PICTURES | Surprise guest Declan Nerney makes it a 70th birthday celebration to remember for Longford's Joe Connell

Use the Arrows < > above to go through the gallery

Joe Connell recently celebrated being 70 years of age. Joe is a man who has Downs Syndrome and is a native of Abbeylara.

Longford Leader / Longford Live photographer Shelley Corcoran attended Joe's party and she captured this great gallery of photos. Don't forget to tag and share with any of your friends. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO 

Joe is the youngest of eight children and he lived in his home in Abbeylara until he was 45 years old.

Joe is still a regular visitor to Abbeylara and to his sister Dinah Smith.

In 2001, Joe moved into a HSE Community house in Longford Town where he currently lives with two of his friends.

Joe attends the Sonas Day service with St Christopher’s services on weekdays and he has gained a great number of friends in Sonas over the years.

Joe is a huge country music fan and regularly attends concerts and enjoys playing his bodhrán and mouth organ.

Joe recently celebrated his 70th birthday in The Sin bin, Longford Rugby club. Joe was very pleased to have a surprise guest of local Country Music star Declan Nerney who sang Joe a very happy birthday and everyone’s favourite tune “Stop the World” and Declan kindly posed for many photographs with Joe and his family and friends.

The staff and service users of The HSE and St Christopher’s services and retired staff members all celebrated with Joe.

Two of Joe’s sisters and a brother-in-law travelled over from the UK to help Joe celebrate this special milestone birthday.

We wish Joe a very happy 70th Birthday and would like to thank Declan Nerney, Gary Baker, The Longford Leader, The Sin Bin and all who attended this joyous event.