HELLO again and welcome. It's Panto time again, yes all this week the Town Hall will be packed as locals rush to see Cinderella and what memories it will be bring back.
For me many moons ago I played an ugly sister with my old buddy Bobby Roach who celebrated his 80th birthday last week. My only regret was I didn't get to play the Dame and the Point Panto was blessed with some fantastic people who played the Dame, the last great Gint Moore, the afore mentioned Bobby Roach, Black Mick Hughes, and probably the greatest of all the late Brian Mugsy Gallagher. I can still hear him singing Mandolin in the Moonlight.
Over the last couple of years the Point Panto broke with tradition and have had a female playing the Dame, the absolutely brilliant Mary Grant from Hilltown. She had a bit of trouble getting a work permit, a visa and a passport, but she's legal now. I'm looking forward to seeing the show, every year the props and scenery crew led by Andre Quinn have some spectacular effects, no doubt this year will be no different.
As I write this the Hillsborough debate is still in full swing, it got me thinking about songs for Ulster; Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now by Martin McGuinness and Peter Robinson, We Don't Talk Anymore Danny Kennedy and the Ulster Unionist Choir; I Hear You Knocking But You Can't Come In by Mark Durkin and SDLP and I Will Survive by Ian Paisley Jun.
Over the last few weeks I've been doing concerts for Haiti in Cookstown, Belfast, Portadown and Dundalk and I'm delighted to tell you the council are giving me a Civic Award for my services to local charities.
I've been Lord Mayor for the Gateway Club, sat in a cage for Concern and told jokes for the Hospice to name a few, I'm delighted but without the generosity of the people of Newry and Mourne it would be an impossible task, so many thanks.
Till next week, take care and God Bless.