Old friends gather to mark 102nd birthday

Date Published: 12-Dec-2008

POET Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill’s phrase ‘cornucopia na h-aoise’ was an appropriate one in describing the celebration for Dodo Courtney last Saturday — it was also the inscription on the silver medallion presented by President Mary McAleese to Dodo to mark her 102nd birthday.
There was more to Dodo Courtney’s birthday party than its number of years, much more to celebrate.
Her fingers no longer work the magic of the piano’s ivories. Pupils are not queuing up. But as Dodo reached 102, the memories of her lessons still inspire those whose pleasure it was to discover music’s delights with her.