The legendary Robbie McMahon celebrated his 85th birthday onSunday last Dec 11th. A celebratory singing session was held in Duggans Pub Spancilhill, home to Robbie's monthly singing session on the first Friday of every month.

Over 40 singers/storytellers turned up to join the great man and 68 songs/stories were performed. The night of course would not have been complete without Robbie, who is still in marvellous voice, snging all 11 verses of Spancilhill.

On the night Robbie got to hear some of his own compositions sung by others for a change as a way to honour his great contribution to singing. This included Mick Hackett singing The Red Cross Social written about the 1954 Christmas Social for that organisation in Ennis and Mick Scanlan singing The Fleadh Down In Ennis, Robbie's pageant of the the 1956 All Ireland Fleadh Ceoil held in Ennis. Deirdre Scanlan gave a great rendition of The Roaming Fine Jackass a song Robbie picked up on one of his singing travls in Ballinasloe.

Roll on his 90th