Athlone couple celebrates 60th anniversary

Athlone couple Jimmy and Florrie Cribbon celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary recently.

James (Jimmy), ex-military police, a native of Athlone, and Florrie Cunningham, a native of Mount Temple, Moate, were married at 8am on 31st July 1961, in St Mary’s Church Athlone, and celebrated their wedding breakfast afterwards in the Royal Hoey hotel. Weddings then were an early morning event.

Jimmy from St Anne’s Tce, Athlone, where the couple still resides, met Florrie through a mutual friend, Marie Rushe. Jimmy then worked in Gentex, and Florrie in the Woollen Mills Athlone. Jimmy and Florrie have seven children, Katrina, Joseph, Colm, Gwen, Florence, Niall and Imelda, all still residing in Ireland.

The couple, who are well known in Athlone, were also known across the country as they attended Irish ceili dancing sessions until recently, their favourite pastime.

The couple recently hung up their dancing shoes as they both reach the proud age of 84.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the anniversary celebrations had to be limited to remain COVID compliant, but it didn’t curtail the couple’s enjoyment in celebrating this milestone anniversary, and they had a wonderful evening.

Best wishes to Jimmy and Florrie, every health and happiness for many more anniversaries to come.