 Welcome back and as before the break we had Paul Simon and mother and child reunion and a joining me in the studio now I've got Kathleen O'Doherty from the letter Kenny reunion. Kathleen you're very welcome. Thank you very much, Jean It's great to get the opportunity to have a wee chat with you So the letter Kenny reunion it's been going for quite some time Kathleen. Yes indeed, Jean 1991 was the first letter Kenny reunion and it was thanks to letter Kenny men Johnny Joe McCollum and Jimmy Swinney who on one day were just having a general chit chat and they had said so-and-so was home last weekend and so-and-so was coming home from abroad the following weekend and Would it be nice if we could arrange something so that everybody would travel together on the same weekend and possibly we could Meet up with them together and it said that took a lot of organizing as well There were so many immigrants from letter Kenny all parts of the globe It wasn't a big task to get that together Well to be honest at that time I wasn't involved myself because I didn't join the committee until the year 2000 But I remember going to events with my mother my late mother got dressed or and like that I too thought how and there's that they managed to get so many people together But and at that time remember there was no social media there was no instant contact So it was literally either writing to people or families contacting one another but with the committee with Jimmy and Johnny Joe and God rest Johnny Gallagher and many others like that I just want to give away you mentioned two names that I know that have passed on that we're members of the committee Some for a number of years some for a shorter break but with Johnny there was Bustie James McMunnigal and Nula McFeely Jim Lynch Barry Lynch Patsy Schill's Patsy James Gretty peoples and Sincere apologies if there's anybody that I have forgotten to mention on that But they're just people that have come into my mind as I come in the door to think to chat you as I say I personally joined the committee in the year 2000. So at that stage We still hadn't really got the social media at that stage at all. So I was very new to it at that time Actually, it's 23 years ago. I thought at that time. Yes, I was quite young to be joining and At the same time when people from all ages and no more than any of us when we meet up with Folk that we know that we went to school with that we grew up with that we socialized with a lot of them had changed Jobs moved to other countries moved to other parts of the country and all of us love a reunion no matter what So this idea of the letter candy reunion first committee It actually was a brilliant idea and it was well before it was mentioned any such thing as the gathering was tried Forget who what at the time Lee over at her actually tourist Minister of Tourism a number years ago tried to get going but letter candy had been doing it since 1991 anyway And as you say a lot of the early committee and people who came back home I can think of Hugh Green for one who's sadly no longer with it It was an older age group that the years have gone by Kathleen and you and I are off the same vintage and now it's great to meet up with with our age group because you know as I said You never know just know how many reunions we have left. Hopefully we'll have many many ones But it's nice just Mark Sweeney and his family were there from Australia not for the reunion But just it's just nice to meet them and reminisce on days in the dolphin when we we shared a one pair of chips with Ten people and we're throwing out the daughter's tessie used to call us Well, I think gene even in relation to that when you when you mention the dolphin and I know for a fact Donna actually Donna kill Collie she was then is actually listening into the show tonight So I'd like to say hello to her in Rome But like that there's so many generations that actually did Attend the dolphin and the one plate of chips and the five or six sparks and fingers only yeah A lot of us have those tails, but even going on for even younger generations than us Okay, it's easier for them now. They're traveling more and whatever but covert put a stop to that for a couple of years So the fact that we couldn't have a reunion in 2021 And the last one was 2018 Next year 2024 we do intend having an event from the fourth of August, which is a bank holiday weekend So we do intend to have a reunion and we're hoping that people will cover travel from all over or can do And I suppose it's not just for people who are born and reared in letter Kenny It's for the whole community and I remember the last reunion that you had the fair day down the streets and your music And it was it was great entertainment for all ages. Yeah, indeed gene and like that I know I said it myself once upon a time something says to me Oh, I'm not from letter Kenny But this particular person actually lived in letter Kenny much longer than some of those that had emigrated at age 16 17 and 18 So it is a community event. Yes home is home wherever you make it But heritage and your home place where you were born I suppose that's what initially it was reaching out to but it is a community It is those because we find that even now Locals even to go down the street ourselves now to find locals as we call locals Just because we were aired with them are few and far between but the community are there now It's a letter Kenny community So we should be encouraging others to join us and not only that You know as far as field we extend Anyone that wishes to come to letter Kenny because we would have had people that were nursing in the hospital or went to the old Regional college or some of the factories and they have moved on but they would have had friendships with people from letter Kenny and surrounding areas And as you said many of the founder members are sadly are no longer with us And if you're planning now for 2024, I'm sure you would appreciate new blood with new ideas and enthusiasm well, of course, there's always every committee no matter what it is They're always as nice to have a continuation of people that have done things before and some will say oh Why try something new when it hasn't done what's that saying don't if it's okay don't break or whatever But yes, we need new ideas. Yes, you need fresh blood, you know people Sometimes it's very hard to get people to come on committees and even over the years There's too many for me to mention. I have committees that have actually been on the reunion since 91 and as I say myself on there since 2000 but each member that had been there whether it was on one term two term or more Everybody has something to give to it to something different and even when we have our meetings, you know the Commeritory with us and we do have a bit of banter and a bit of fun. Yes, there's a lot of work. It's voluntary and Even fundraising and everything it does take up a time, but but it's enjoyable Yeah, and I suppose been involved in a number of committees myself fundraising and sponsorship Events like that just the cost money. They're not free They're free maybe for the the public the opening or events, but they're not free to the committee well, that's right because only recently there we actually had a flag day as we call it just the stickers and Again the same thing people were literally out in the street with a bucket looking for money And in fairness when we get any sponsorship from anybody, it's most welcome because we all know prices have increased Every way music has increased Even to order a cup of tea now and a biscuit for an event at all costs money But if you have a voluntary group that are willing to give in the time and if they get support from the locals And whoever wants to help everybody's welcome And I just see a hot sub and here hygiene well done to my mom speaking so well about the letter Henry Union And well done to all involved in organizing it as long as I remember mom has chatted about how much fun and crack it is To meet up with the people each time the reunion takes place The more people get involved the merrier long may it last and that comes from Lynn and Jack Lovely. Thank you. Thank you. That's great. So when is your next for those people who are Listening tonight that might want to get involved Kathleen when's your next meeting or how often do you meet? Well, we would meet now Saying that because of covert, you know, we are everything was put on the back boiler for a while And we didn't know whether there would be another reason we had said there would be another reunion But when was the time we weren't too sure so that's why next year August 24 we will Now because of the mural which actually has been launched on Friday night That'll be an opportunity for people to attend and that is open to everybody We're so appreciated of this mural. It was commissioned actually by the letter Kenny heritage community group And we are so grateful to them because they took it upon themselves to get this mural done on behalf of the letter Kenny reunion just to acknowledge the companionship and just the good events and memories that the reunion has created by people coming home and that event and And or the mural it actually will be launched on Friday on the Friday night and Kevin Bradley mayor Kevin Bradley is to do So I would just like to say thanks to Ben Swinney and Dylan's hotel for their sponsorship of the mural the mural itself was By a very talented father and son Kevin senior and Kevin junior Gallagher. I mean very talented men They've also done the murals up at the old mart if anyone has had an opportunity to see them and It's just it's a great thing for us to be recognized that that from by letter Kenny town itself that this mural will be there for all to see So the mural has been it's been launched at the Devlin Hall But where is the actual mural at the devil? It will be at the Devlin Hall on the wall on the wall of the Devlin Hall And then afterwards we're going to have a little cup of tea down in the station house So everyone is welcome and you mentioned there that this was commissioned there by the letter Kenny Community heritage group and they do an awful lot of work for the community as well Kathy and a voluntary group as well well they too indeed Jenar a voluntary group and to be honest because I'm personally not involved myself, but I went up to see they actually have an exhibition in up in the museum at the moment and I want to see it and honestly folks you should go and visit it because They do so much work behind the scenes. We really don't realize what's going on just to keep heritage alive they just want to they have a variety of events and publications, you know that Recognizing and remembering people that have gone past and Just I would advise everybody to go and see it like a lot of other groups There are voluntary groups as we know in letter Kenny different groups again I'm not Familiar with them all but I do know that each group is doing their best to keep letter Kenny alive And I'm sure it goes on in other towns as well But people we need to support them we need to be seen out to help what we can do and of course We all know everybody's busy and doing different things. I recently retired myself this year So I have a little bit more time on my hands Now I'm taking a backseat for a week while till I get used to the retirement from not actually working But I have to say being on voluntary committees over the years. It does take time, but there's a great camaraderie there's a great Friendship within people and it's just nice to do it fantastic Well, the best of luck with your plans for the reunion in 2024 and With the launch of the mural on Friday night at 7 30 at the Devlin Hall and Looking forward to that and the week cup of tea and chat afterwards in the station house Kathleen, thank you so much for taking time out to join me tonight