Fun day honours John’s memory

Howard Muray, Rathfriland Footbal Club Chairman, welcomes Mrs Elizabeth Ingram, wife of the Late John Ingram, a Founding member and Chairman of the for over 35 years, to the sixth annual John Ingram Memorial Funday at Iveagh Park, Rathfriland. Looking on is John Annett, club treasurer and event organiser. © Photo: Gary Gardiner. IN BL WK 2514-510.

It was the day when hundreds of men, women and children from all sections of the community attended the sixth John Ingram Memorial Funday at Rathfriland FC.

The festivities got underway at 12.30pm with the junior football competitions with Damolly FC finishing winners of the under 8s, Rathfriland winning the under 11s section and Annalong Rovers winning the under 13 competition.

Liz Ingram, wife of former Chairman John Ingram, presented medals to all the competing teams and the trophies to the winners of the different age groups.

A 30 foot high slide, a bouncing disco, bouncy castles were thoroughly enjoyed by all the children while other activities such as face painting, nail painting and helium balloons were also very popular. The Club would like to say a big thank-you to Mrs O’Hare, Jenna Louise Liggott and Kathy Wilson.

Any money raised through the face painting is being donated through Danielle Megaw to a breast cancer charity. Danielle is allowing her flowing locks to be cut off for the cause.

The penalty kick, won by Aaron Monaghan, sports games and the Fire and Rescue Service were also extremely well attended.

The interesting part of the afternoon came when the children’s tractor race took place. This was the first time this has been held at the fun day but it certainly went down a treat with all the children and maybe more so the parents!

The last part of the evening saw various committee members, youth committee members and other old hands in a five a side set of matches.

Various refreshments of tea / coffee, sweet stalls were on offer with the barbecue fired up from lunch to 6pm.

The club would like to thank the referees Stevie Branighan, Mark Ingram, Michael O’Kane, Trevor Weir and Alan Wilson, as well as Rathfriland FC youth chairman Lindsay Bronte for overseeing the junior soccer at the fun day.

Whilst all children were free into the event, the £3 entry fee and any other donations will make for a fabulous donation to Southern Area Hospice and also the Fight on Campaign for Seanin.

This cross community fun day was a fitting way of honouring John’s memory.

John Ingram may be gone but he is certainly not forgotten.