Johnstown couple's 65th wedding anniversary

Congratulations to PJ and Teresa McEvilly, Johnstown, Cornafulla, Athlone, on celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary over the weekend. Known as the Blue Sapphire Anniversary, this is a rare and significant milestone.

The occasion was marked with the celebration of a Mass of Thanksgiving at their home, at which the chief celebrant was Rev Fr Micheal McManus, PP Kiltoom, and nephew of Teresa. The couple were joined by their family of seven: Mary (Galway), Sr Helena (UK), Brona (Galway), Noel (Surrey), Pat (USA), Martin (East Yorkshire) and Sean (Johnstown), as well as extended family and grandchildren, for a celebratory meal in Ballinasloe on Saturday, January 10

PJ and Teresa (née Downey, Moore) were married in Holy Family Church, Small Heath, Birmingham, on January 9, 1961. They returned to Ireland in 1965 and took up residence in Johnstown.

Both PJ and Teresa have been well-known church and community activists throughout their lives. The community of Drum and surrounding areas takes this opportunity to congratulate them on this unique occasion and wish them many more years of good health and happiness.

PJ and Teresa had family members return from America and England to mark the occasion. Mass was celebrated on Friday and there was a meal on Saturday. It was ironic that the meal was on the day of the big farmers’ demonstration in Athlone, as PJ was among the first to be arrested and taken to Mountjoy prison when protesting farmers blockaded roads in 1967.