The Christmas lights came down yesterday. The festive season is well and truly over.
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Ireland’s first global singing star (if we exclude John MacCormack) was surely Bridie Gallagher who passed away this week at the age of 87. She performed in many dance halls around North Kerry including Walsh’s Ballroom (now Morkan Tiles), Listowel. Vincent Carmody went with his cousin and her husband to see Bridie perform in The East End Ballroom in Ballybunion on July 20 1969. Vincent’s cousin was married to a man called Brian McCaffrey from Creeslough in Co.Donegal. During the course of the night they sent up a request for Bridie to dedicate a song to Brian in view of the fact that they had attended the same national school. Bridie sang the song and requested that Brian not leave the hall without talking to her.
The date July 20 1969 might not mean a lot today but it is a hugely significant date . On that night Vincent and his party sat down with Bridie Gallagher in a pub in Ballybunion to watch Neil Armstrong take his first steps on the moon.
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Latest: This is one for the over 60s. I have started a spate of Where were you when Neil Armstrong took his giant leap for mankind?
My friend was nursing and she watched it on the ward with the patients.
Where were you?