Our first visit to Lurgan proved to be a wonderful experience for The Ramblers, with a fantastic time enjoyed by all. If only the weather had matched the warmth of the welcome we received! A big thank you goes to our enthusiastic hosts, Leonard & Marissa and Seamus & Clare, whose spirited hospitality set the tone for the weekend. Special mention also to Ally & Johnny, whose dedication ensured that Lurgan RFC catered for our every need.
Friday evening kicked things off in traditional style with our much-loved bingo session. Leonard took charge of calling the numbers, bringing particular joy to Yvonne, Eddie & Joe, who were delighted to pick up a little extra spending money for the weekend. This was followed by a lively blend of music and conversation that carried on late into the evening.
Lurgan can sometimes be overlooked as a destination, but we certainly hope that will no longer be the case. The town centre, with its wide, spacious street, offered a relaxed and pleasant shopping experience on Saturday and highlights included Millars shoe shop, where two of our members were spotted treating themselves to matching “His & Hers” Crocs!
Lurgan also boasts a rich history, being the resting place of the legendary greyhound Master McGrath. The town is also home to beautiful historic buildings including Brownlow House, as well as a magnificent park. The second biggest urban park in the whole of Ireland and biggest in NI itself. Beat that Belfast!
It wasn’t just a motorhome invasion this weekend and the park itself was alive with activity for the Lurgan Show. Farming families had come from across the province to gather in the park to display and celebrate breeds such as Jerseys, Charolais, Texels, and the exotically named Zwartbles!
Returning to the club that evening, we discovered that good company and craic is contagious as local club rugby members Johnny & Stephanie had manoeuvred their motorhome into place to join us for the evening. Fitting in perfectly, we all soon settled into the usual routine as Gary played hits right through until last orders and members took a fair few spins round the floor.
By Sunday, and with the backdrop of Lurgan Cricket team taking on Saintfield, the sound of leather on willow was accompanied by applause at coffee morning when Joe led us all in celebrating our hosts and their marvellous weekend efforts. It had been a superb weekend and only goes to prove that while the sunshine can be optional, the craic in the Ramblers is permanent!
The Rambling Writer