A.V. Rocks in A.V.S.

Shirrin Travers, Zoe O’Donnell, Alice Scott and Cara Coyle enjoying themselves on stage

The Abbey Vocational school has done it again! Just after winning an All Ireland basketball final and getting through to a second final - along comes AV Rocks. This year’s performance was a major success with the four nights being fully booked out - and tickets like gold-dust. When performers are enjoying what they are doing it’s contagious - and this was part of what made the nights such a success. The cast were enjoying every minute of it and one of the back stage helpers commented that they had never seen such a comaradairie in any show before. The amount of talent in music, song and dance proved again how lucky the school and our town really is. The show was based on the film ‘School of Rock’ with Christopher Britton playing the lead role of Dewey. His performance was second to none and the crowd loved him. Although the show was very lively with bursts of rock music, it also had its quieter moments. One of these was when the principal Emmanuel McCormack played and sang backing a ballet routine. Eddie Mulligan was this year’s producer. He did a great job pulling it all together while Deirdre McLaughlin and Eileen Carr kept the music end flowing sweetly.
This was a major undertaking for the school and demanded the assistance of students, teachers and parents. The sponsors of the show were thanked by Mr McCormack, as was the local community. Next up after the Mocks is the AV Factor which starts on March 16th and gives local talent another chance to shine.
PHOTOS AND TEXT
BY MICHAEL DEVANEY

*************

Party faithful, friends & family get together in Drimarone

to celebrate Mary’s 20 years in Dail

Last Saturday night a large crowd filled the Bluestack Centre in Drimarone for the celebration of Minister Mary Coughlan’s 20 years in Dail Eireann.
From all over Donegal Southwest they came and Mary was on hand to greet the guests with a welcoming word for everyone. A surprise guest was Gaeltacht Minister Eamon O’Cuiv. After large indents had been made into the food and drink, Cllr Brendan Byrne rose to speak. He remarked on how well Mary was looking after her 20 years but said that Cllr Sean McEniff said to mention he was 40 years in politics. “When I look at Mary after 20 years and then McEniff after 40 I don’t know if it is the business to be in”.
Next on his feet was Minister O’Cuiv who said he was honoured to be in Drimarone to pay tribute to his colleague. He went on to praise the people of Donegal remembering that in 1989, when he was looking for a Senate vote, he travelled the county, receiving a warm welcome - and even pancakes from Marian, Mary’s mother. “I enjoyed that trip, though I am not sure if I got the vote” he joked.
He told the packed hall that he sits beside Mary at the cabinet table “there is always a laugh and she has a smile for everyone.”
Minister O’Cuiv continued “The Coughlan family have made a huge contribution to politics and Mary is a strong advocate for the people of Donegal. What I admire about her is that she is focused on the real needs of people on the ground trying to make their lives a little better”.
He congratulated Mary and the Coughlan family on their achievements and wished Mary many more happy years in the Dail.
Then the lady herself spoke, thanking everybody for coming and Minister O’Cuiv for travelling, saying she was honoured to have him up. “We have soldiered well over the 20 years and I would like to thank you, the people, and my family for all the support through the trials and tribulations. It has been a great honour to represent you. My most memorable day was four and a half years ago when I crossed the Bundrowse bridge as a Minister of State.”
She thanked her family and friends for their support through the good times and bad, and expressed appreciation to her drivers, backroom team, girls in the office, Kathleen, Breedge, Marina, Rosemary, and Brian and Michael Shovlin for keeping her on the straight and narrow - also thanked Marie O’Connor.
Mary concluded by saying the forthcoming election was going to be a tough campaign for herself and Pat the Cope in Donegal South West. She thanked the people for the last 20 years and said she looked forward to another 20, but will happily take another five to start.
During the night a lot of people spoke about Mary and her previous driver Hugh Tierney paid a special tribute – “I have been 27 years escorting government ministers, including ex-president O’Dalaigh, but the proudest moment in my career was when I was assigned to drive and escort my neighbour and bring her home as a senior minister. She is a credit to the whole of Donegal and her talents and integrity are beyond reproach. There is another step left in our minister – she will return as Taoiseach.”
Cathal Campbell, a longtime mentor and friend of the Coughlan family had this to say “Back in the 70’s when we were looking for a council representative, myself and Jim Campbell approached Mary’s father Cathal to see if he was interested. He wouldn’t hear tell of it and told me to talk to Clement. This we did - and the rest is history. The huge contribution that this family has made to people of Donegal South is remarkable. Even though Mary was young when her father Cathal died, we decided that Mary was the best person to represent this constituency - and we were proved right. She is a credit to South West Donegal and the amount that the Coughlan family has achieved for the people is unequalled. I would like to congratulate Mary on her 20 years in the Dail and look forward to celebrating many more years to come with her.”
The celebrations went on to the early hours of the morning with food prepared and served by Pauric and Kieran Kennedy from ‘EAT’ washed down with a few beverages from Brendan O’Neill. Then it was on to the floor for dancing to the music of Eamon Brogan.