ON Friday night we headed for the Rugby Club where a fantastic 21st birthday party was taking place for Ronan Donnelly from Blackrock. There to make sure he had a great night were his parents Aidan and Marie-Louise, sister Ciara and a huge collection of relations and friends.

I wasn't too long in the door when I caught up with Tom Reilly from Carrick Road who was there with Jennifer Hyde from Galway who told me they were up for making the best of the night with their friend Ronan.

Next I headed over for a chat with three lovely ladies who were Martha McLoughlin and Rachel Beirne both from Blackrock and Jessica Kerr from Ardee and they told me that they are neighbours and best friends of Ronan's and Rachel told me she was really looking forward to getting the first of Ronan's 21 birthday kisses!

I then caught up with another two ladies who were looking exceptionally well whom I'd met the previous week at Kim Arthur's 21st in Riva and they were Caoimhe Malone and Claire Beattie both from Blackrock who were with Christine McDonnell from Blackrock who told me they all know Ronan from 'the Rock' and were up for a major night of celebrations with him.

After this I headed over for a chat with Neil McLoughlin and Hugh Muckian both from Blackrock who told me they are long time friends of the family and were looking forward to a good night with Aidan and Marie-Louise.

Next I headed over for a chat with a couple of ladies whom I would describe as some very young mothers and they were Donna McLoughlin, Eva Beirne and Mary-Rose Muckian from Blackrock who were in good form and I was very surprised to see Eva getting a night off from the Fairways, although there was a rumour that that they were going to heading back there for a late one afterwards!

Making my way through the crowds I then caught up with a bunch of lads who included Jeremy Piven from Donnybrook, Lance Caulfield from Blackrock and Ronan's cousin Dermot Radcliff who was over from Northampton especially for the bash and these boys were on for a major party.

After this I was lucky enough to meet up with Ronan's sister Ciara Donnelly from Blackrock and she said that she was with Rachel and Martha whom I'd met earlier, Avril Caulfield from Galway, cousin Jennifer Connell from Dublin and boyfriend Owen Fennell from Dublin who assured me it was going to be a totally massive night.

Heading for yet another table I then had the pleasure of talking to Bernie Carroll from Bellurgan, Gilly DeLoughry from Clogherhead, Charlotte Flood from Drogheda and Helen McGarry from Termonfeckin who told me they are all ex school mates from the Grammar School and were really looking forward to a major night of fun.

I then headed over for a chat with two ladies who weren't too long in the door, or had forgotten to take their coats off, they were Maria Kerr and Marielou Brennan both from Blackrock who told me they were there with their respective husbands John and Barry and the ladies told me they are close friends of the family and were delighted to be there.

Making my way through the crowds I caught up with Paul Shannahan from Blackrock and Frank McArdle from Hackballscross who told me they too are friends from the Grammar and assured me it was going to be a mad one because they were both 'full of Fanta'!

Meanwhile up near the bar I then got talking to Stephen Beirne from Blackrock who was there with Jessica Kerr from Ardee and Stephen told me that many people think that he is actually Ronan's twin!

After this I headed over for a word with Sean McArdle from Culhane Street who is home from Reutlingen in Germany where he is at college and was delighted to be home for Ronan's big bash. He told me Ronan is in his final year in DCU doing business studies and was up for a mad one with his friend.

Meanwhile, I caught up with a bunch of lads who were having a great laugh together and they were Ciaran Herr from Blackrock, Garreth O'Hanlon from Ard Easmuinn and Peter McGuinness from Blackrock. Ciaran and Peter were with their wives Bernie and Kathryn and the lads told me to head over for a chat with Chris O'Hanlon from Blackrock and Riann Vorster from Dromiskin who told me they are family friends and up for a good laugh with Aidan and Marie-Louise.

Just in the door when I met them were Barry White, Conor Hackett and Greg Phillips all from Blackrock who couldn't wait to get in and get going and told me they party was only starting now that they had arrived!

They were joined by Paul Mernagh, Darren McArdle and Austin Nevin all from Blackrock who told me that it was going to be a massive night for certain.

Finally, before we departed I caught up with Sean Kelly from O'Hanlon Park, Niall Donnelly from Laurelbrook Gardens, cousin Richie Clarke from Greenacres and Ciaran Sheridan from Knockbridge who were only in the door and were in form for a major party with Ronan.