Martin pictured with his sisters Kay (Templemore), Bridie (Australia), Josephine (Brixton), Carmel (Bexley-Heath), Geraldine (Navan), Anne (Templemore).

Martin celebrates 80th birthday

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A great night of celebration and reminiscing took place in the Templemore Arms last Saturday night as Martin Sweeney toasted his 80th birthday.

Friends and family travelled from near and far for the occasion with a fine crowd filling the ballroom. There was a great spread of food and plenty of music as family relations met, some for the first time in years.

Martin is the sixth of 11 children born to Jerry and Biddy Sweeney. The first five and the last five were all female. There’s not too many families with one boy and ten girls.

Six of his sisters were with him on Saturday with Bridie travelling from Australia, Josephine and Carmel from England, Geraldine from Navan while Kay and Anne are in Templemore. Margaret and Lily both live in Essex and didn’t make the trip but were well represented by family members.

Sadly, two of Martin’s sisters, Mai and Teresa, are deceased.

There was a great buzz around the Sweeney family home on Marian Road all weekend and as they headed back home on Monday and Tuesday, they all left Templemore with memories that will last a lifetime. Looking forward to the 90th!

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