come, there wouldn’t be a party.”