Ceol agus craic at Offaly Older Persons' Network rambling house event

Offaly Older Person’s Network celebrated Positive Ageing Week with a very successful and entertaining Rambling House event, on Thursday last in Tullamore Rugby Club.

The Rugby Club function room was an excellent location for this event which aimed to recreate the old rambling house where people enjoyed an evening of music, song, stories and craic.

The evening started off with Molly Buckley welcoming everyone on behalf of Offaly Older Person’s Network by and handed over to Bean an Ti, Margaret Guinan.

First up was Alice Carroll who recited a very appropriate poem that she wrote herself about a rambling house.

Next to entertain was Ed Cunningham and friends with songs from the past that we don’t hear too often nowadays. Rita Davis followed with one of her excellent recitations.

This was followed by Frances Kawala with some sing a long favourites. Next up the young people from Youth Work Ireland Tullamore, who have worked with Music Generation to learn new skills, entertained the large crowd until the break.

During the break Beth Wogan from Family Carers Ireland outlined the caring supports that are available in Offaly. Beth thanked the donors of the excellent prizes for the raffle and also introduced carer Pat Byrne who wrote the song ‘Daisy Chains’ and recorded it as a fundraiser for the organisation’s work in Offaly.

The evening was a fundraiser to support Family Carers Ireland carers in Offaly and to date the event has raised just over €1400.

After the break Fear an Ti Johnny Butterfield and friends entertained with music song recitations and jokes.

Many of these songs, recitations and music were played throughout the years in rambling houses throughout the county with most of the performers continuing to do so monthly in The Thatch, Crinkill and Dan & Mollys in Ballyboy. Long may they continue to do so and this event shows that there is an appetite for similar rambling house style entertainment.

As the evening drew to a close Molly Buckley thanked all the musicians and entertainers who eagerly expressed interest to take part of this Positive Ageing Week event. Thanks were also extended to doormen Johnny Carroll and Jim Buckley. Thanks also to Tullamore Rugby Club were also excellent partners in providing the venue and supports to host what was a most interesting and entertaining event. Thanks was also extended to sound engineer Dave Petyton who ensured that everyone could hear the entertainment.Molly thanked fellow network members: Alice Carroll, Frances Kawala, Ann Teahan, Ita O’Kelly, Bridie Costello Hynes, Ciara Sherry (Offaly Age Friendly Programme), Beth Wogan and the supports from Declan Costello, Offaly Local Development Company.

Finally if you wish to find out more information about Offaly Older Person’s Network please feel free to contact: Declan at 087 6991226 or dcostello@offalyldc.ie.