There was always the chance that Tirconaill Tribune editor John McAteer might have turned on his heels and walked back out the door.
He could well have mumbled something about ‘never liking surprises’ as he stomped back down the stairs.
That very scenario was discussed in advance by those who organised a surprise 80th birthday for the Fanad man at the Tribune offices in Milford yesterday.
The smell of freshly-baked scones and cakes wafting down the stairs of the Tribune offices courtesy of Agnes Diver might have given the game away.
But the surprise held strong as John strolled in clutching two cups of tea and a look of shock that he was the one making the news today.
Inside the first floor offices was a host of faces waiting to greet and congratulate a man who looks about as far from 80 years as any octogenarian could.
Fr John Joe Duffy, Pat the Cope Gallagher, Councillors Michael McCafferty, Ciaran Brogan, Pauric McGarvey, Liam Blaney, businessman Noel McGinley, Doreen Sheridan-Kennedy, Eimer Friel, election candidate John McNulty, former county councillors Brendan Byrne and Ian McGarvey as well as a host of local media colleagues and friends.
Some took the opportunity to pay tribute to John and thank him personally for all he had done for them and for the local community.
The latest edition of the Tribune comes rolling off the press.
How himself, Francis Diver and the staff of the Tribune had given a voice to so many who otherwise would not have had a voice in the local community.
Others spoke of being able to pick up the phone at any time of the day or night and ‘run something by John” or ‘ask him for a bit of advice.’
The man himself sat in a chair, quieter than normal and not used to hearing plaudits thrown his way.
In front of him sat a black and white birthday cake which was more than apt considering the colour grey does not exist in John McAteer’s world where everything is simply black or white.
John himself thanked everyone for their kind words but bemoaned the fact that Ireland is not the community-driven country it once was.
Birthday cards were opened, more tea was poured while all the time the sound of the printing press rolled on out the back churning out the latest edition under the watchful eye of printer Jerry Carlin.
Like the newspaper that he and Francis first created more than three decades ago, John shows no signs of easing up.
There will come a day but until then we should celebrate a unique chapter of Donegal life.
Many, many happy returns John.
