Linda Stewart, Liam O''''''''Donnell, Stanley Dill,James McGee,John McLauglin,Magaret Anne O''''''''Reilly,Susan O''''''''Donnell, Marian Dill, Ursula McGee, Catherine McLaughlin

A great night was had by all in McNamara's Hotel, Moville at the end of August to host a surprise party for the Glenveagh collection drivers – Liam O’Donnell, James McGee and Stanley Dill to mark the occasion of Liam and James’ retirement!

The night was superbly organised by Shaun McGonagle, Joanne McGonagle and Sean Kelly and sponsored by the Donegal Growers.  (We believe Paul McDermott provided the top quality mushrooms for the starters).  

Monaghan Mushroom growers, McGeary growers and Hughes growers were in attendance and all had their stories to tell of the boys.

Before the meal, Shaun McGonagle conducted a survey of what faults they had with the 3 drivers and they all had the same answer that they came too early!  After speaking to James’s wife, Ursula, she confirmed that James had been coming early for years but, ‘after tonight, he wont be coming at all’.

Many stories were recounted on the night.  There was Paul who had 2 pallets of value pack product but he rang James McGee instead of Liam O’Donnell to collect them as he knew Liam would re-christen him for his ability to grow mushrooms “for the captains table”.
Then there was Henry who tried to play a trick on James by putting a rotten crab underneath the seat in the cab of James lorry.

However that night, James and Stanley unknowingly swapped lorries in Monaghan.  Stanley now had the lorry with the dead crab.  It was in the middle of winter and the weather was cold.  For 3 days, Stanley drove around with the heat on full, the big coat and the windows dully open, not able to figure out where the smell was coming from.

As usual, James came up smelling of roses and Stanley of crabs!  Apparently the only grower ever to get the better of James McGee was Gerry McColgan as told so eloquently in his speech.  James was collecting Gerry’s mushrooms and the phone rang.  (It was Margaret Anne looking for James, most likely to find out when he’d be in the Packhouse).  Gerry told James that it was Henry McLaughlin for him, to come back again for more mushrooms.  James lifted the phone and answered with some choice words. For once, James got red and had some explaining to do to Margaret Anne!

A video was made on the night and a photographer present to record the proceedings.  Speeches were made by Shaun McGonagle, Margaret Anne O’Reilly, Liam O’Donnell, James McGee and Stanley Dill.  

Beautiful presentations were also made as an acknowledgement for their services.
In his concluding speech, Shaun McGonagle said that it was sad to be losing Liam and James and they were more than drivers i.e. they were agony aunts as well.

When the growers scolded, the drivers listened!  Shaun also paid tribute to Maggie Anne‘for keeping the growers on their right track’ and to Ronnie Wilson – ‘for if it was not for him we would not be here tonight’.

The night ended in the wee small hours in Tul na Ri nightclub in Carndonagh.

Everyone wishes Liam and James all the best for their future and to Stanley who is going to be around for some time to come.


Farewell Party for the Glenveagh Lorry Drivers

At the presentation in McNamara’s Hotel, Moville.

Photo 1
Back (left to right) Linda Stewart, grower Carndonagh, Liam O’Donnell, Driver, Stanley Dill, driver, James McGee, driver and John McLaughlin, grower Carndonagh.

Front (left to right) Margaret Anne O’Reilly, Monaghan Mushrooms, Susan O’Donnell, Marian Dill, Ursula McGee and Catherine McLaughlin, grower Carndonagh.
Photo 2 “The Donegal Mushroom Men”

Back (left to right) Paul McDermott, Neil Doherty, Henry McLaughlin, Oliver Donagley, Dan Coyle, John McLaughlin, Ronnie Stewart, Sean Kelly and Anthony Mullan.

Front (left to right) Shaun McGonagle, Charlie McLaughlin, Liam O’Donnell, Stanley Dill, James McGee, Gerry McColgan and James McLaughlin.