Hughie Doran

Hughie Doran was and will always remain a legend.
An everyday Santa Claus...armed with his tattered old rucksack and donned in a brown suit with thick glasses a roll up and a peaked cap... Throwing 'no reason' parties ...coca cola,bugs bunny,rolo's and mars bars were his trademark and he would pull the latter out of his jacket pockets to many a child's delight.
I was one of the lucky priveledged few to be touched by his inspiration.
You came to stay at our house in 1965 a close friend of our Dad looking for a place to stay ...
Mam was expecting Michael and it was a bleak time for you as you were gripped by an inner sadness. But you were a rainbow on Lorraine Pam and John's horizon. The sunshine you gleaned from them and Michael's arrival overshadowed your own inner cloud. You began to marvel at the joy of childhood as you witnessed and encouraged Micheal's first teeth, words and steps.
This served to bond you to the Daly family and the children that followed with an emotional and eternal cement. Jason and I followed and your heart grew to accomodate us all.
You had endless enthusiasm and a wealth of knowledge to impart to our tiny inquisitive minds.
You could happily entertain a dozen or more children in an empty garden...all searching for that illusive piece of meteorite stone. Your enthusiasm when brought a lump of dried clay was motivation enough to keep up the search until tea time at least!
If we were to draw you a picture it would be your very own work of art ....and you would bundle it up in that ever famous rucksack to take home to your gallery.
As one by one we grew and flew the nest you brought that same warmth to the next generation they too cherish your memory Hughie...so much so they named one of their own after you.