The Blarney Stone Celebrates
35 Years of Making Great Memories
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
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RAY CARTON (former manager at The Blarney Stone), Doug Turner and Sandra Nesbit all enjoying The Blarney Stone's anniversary party.
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ENJOYING the evening at The Blarney Stone's 35th anniversary: (L-R) Shirley Elder, Inge Vicktora (former owner of The Blarney Stone), Donna Prier, Claire Vicktora with Ira and Pat Cleary.
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THE BLARNEY STONE'S 35th Anniversary party turned out to be a great hooley! Old and young mingled on the dance floor as everyone let loose to the music of Killarney.
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DANCERS from the Penk O'Donnell School of Irish Dance: Bronagh Rogan, Christina Perry, Emma Cronin, Lizzy Munroe, Amy Turton.
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INGE VICKTORA and her husband Rudy were the former owners of The Blarney Stone. Inge is shown above with Ed Emerman, the current owner of The Blarney Stone.
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FRONT ROW (L-R) Rita Redpath and Florence Barber (from Coquitlam). Back row (L-R) Meaghan Keough and Sharon Keough.
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GUEST fiddler Angus McKinnon is shown above with John Lynch, John Cronin, Mike Cronin, Terry Boyce, Steve Ford and Marie Cronin of Killarney...the hardest working band in Gastown.
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The Blarney Stone's 35th Anniversary party turned out to be a great hooley! The Blarney Stone in Gastown isn't usually open on Sunday, but on May 20, they opened their doors to celebrate 35 years in Gastown. The Blarney Stone is a great party house and still solid as a rock after all these years.
I arrived early in the evening and owner Ed Emerman said he really didn't know what to expect or who would be coming to relive the glory days. He needn't have worried, by 9 PM the crowd started to arrive. Many looked around in the pub and expressed amazement that the same pictures were still on the walls in the same places as they remembered years gone by.
In many authentic Irish pubs there is usually a great mix of ages and that was the case at The Blarney Stone at the 35th anniversary celebrations. Former owners and managers sat alongside other guests and mingled with the younger crowd, as they all came together with the common purpose of having a great evening.
The Blarney Stone and the fabulous Killarney Showband go together like a horse and carriage...you can't mention one without the other. Many older couples said they first met at The Blarney Stone and reminisced as they danced to the music of Killarney.
Two ladies who had come in from Coquitlam for the celebration were astonished that Killarney hadn't aged a bit. Band member Michael Cronin said that was because they loved playing music to so many young people. In many cases, Killarney played music for their parents, now it's for their children.
Killarney has been the house band at The Blarney Stone for over 20 years now and still counting. You hear about groups like the Police and Credence Clearwater reuniting after so many years apart....Killarney never stopped playing. They could play on stage with their eyes closed they're so tight as a group. It certainly puts the fabulous in Killarney.
Cork-born Pat Cleary and his lovely wife Ira thoroughly enjoyed the evening and also celebrated their own special anniversary. Pat told me that he and Ira met at The Blarney Stone in June 1972. He even showed me the table where he was sitting the night Ira walked in with a group of friends.
Pat said he knew the instant he laid eyes on her that he intended to pursue her. They were married one year later on August 4, 1973.
The younger kids are still working on their memories of The Blarney Stone but at the anniversary celebration all they wanted to do was crowd onto the dance floor and let loose to the music.
Many guests that evening said they hoped that maybe The Blarney Stone would have an annual anniversary party. Are you listening Ed?
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