By Peg Prendeville

Congratulations to Damien Finnerty and Jacqueline Kelly who got engaged recently while in Cancun, Mexico. We wish them both much happiness in their future together.

Sympathies to Breda Finucane and her family in Clounleharde on the death of her brother Seán Geoghegan, Newcastle West this week. May he rest in peace.

All roads lead to the Knockdown Arms this Saturday night as it celebrates its 30th birthday. Yes, it is just over 30 years since it first opened its doors on December 19, 1985. Everybody is invited to be part of the celebrations on Saturday night. Well done to Ta and Val and Ita on running such a successful business all through the years apart from a little spell where he handed over to Tom Sampson for a while followed by a couple of years with Tom and Marcella O’Grady before Ta took back the reins again. It is a great meeting point for the area and we hope it goes from strength to strength. Paddy Faley wrote about it thirty years ago so I will contribute a poem for the birthday as follows

Happy 30th Birthday Knockdown Arms 

Thirty years ago ’twas born – a cause of celebration

When the Knockdown Arms opened its doors amidst wide speculation

Since then it has never slowed the pace but is growing by the day

With Ta and Ita’s guiding hands, providing fun and play.

 

Many celebrations have taken place since that day years ago

With christenings, birthdays, 1st Communions – it’s always on the go

Romances and retirement functions all took place right here

Funeral receptions catered for with reverence, don’t fear.

 

We’ve had concerts by the dozen where we sang and danced right through

We had table quizzes and race nights and dancing classes too

Poker games and Macra meetings, yes Ta has room for all.

Always ready for something new he had a Christmas stall.

 

It never once has faltered, even through the world recessions

We warded off our worries with lively singing sessions

Ta opened up a kitchen serving food as well as drink

And when depression threatened us Ta pulled us from the brink.

 

So Happy Birthday Knockdown Arms; we hope for many more

To keep the community together as we dance around the floor

Three cheers for Ta and Ita this enterprising pair

Who, we hope, will not retire at all and, for us, be always there.