Forty fully-vaccinated RKIDs gathered at the O’Brien’s this year for the annual Christmas party. The house rocked with chatter, music, laughter, gift-giving, singing, entertainment, Roger's Irish Coffee (his donation) and desserts, carefully selected by Kathy and Marilyn O. A musical highlight was Chuck and his backup singers delighting the crowd with his witty version of Happy Xmas/War is Over, entitled "A Covidstmas Carol;" click here to view the video. Then Willie soared up and down the scales with his yearly rendition of Oh Holy Night, We Three Kings of Orient Are, and Good King Wenceslas; followed by David D and Toni’s  three lovely tunes on the tin whistle and accordion. All of this was bookended by David M and Kathy playing and singing one delightful Christmas Carol after another. Although we missed having a potluck this year, the desserts went over big – especially the carrot cake! Many people helped to make the evening special, but a BIG shout out goes to Obie for all his work decorating the house inside and out, displaying his trains, arranging for the musicians, and organizing the group caroling. Bill added "Marilyn did her indispensable dramatic reading of The Night Before Christmas, and as always, handily organized much of the event."

Best wishes to all for a very happy holiday season.

Just send out the word, and they will come! Marie V, our Director of Monthly Meals, took us to Lahinch Tavern and Grill on a crisp winter evening during the holiday season. The RKIDs had not been there in quite a while so we were shocked by all the construction at the shopping center. The huge parking lot next to Lahinch is gone and filled up with condos. But that didn’t interfere with the good times had by Dan O’C, Kate, Barb, Marilyn O, Linda, Emmett, Jack, Obie, Jim Ca, Christine, and Marie V. Thanks go out to Marie for planning a fun outing to an Irish pub. Stay tuned for details about our outing in January.

Twenty-Two RKIDs gathered around the cool glow of their monitors to watch the fish-out-of-water movie Fisherman's Friends. Set in Cornwall in England, Fisherman's Friends captures the charm of a tightly-knit community populated by gruff, comedic, and always-on-key strong-voiced men and women. A newcomer in town, a big city song producer, tries to bring the local fishermen's sea shanties to a wider audience despite incredulity from his colleagues. Cheering them on and singing along were Jack, Roger, Chuck, Maureen Kn, Christine, Connie, Barb, Jim Ca., Kevin, Liz, Dan and Nan Moore, Robin, Emmett, Kate, Dan O'C, Kathryn, Maura, Michelle, Marilyn O., Maddy and Bill. It was a double feature, and Chuck's "A Covidstmas Carol," mentioned earlier in this edition of Blarney, got an encore airing to the glee of all.

The First Saturday Brunch is back in full-swing. Maddy, Bill, Michelle, Kathryn, Marilyn O, Sonja, Tom, and Marie V chatted away at the Woodside Deli on Dec. 4^th. NOTE: January’s Brunch will be on the second Saturday of the month, that is, Jan. 8, 2022. Same time – 10am – at the same place. News Flash: we will also begin another tradition of meeting for brunch at the Village Green in Gaithersburg on Saturday Jan 22 (after that it will be on the third Saturday). More details will be coming out soon — check the website for more information.

SAVE THE DATE: April 23, 2022. At long last, since we couldn't do it last year for the 30^th, the RKIDs will celebrate our 31^st  anniversary at the Old Carriage House in Emmitsburg, Maryland. It will be an afternoon event, with a luncheon, live band, and more. Mark your calendars now; details will be coming soon.