Huddle Up Errigal 2017

I’m in good form today.

That’s because of last night.

I was the final part of the Huddle Up Errigal (HUE) week end.

This year it was hosted in the Gweedore Bar in An Fál Carrach.

In a world of Irish themed bars, this place doesn’t much more authentic.

Just like at the footie I got there seriously early.

I was enjoying the food on offer when I reminded the owner John of something that might have slipped his mind.

Tá do fuinneoga d’aois agam!

He was happy to learn that is old single glazed teak windows were happily living out their retirement in my porch!

In fairness, they’ve got a mighty view of the Derryveagh Mountains

The old porch at my place just wasn’t fit for purpose and one of the problems was the tiny window.

So John’s old windows were just the job.

They were going on a skip otherwise, so we built the place to fit the unwanted windows.

For the avoidance of doubt, I had serious craic building the place with a couple of neighbours and friends.

That must be over twenty years ago.

It was very Donegal.

In one sense remembering my porch summed up what HUE is about.

This county still has the spirit of the meitheal and, in a sense that was the driving force to set up Celtic FC.

I was happy to learn that there were more people on Donegal’s highest mountain last Saturday than on the same day the year before.

I can see this event growing and growing.

This year I had an article in the HUE brochure.

It was about the 50^th anniversary of Lisbon and what it meant to my 50 year old scarf…

Before I was on stage (Jaysus) the organisers had a pressie for me.

Wee Jay and his Da couldn’t stay for the vent so this was left for me.

Signed by the man himself, that’ll do me.

I’ll treasure it.

It is now on the desk beside a picture of my trio.

I was meant to be on Errigal with the HUE folk on Saturday, but Number One Daughter and Rusty had other ideas.

I was told that I HAD to drive them to the beach.

There wasn’t any point in putting up even token resistance.

I obeyed.

So I missed out on the highest Huddle in Donegal, but for the best of reasons.

However, bhliain seo chugainn.

Promise.

The Q& A, from my perspective, was mighty.

As with these events, it is driven by the questions although you are allowed to editorialise a bit.

There wasn’t anyone among the crowd who didn’t agree with my modest contention that the club we all love could be on the cusp of something very very special under Brendan Rodgers.

I took part in the HUE last year and I intend to do so again next year.

It seems to that HUE encapsulates several things that define Celtic; a sense of Irishness and an impulse to help others through charitable works.

So fair play to John Joe and the crew.

I hope that HUE becomes an essential date in the diary of many in the wider Celtic family, especially for those who haven’t visited this rather special part of Ireland.