In July, fresh out of the sweltering heat of Abu Dhabi a hardy bunch of Middle Easterners headed down to the Longford Arms Hotel in the deepest Midlands on a mission to find out what these Longford folk are like in their natural environment.

For some of us it was a voyage into the unknown, as carloads of intrepid craic seekers got lost in the sunny Meath countryside...on the way from Mayo, while others negotiated crossings of the Shannon, despite being on the road from Dublin!

It all proved to be very...amm.. interesting, but the welcome we received from the Longford crew made it all worthwhile!

After a gutful of sweet Longford Nectar we were ushered into the function room for a fine feed. Donie was obviously very happy with his chips while Big Tom McElligott tucked into his last meal before a staple diet of Parrot and Monkey intestines in the Phillippines.

Martin Skelley welcomed us to his patch with some very generous words about the trip to Abu Dhabi in March...we knew then that we were in for a long night...

In the abscence of the Padges, Brady and Davis, both in hibernation prior to Fr. Manning Gaels forthcoming match, it was left up to Paul 'Buddha' Ross to speak on behalf of the team...and well spoken it was too.

Johnny Rea, despite his numerous protests of shyness, was eventually coaxed into taking the stage...and of course yet another rendition of the 'one half crown'...

...which continued on into the foyer

 

and impressed the ladies no end!
Declan, meanwhile was seen to be seriously considering giving us a few steps as Sean Delaney lashed out another mighty Tipp song...
However, getting on into the wee small hours we found the first of the casualties ...who else but Moro... (no doubt DREAMING of Mayo's greatness) so we carried on without him, as usual!!
Go raibh maith agaibh do gach duine i gcontae na Longfort...we really appreciated our night with ye all