Town's vintners celebrate 40 years of fundraising

Forty years ago, the publicans of Navan came together for the first time for a formal annual ball, as a social event where they could relax and take a break from the stress of running a busy pub around the clock. Around the same time, local parish administrator, Fr Andy Farrell, was setting up Meals-on-Wheels in the town, and the publicans decided that the proceeds of their first vintners' ball would go towards the new charity. The instigator of the ball was the late John Reilly, then proprietor of what is now Clem's at Watergate Street, and this year marks the 40th anniversary of that first black tie affair in 1972. Meals-on-Wheels have been benefiting from the annual publicans' outing ever since. It is normally held on a Shrove Tuesday, the night before the traditional 40 days and 40 nights of fast and abstinence for Lent. The original committee which organised that first ball was chairman, John Reilly, along with Willie Finnegan, Willie Curry as secretary, John Smyth, Dessie Brady, Paddy Fitzsimons, Jim Kearney and Joe Smyth. Others involved were Gerry Keenan, Barney Reilly and John Slevin. Finnegan's was on Ludlow Street, while Dessie Brady's pub was on Railway Street where O'Flaherty's is now. Jim Kearney, a former Meath footballer, owned Fulham's, and Curry's is now Everard's. Barney Reilly's is now Mick Ryan's on Trimgate Street. The Smyth and Fitzsimons families are well-known town publican families, and many other pub-owners from around the town joined the committee over the years. Publicans from outside of Navan support and attend the event, which was held for the first decade in Cabra Castle, Kingscourt, before returning to Navan and the Ardboyne Hotel. Paddy Cole was a favourite entertainer over the years. Many drinks companies and suppliers sponsor prizes and costs associated with the event. The Church of Ireland has also benefited from the fundraising over the years.