Chance meeting of Longford neighbours from the 1970s evokes great memories and laughter

A chance meeting of Longford neighbours from the 1970s in a shop in Lanesboro last week evoked great memories and laughter and even gave oxygen to the idea that a ‘Welcome Back Day’ should possibly be held annually in the Shannonside town. 

Back in 1970, Richard Farrelly and his late wife Gerri (2013) and family were residents of 50 The Green, Lanesboro, Co Longford and their next door neighbours in 51 were the late Paddy (2014) and his wife Olive (2012) Keaveney and their family. 

In 1970 the Farrelly’s moved back to their native county Meath and the Keaveney family moved to Elphin in Roscommon in the Spring of 1967.

Cecil Keaveney is a regular visitor to Lanesboro and O'Brien's shop where we always have great chats. Richard Farrelly is also a very regular visitor to Lanesboro where he still has friends from his days working with Bord na Móna and he also puts his boat on the Shannon during the summer.

On Wednesday last Cecil called to the shop for his regular chat and while we were shooting the breeze of old stories and memories I happened to ask him if he recognised the man that walked into the shop. “The face is familiar but I cannot put a name on him” was his response. 

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Who was it only the bould Richard Farrelly who was passing through the town to Roscommon. The conversation really ignited and there was many a memory and stories shared some that created a great deal of laughter.

So many like the pair of lads return to visit our community from time to time and how wonderful it would be if it could be arranged for a particular day every year that we had a ‘Welcome Back Day’ for the huge number of people that for a time in their lives called our community their home and their workplace. 

This is something that Harry Hennessy has been talking about each and every time he makes his regular visits. 

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It would be fabulous to have those in the community and surrounding communities that spent time here working with BnM and ESB to be in the town for a day to remember their co-workers and locals and share the memories with the workers and their families.