For a Few Dollars More - Wider Horizons Autumn 2011 - Clanrye

Tonight was Wider Horizons graduation night. Jude's work, the Irish International Immigrant Center (IIIC), hosted the closing celebrations for the 3rd Wider Horizons program of this year, this time for the Clanrye group which is based in Newry, Co Down.

On the evening before a wee sociable evening was arranged in Emmet's on Beacon Hill. Here, left to right, are: Rachel (Clanrye program Director), Jude, Roisin (Kieran's girlfriend), Kieran, Duffy (Rachel's Fiance) and Marguerite.

Boston blog followers may recognise Rachel and Kieran from previous trips to Boston but they may well also recognise Kieran from Jude's trip home to Ireland in July when they met up in Downpatrick.

Wider Horizons is all about giving young unemployed persons from various backgrounds at home an opportunity to work, live, communicate, socialise and play together in a bid to help build communities at home and also to improve each individual's skills in terms of the work place, confidence building and communications. It is truly a wonderful program and Jude is proud to play a part in it. The closing ceremony is always a fun evening.

This is the sensible version of the opening pic.....just before someone shouted, 'ok, now pull funny faces'.

Here are, left to right: Sister Lena Deevy (Executive Director of IIIC), Jude, Rachel, Ann Marie (IIIC), Erika (IIIC) and Kieran.

Wider Horizons program graduate Daniel Donegan is from Crossmaglen, he's a dab hand at the auld guitar. Here he entertains the audience made up of fellow program participants, host families, host organisations, IIIC staff and Clanrye staff.

Clanrye program supervisor Kieran makes a presentation to Jude.

Just a few weeks before this trip to Boston Duffy proposed to Rachel. Here Kieran presented the pair with a wee bottle of Champagne to celebrate.

Daniel is joined by Michelle for another tune......

......and then by Duffy and Dylan for another.

All the ladies: Helen, Danielle, Ann Marie, Rebecca, Kellie, Michelle, Rachel, Lorna and Nicola.

All the fellas: Back row (L-R): James, Andrew, Dylan, Jude, Denis, Stephen. Front row (L-R): Kieran, Kevin, Niall, Daniel, Gareth, Stephen and Duffy.

Yeahhhhhhh!!!!!!

The whole gang.

Michelle is determined to play well in tomorrow's softball game and she been asking Jude just how is the right way to swing the bat.

Stephen is from Warrenpoint, here he is with Jude.

Rachel insisted on continuing to pull funny faces, here she is clowning around with Ann Marie.

After all the speeches and presentations the tunes really kicked off. Here are Gareth, Stephen and Niall trying their best to boogie (God bless them, they're not very good are they?)

Don't be fooled into thinking that Kieran is pulling a funny face here, this is his normal expression!!

You would think the Clanrye program director would have more sense, but when the helium balloons were doing the rounds Rachel was in there goodo. Here she takes her turn doing a squeaky voice......

........and then giggling away with Roisin. Little amuses the innocent!!

The lads also find this very amusing. Yes it was totally and utterly childish, but it was also hilariously funny.

After the ceremony is over Helen makes her way home with her balloon.

The final social activity for the group was a game of softball (other activities include such things as visiting a Mosque, Six Flags theme park, evening at Cheers, visiting New York, etc).

Here Michelle, Rachel, Nicola and Helen pull a cool pose.

Gareth and Nicola look as if they mean business with the face paint on. They were on the Boston Blue Sharks team.

Jude skips the face paint and just focuses on striking out a few of those pesky Boston Blue Shark batters.

Duffy is also focussed. Here he is trying to nail a hit.

As you can see the weather in October was beautiful this year, it was like summer went all the way through.......it was just magic!

Stephen, Kevin and Helen put their best foot forward. This was thirsty work today so it was just as well someone brought a few diet Dr Pepper's.

Kevin's from Cavan and he was mighty craic for the whole time the group were here.

Rachel scores a run in fantastic (and brave) fashion as she slides into home plate. That's Jude's hand reaching out there to help her up again.

'What's that Kieran, whadda ya say, what's the score, ahh sure we're stuffing ye, aye wise up, you lot are useless', Jude has a conversation with Kieran who was standing at 3rd base.

'We'll see about that', replied Rachel. Before long the Blue Sharks had pulled back and tied the score at 13-13 entering the final inning.

Unbelievably it was around this stage of the game that Rachel offered Jude a bribe to throw the match. Yes, a bribe. It was for a few dollars, but it was such a measly offer Jude turned it down. He was heard mumbling, 'nothing less than 2 grand would make me throw this game'. Basically that put an end to the conversation. Imagine, despicable behaviour that was by the Blue Sharks, unbelievable altogether!!!!

Check out Rachel's cool socks though!!!!

'Ok listen up team, here's what we're gonna do to beat these blighters - we'll hit it here, here, here and here, they not know what hit them', rambled Jude.

'Aye sure, dead on Jude, what a complete melter', said Nicola (with the thumbs up).

Stephen tried his best to help the Boston Blue Sharks win but he was also fascinated, and sometimes distracted, by the game of Quidditch (eh yep...as in Harry Potter folks) that had kicked off in the background there. Ye couldn't make this up, seriously.

Meanwhile Gareth is focused on the action as he tried to avoid defeat, until moments later...............

..........when he copped an unfortunate one as a ball popped up and caught him in a rather unfortunate spot. Ahhhh oucchhh!!!!

From this........

.........to this.

'Ye can't win them all (even with a bribe)', said a disappointed Rachel. Helen looks on the bright side.

'Here Stephen, no matter how long you read the score sheets you're still going to find you lost 16-13, get over it like, wind yer neck in', Lorna tells Stephen.

Some folk take defeat harder than others and there are always a good few competitive ones in the Wider Horizons groups and no-one was more competitive this year than Stephen.

Ciaran stuffing his face as per usual.

After the game Jude got his pic taken with Daniel.

Now that is one class top if I ever saw one, superb, magic, brilliant, stunning it is..............oh and I suppose I'd have to say that Daniel's top is cool too!!!!

Stephen has finally accepted the final score and realises he needs to start smiling again as it is the group's last day in Boston. Lorna joins in this pic.

Stephen has been sneeking too many peeks at the Quidditch game and now he wants a go himself.

It's always great to have Ciaran over in Boston, this has been the third year in a row he has been over.

Ciaran is also very competitive and so he always likes to get involved in the games, and of course he enjoys the fun and craic too.

And finally...............back in Emmett's for lovely Irish curry chips and pints, and the gang are all smiles as another successful Wider Horizons program is wound up.

Cheers!!!!!