Posted online: May 31st, 2011

A night held in memory of a popular Derry man turned out to be one of the hottest tickets in Derry at the weekend.

Mark Kelly, who would have celebrated his 40^th birthday last Thursday, passed away from cancer last November, was honoured by hundreds of friends and family at a ‘Stars in their Eyes’ event held in the Everglades on Friday night.

Mark, who worked at Alec Orr’s motor factors outlet for 15 years, was well-known and much-loved throughout the city – which was reflected in the numbers that turned out to see ten acts, all of which who got into full character for the event to strut their stuff on the night.

Everyone from Jedward and Right Said Fred down to Robbie Williams and even Derry News’s own Ursula Duddy as Karen Carpenter made their way to the stage, knees knocking, to honour the memory of Mark.

Stephen Orr, one of Mark’s best friends, co-worker for 15 years and the man who co-ordinated the night in memory of his much-cherished buddy, said he was delighted how it had turned out.

“It was hard to deal with how quick Mark was taken from us and how sad we all felt; it was impossible to console us, looking back,” he said.

“But Friday night was a celebration of his life and a great night’s craic. It was a testament to him, the amount of people that turned out for him.

“Mark wouldn’t have wanted to have seen any sad faces; he was the first out on the dance floor on a night out and he was always the last off it.

“It really was a fitting tribute for Mark.”