Drogheda’s annual bridge congress won’t be trumped by parking problems

AN event that regularly attracts 800 people to Drogheda town centre has been struggling to accommodate its visitors since the Drogheda Borough council no longer looks after parking matters here.

The Drogheda and District Bridge Congress is now in its 25th year, and is more popular than ever, but organisers are finding that since administration for the town has moved to Dundalk, it can be harder to address such problems as finding parking spaces.

“We are always grateful for whatever assistance we can receive, however now we are talking to people in Dundalk, it can be little more awkward,” says President Heather Kilkenny.

“When the council is not in the town, it’s a slight disadvantage, and they don’t understand the issues, however, hopefully we can resolve it.”

The congress is being held as always in the Westcourt Hotel from October 5th to October 7th, and as participants play a three-hour stretch, they can’t leave the tables to replenish parking meters.

“Valerie (Sherlock) in the Westcourt Hotel is working hard to try and get something sorted for us, and hopefully she can before the congress starts,” adds Heather.

“This event brings hundreds of people to the centre of town, using the shops, cafes and restaurants, and all that would suffer if we took it out of the centre of the town.”

Heather acknowledged that Mayor of Drogheda Frank Godfrey is also doing his best to accommodate the players.

The congress was the brain-child of local bridge players Aidan Hodgers and Eithne O’Shea and set up in 1994 as part of the historic ‘Drogheda 800’ year, it has gone from strength to strength, and now the committee encompasses all the bridge clubs in the greater Drogheda area.

Held every October, the Drogheda and District Bridge Congress caters for all classes from Novice to Intermediate, pairs and team event, and players come to ‘ The Friendly Congress’ from all over Ireland, Wales and France.