ON Friday night we headed for Dealgan House Nursing Home for the very first art exhibition held there by the Dealgan House Art Group who have 10 budding artists amongst their ranks and had 23 exceptional paintings on show on the night.

The work is the culmination of seven months classes held by local artist and teacher Carol Wallace from The Crescent who did outstanding work with some of the artists who were trying their hand for the very first time.

The place was filling up by the time we arrived and the first group I met up with included Dolores Conlon from Dublin Road who was there with her mum Mary Corrigan from Annagassan and sister Pauline Hanks from Blackwater Court and the ladies where very impressed with the art on show and said it was real credit to both the artists and teachers.

Next I caught up with Kathleen Wynne from Vincent Avenue who told me she had four paintings on show and she was sitting with her daughter Doris McKenny and granddaughter Kate McKenny who had travelled up from Castlewellan especially for the exhibition and thought the pieces on show were fantastic and never thought they were capable of such great work.

They were sitting with Anne Mee from Lurgankeel who told me she was very impressed with what she had seen, the painting were exceptional and such talent was on show, she was there to support Mary Muckian from Ardee who is a resident and couldn't make it to the exhibition.

After this I headed over for a chat with Brigid English from Blackrock who told me she had one painting on show and was there with her daughter and son-in-law Breda and Mick Cleary from Haggardstown and Breda told me that a special message of gratitude had to go to Carol Wallace who told me she was just great with her students.

Not too far away I caught up with Cyril and Maura Brown from Mill Street and Maura told me she too had some of her work on show, she told me she had done some painting before with Brigid Traynor but was really enjoying getting back into it.

Heading for another table I then got a word with Bernadette Scully from Ard Easmuinn who told me that she had three pieces on show and had really enjoyed getting back into painting.

She was sitting with Rosemary Byrne from Carrick Road who said that she too had three on show and was really enjoying the classes and the night with everyone there and Philomena Byrne from Carrick Road who told me that she had done three paintings but hadn't had anything on show in this exhibition, there's always the next time Philomena!

Not too long later I got a quick chat with Hilda Kirk from Seatown Place who was there with her aunty Mary McArdle from Kilbroney, Knockbridge who hadn't painted but was there to support all her friends.

I just wondered had she remembered me from all those years ago when I was out on her farm with nephew Robert Matthews picking stones!

After this I headed over for a chat with Josephine Wiseman from Park Avenue who told me she had three of her pieces on show and was very happy with the way they had turned out.

She was there with her son Andrew Wiseman from Jenkinstown who told me he thought the quality of the paintings was absolutely amazing and said age is no barrier when it comes to taking up painting.

Next the speeches took place and afterwards I got talking to Lena and Joe McCreesh and Roisin Downey from Forkhill who told me they are friends of manager Nora Byrne and they told me what they had seen was very creative and very colourful.

I then headed over for a word with Catherine and Edward McCrave from Pearse Park who were there with Aine and Anton Hande from Upper Faughart who were there to support Catriona Hande who is one of the main organisers in Dealgan House.

After this I headed over for a chat with Joe McGinnity from Blackrock who told me he was there to support the night and was really enjoying it.

Just arrived in was Tony Hande from Upper Faughart who joined his kids Anton and Aine and was also there to support his wife Catriona on such a really great night. He told me he was on for getting the cheque book out for some of the great work on show.

After this I headed over for a chat with Tess Reynolds from Yellowbatter in Drogheda who told me she was very impressed with the exhibition and it was a credit to all the artists.

Beside her was Kathleen Duffy from Littlemills who told me she hadn't taken part in the class, but was going to be starting painting when the next classes were on!

I then caught up with three sisters Frances Cullen from Fatima Court, Silvia McClenaghan from Oaklawns and Annie McArdle from Cluan Enda who were there with their brother Jack Fitzgerald from Oaklawns and were delighted with the turn out and the quality of the work on show for their first exhibition.

Also enjoying the night was Vivian Englishby from Louth Village.

Finally, before we departed I caught up with owner Tom Byrne and Fintan Farrell and Tom told me he thought the exhibition was very good and was a real credit to the artists and to Carol for all her great work.