First Day of the ‘Gathering’..

The morning weather hadn’t improved much, after a stormy night, although the forecast was for …improvement !

We’d all had a late start expecting a late night finish !, although we all did gather and wake up little Lawrence with his Birthday cake as he started his teenage years   ‘Happy Birthday Lawrence’

Then it was a busy middle of the day for some, collecting people from the airport, whilst I …read my book and watched the rain batter down !

We all got together, to go to the ‘Fr Peyton Centre’ for the official opening of the ‘North Mayo Gathering’(all wearing our Red /Green, the colours of Co Mayo ), with mayors, councillors,committees, a TD (like our MP’s) and even a British MP John Leech…along with groups from Manchester,Leeds,USA (not forgetting our own Canadian connection), and a very plush reception then took place, with lots of pictures,speeches…and even a cake cutting

After that most of us went across to Bunnyconlon GAA pitch, for a match between St Lawrence's from Manchester, and a local Bunnyconlon side..even a place for the birthday boy, with players 4 years older, who gave almost as good as he got…  and thankfully the swelling went down before his Mum saw him… a creditable performance from the younger Manchester team, who after a slow start came strong towards the end, and only lost by 2 points…a close contest , that I wasn’t sure I understood…

Then back to the Fr Peyton centre, for the ‘Seisun’, a first half concert performance by the Bofield Ceilidh band, with a second half performance made by willing members of the audience.. all in all a great day, although long into the night, even longer when we got home under a fantastic starry sky, and had our own ‘Seisun’in the parlour (although the quality wasn’t as good !) and don’t ask what time we finished !

So, Goodnight from all of us !