“Are you for the Devlin?” – a question posed on countless occasions back in the day. In many ways an unnecessary question because most folk back in old Letterkenny didn’t need to be even asked once.
The Lower Main Street venue was a mecca for entertainment and dancing and for years served as the place to go for a night out on the tiles.
By Paddy Walsh
Many of those who will attend the Letterkenny Reunion next week will have stepped it out there – many indeed hooked up with their respective spouses in the popular hall.
And next Monday with the Reunion in full swing by then, old townies – the young, of course, are also invited! – will pack into the venue for an afternoon of song and dance and memory stirring.
It’s thanks to a small but dedicated committee, led by Paddy Delap, that major refurbishment work has been ongoing for the past few years to bring the Devlin Hall back to its former glories.
“We want to get the Devlin name back out there again and the Reunion afternoon will certainly help in this regard,” says Paddy.
And the line-up of entertainers and performers scheduled to take to the stage on Monday afternoon will do likewise.
Not alone an impressive parade of locals taking part but there are those flying in from abroad, not least of which is that man of voice, Frank O’Hara, who is based in Chicago but has his heart in Letterkenny.
The former lead singer of the Dee Jays Showband emigrated to the States many years ago where he set up a new band.
“It will be great to see and hear Frank performing back in his home town. And we have a brilliant line-up of other entertainers as well,’ says Paddy.
That line-up includes the Tuscany Showband, Evelyn Gallagher, Maria McCormack, Alec and Thomas Black, Raymond McDonald, Dan McAteer, John Douglas, Malcolm Patton, and Rosemary Moore. And a few other surprise guests pencilled into the bill.
The event will coincide with the Reunion Fair Day which itself will draw the crowds. The entertainment in the old hall will start at approximately 3.p.m. running through to 6.p.m.
Admission is free though a donation box will be on hand should patrons want to contribute to the refurbishment plans.
“Are you for the Devlin?”, that question will echo back from over the years. And now it can be answered in the affirmative once again…!
