Rathfriland Bridge Club chalks up 21 years

Alderman Elizabeth Ingram and Councillor Glenn Barr represented the council at the event. Special Guest, Mrs Dorothy McCann and some members from the Breffni, Clonnalen and ‘21’ clubs were also present.

The chairman, Caroline McCreight, welcomed all present and gave guests a brief history of Rathfriland Bridge Club.

It started out as a six week ‘course’ in Bridge, organised by the Rathfriland Women’s Institute.

At the end of the six weeks, the ladies decided to invite husbands and friends to join them and form a Bridge Club.

For the first year the club met in the Old Young Farmer’s Club hall, but as the number of members grew, it was decided to move to the Old George Hotel and the club has remained there ever since.

Dr George McCann, formerly a well known Rathfriland resident, took a great interest in the club and donated a trophy, which is still awarded every year.

The chairman said the club had always appreciated the support he had shown and enjoyed his visits, when he came each year with his wife, Dorothy, to present the trophy.

She thanked Mrs Dorothy McCann and presented her with a bunch of flowers.

Thanks too were given to Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council for the funding Rathfriland Bridge Club had received recently from the council, for the purchase of new tables and bidding boxes.

These were on display for guests to see. Patricia Devlin, from Abbey Projects, was thanked too, for her help in completing the grant application to the council and she also received a gift in appreciation.

The Lord Mayor Cllr Darryn Causby hadn’t been able to attend the reception, but had sent a cheque from the council for the charity, Southern Area Hospice.

After the very enjoyable finger buffet provided by The Old George Hotel, the card players moved upstairs to play Bridge. A table charge, raffle and donations from guests at the reception, together with the cheque from the Lord Mayor raised a total of £500 for Southern Area Hospice.

The winners out of the 9 tables of Bridge players were as follows:

North / South: 1st: Dorothy O’Reilly and Shiela Warde; 2nd: Margaret McConville and Peter McConville; 3rd: Kathy Dorgan and Jean Pollock; 4th: Maude Harbinson and Bessie Shannon.

East / West: 1st: Susan Scott and Tom Cromie; 2nd: Muriel Ferguson and Agnes O’Rourke; 3rd: Moya McKay and Anne Marie McLaughlin; 4th: Colm Clarke and Marius McHugh.