Up to 900 show support for Midland Amenity Park plan

A success all round is the verdict after the fundraising concert for the Midland Amenity Park which was held on Monday night in the Mc Cormack Hall in Athlone. The decision to host the concert in Athlone was vindicated as the crowd was far in excess of anything that could have been hosted in Moate. An estimated 900 people turned up on the night and were treated to a great evening of music and entertainment. Tom Curtin filled us in on the background of the performers as we progressed through the show. The dancers from the Concannon/Ganley school of dancing started the evening off with a wonderful pageant style dance routine representing two rival gangs confronting each other, building up to a crescendo as the high kicking hard shoes were aimed across the stage. Some of the high kicks looked very close to making damaging contact with the opposition dancers. A great routine which would have benefitted from a less confined dance area. The confined area was due to the array of gear on the stage belonging to The Conquerors, the band fronted by Coosan native Lorraine McDonald, now an adopted Moate woman. The Conquerors deserve great credit, not only for their own set which was highlighted by the Nancy Sinatra hit 'These Boots Were Made for Walking' but also for playing the music from start to finish for every artist that appeared on the night. That is a four-hour stretch with a short break at the interval. Lorraine, Frankie Colohan, Tony Maher, Paul Vignoles and James Blennerhasset (without his double bass) deserve great credit for their contribution to the success of the evening. A special medal should be struck for Lorraine who was standing for the duration - in high heels! The audience, bolstered by a large contingent over from Longford, helped the evening along as they showed a great willingness to sing along with the artists and a great familiarity with their work. Moate native Ray Lynam played a selection of his greatest hits and with the audience as his backing singers turned back the clock for many of those present. It was surprising to see some of the younger members of the audience singing along to 'Gypsy Joe and Me' the oldest of the hits Ray played on the evening. Ray and Philomena Begley are joining Mike Denver on tour in the New Year which will be something for us to look forward to. Tony Allen always appeals with his very soft gentle voice leading the audience in a medley which included favourites like Maggie and Bunch of Thyme. The man in the white suit Mike Denver showed us why he has been such a success with a performance which suggested many of the audience were there to see him play. From the moment he arrived on stage singing the Galway Girl until he left us with the country style sad story of Paddy, Mike Denver had the audience in the palm of his hand. Nathan Carter, a Liverpool born Donegal resident brought the first half to a close with a lively mix that ranged from Charlie Landsborough to Status Quo. He also led the audience in a very popular version of Country Roads. Robert Mizzell opened the second half of the show and told us all about his foster mother Mama Courtney. Lorraine Mc Donald joined him for Today I Started Loving You Again before he finished off with the lively Say You Love Me. Declan Nerney, on his way home from an English tour was as lively and entertaining as we would expect, the energy just seems to ooze from this man who has that instantly recognisable voice, loved by people everywhere he plays. He could also have pursued a career as a comedian if the humour took him. The Longford contingents were right behind their man as he was the chorus leader on Stop the World and Let Me Off. Rosie Flanagan, another Moate native now exiled in Ballycumber, gets better every time I see her perform. Rosie sang some songs from her new album which sounded like they are American country in style; some a bit like Shania Twain. Carlow man Derek Ryan included the self penned Gods Plan in his set as he continues to win new admirers wherever he plays. Committee member and neighbour Tom Allen showed us that there is only one Irish artist who can control 'The Hat', the twirl is a move exclusive to TR and as the audience sang It's Hard to Be Humble we marvelled at the way he managed to have almost nine hundred people swaying together with total strangers holding hands as if they knew each other all their lives. The Story That I tell you is True has brought a fresh impetus to TR and with 21 Acres of Land we were left in no doubt as to where TR is from. The organisers also took the opportunity to update the audience on the progress to date and Martin Murray outlined the history of the project to date. The www.midlandsamenitypark.com is under construction and if nights like last night are anything to go by, this project will reach fruition on schedule and in pristine condition.