Ballymote Bridge Club (By Maree O’Dowd

a town the size of Ballymote is no more economically feasible today than it was in the 1960s. The Art Deco operates on a non-profit basis and more as an occasional venue for concerts and plays than as a cinema (as indeed did the Abbey in its day, playing host to Maureen Potter, Jimmy O’Dea and Hal Roache). The only surefire draw, as ever, is that old perennial, Wednesday night bingo, which rarely fails to fill the house.

Farry O (2016), “Winter Page 2” Curlew Editions,Ballinfad.

Reprinted with the kind permission of the author, Oliver Farry and the publisher of “Winter Pages 2” Kevin Barry and Olivia Smith, Curlew Editions

By Maree O’Dowd

‘No matter where I go I can always make new friends at the bridge table’ - Martina Navratilova.

As the Ballymote Bridge Club celebrated its 35th anniversary last autumn it seems an opportune time to recall and record its history.

In September of 1982 a small group of Ballymote ladies attended evening Bridge lessons in the local VEC school given by Mr. Sean Gillen from Sligo. The following winter of 1983 the ladies travelled to Boyle for further instruction. Then, in September of 1984, they decided to set up a club in their own town as travelling over the Curlew mountains on frosty nights no longer appealed to them. Thanks to the strenuous work of Mary O’Connor, some local experienced players were persuaded to join the fledgling group and so Ballymote Bridge Club came into existence.

The original members were Canon Robert Flynn, Eugene Gilhawley, Elsie and Alec Gillmor, Rosalyn Duffy, Anne Henry, Mary Henry, Richard and Eileen Cahill and Eddie Sweeney. The beginners were Cathy and Julian Flynn, Mary Kavanagh, Mary O’Connor, Maree O’Dowd and Marion Scully.

In the following year Matt Davey, Clare Kavanagh, Mary McDonagh and Nance Tighe joined the growing group. Over the years members were gained and lost - some moved away and others went to the great Bridge Club in the sky.

Of the original founding members only a ‘Gang of Four’ remain - Cathy Flynn, Anne Henry, Mary O’Connor and Maree O’Dowd. The club continues to play every Monday night in the Pastoral Centre from September to the end of May. It has met in other venues in the past - Corran College, Coach House Hotel, Fawlty Towers, Hayden’s and Perry’s.

Four major competitions are held each year - Gilhawley Cup, Gillmor Cup, Henry Cup and President’s Shield. The club also hosts three charity nights during the season and a very enjoyable dinner at Christmas.

An annual mass is offered for our esteemed deceased members - Canon Flynn, Eugene and Elizabeth Gilhawley, Alec and Elsie Gillmor, Matt Davey, Rosalyn Duffy, Mary Kavanagh, Mae O’Donnell, Anne Harrison, Mary Dwyer, Maureen Egan, Nathy Fahey, Kathleen Doddy, Jimmy White and Kay Murray. Sadly, in the past year we have also lost Mary Henry, Eileen Egan, Anne Hannon, Olive Byrne ,Anne O’Grady and Mary Carew.

Other past members include George Brennan, Sean Carew, Helen Coleman, Paddy Conheady, Anne Costello, Micky Cunnane, Sr. de Lourdes, Fiona Dunleavy, Michael Fitzpatrick, Sheila Flynn, Peggy Gannon, Evelyn Hogge, Maura Horan, Margaret Keane, Frances Kelly, Brian Kennedy, Imelda Killoran, Maureen Madden, Maureen Maher, Geraldine Mongey, Michael Munds, Fr. Gabriel Murphy, Maureen McGettrick, Christy McTernan, Mary O’Donoghue, Maureen O’Dowd, Patty O’Connor, Marie Perry, Una Skinner, Anne Sweeney, Nance Tighe, Robert Wallace and David Wilkinson.

Today our membership stands at around 30. The current members are:

Mary Cawley, Gertie Coleman, John Coleman, Margaret Doddy, Maura Dunne, Anne Flanagan, Cathy Flynn, Jean Gallagher, Mary Gilhawley, Ursula Gilhawley, Kathleen Healy, Nancy Keevans, Agnes Kennedy, Rosemary Kitchin, Doreen Lavin, Madge Morrison, Carmel Mullen, Ethna Munds, Mary McCann, Mary McDonagh, Bridget McGettrick, Carmel McGettrick, Angela McNulty, Maura McTernan, Mary O’Connor, Maree O’Dowd, Mary O’Neill, Carmel Rogers, Maureen Sheridan, Maria Wallace.

Bridge is truly a wonderful game and we are so lucky to have a club on our own doorstep. It is one of the activities recommended to stave off the dreaded Alzheimer’s disease.

The following comments from famous people are noteworthy: ‘Bridge is such a sensational game that I wouldn’t mind being in jail if I had three cell mates who were decent players and who were willing to keep the game going 24 hours a day.’ Warren Buffett.

‘Many games provide fun but Bridge grips you. It exercises your mind. Your mind can rust you know but bridge prevents the rust from forming.’ Omar Sharif.

‘Bridge is the most intelligent and entertaining card game the wit of man has so far devised.’ W. Somerset Maugham