A NECESSARY port of call on Friday night was The Garden in Park Street where a joint 21st birthday party was taking place for cousins Aine and Aoife Quigley from Ravensdale.

There to make sure they had an epic experience were Aine's parents Marie and Jimmy, sisters Sarah and Elaine and brother David; while Aoife was with parents Briege and John, brother Shane and sisters Adele and Sorcha. Aoife was with boyfriend Alan Mccarrick from Dublin, but unfortunately Aine's main squeeze Scott Brogan couldn't make it over from Glasgow for the monster bash.

I got talking to Aine's mum Marie who told me that, unfortunately, Aine's sister Michelle couldn't make it on the night because she has been over in New Zealand working as a teacher for the last six years. But when both cousins were getting ready earlier in the day, Michelle, their godmother, had Skyped them to wish them all the best on their big night and tell them she was looking forward to seeing them when she gets home in June.

I met Shauna Crilly from Ravensdale, who told me she has known Aoife since they were babies, before I then got talking to Barry O'donoghue from Willow Grove, who was having a laugh with Jordan Henderson from Quay Street and Robbie Murphy from Avenue Road who told me they are all old schoolmates of the girls.

Making my way through the crowds, I then met up with Fiona Larkin from Ravensdale who was having a time of it with Bridie and Sean Quigley and Nicky Loughran, all from Ravensdale, who told me they are all family friends.

Not too far away, I then got talking to Adele Duffy from Ravensdale who was with Laura Green from Benagh, who told me they work with Aoife in Fitzpatrick's. After this, I caught up with family friends Angela and Malcolm Begley from Mountpleasant, who wanted to wish Aoife and Aine a very happy 21st.

I then got a quick word with Mairead and Yvonne Quigley from Inniskeen, who wanted to wish their cousins a very happy birthday, and not too long later I caught up with Aoife's dad John who told me he was with Briege and good family friend Ann Flynn from Rockmarshall before assuring me it was going to be a cracking night.

After this, I headed over for a word with cousin Briege and Martin Quigley from Kilkerley who told me they were having a massive night altogether. Next I met up with Rhona O'hagan from Ravensdale who told me she was there with her brother and his wife, Barry and Ann O'hagan, as well as kids Christopher, Alex and Justin O'hagan, all from Ravensdale.

I then got a word with Jimmy and Paula Renaghan from Ravensdale, who told me they are family friends, and after this I met up with Sean Loughran and Darren Murphy, both from Ravensdale.

Continuing on through the crowds, I bumped into Alison Hanley from Carlow who was with Niamh Kinsella, also from Carlow, and they were with Helen Taylor and Danielle Gamble, both from Antrim, who told me they are all Aine's friends.

Finally I got a word with a group who included school mates from Louth Village Lauren Kieran, Aoife Byrne and Orla O'neill who were with Brian Quigley from Bay Estate and Ann Walsh from Carlow who was being well looked after by Brian and they told me it was a brilliant night so far!