Historic day for the sport of bridge as new centre opens
DONORE, DUNLEER, GATE, STAR & CRESCENT AND TERMONFECKIN NOW ENJOY NEW HOME
THE new home of bridge in the region officially opened on Saturday and was immediately heralded as one of the best venues in the country.
The Associated Bridge Clubs of Drogheda (ABCD) Centre cost in the region of €500,000 to secure and fit out and will be home to five different clubs.
Chairman of ABCD, Martin O’Brien said it was a proud day for the club and completed a journey that began seven years ago, with the idea first suggested by Paddy Brennan.
The CEO of the Bridge Association, Paul Porteous, hoped the new base would inspire even more local people to embrace and take part in the sport in the years ahead.
‘ The teachers here have brought out some great players,’ he remarked.
SEVEN years of planning, months of final preparations and now Drogheda’s Fair Green is home to one of the top bridge centres in the country.
The Associated Bridge Clubs of Drogheda (ABCD) Centre cost in the region of €500,000 to secure and fit out and will be home to five different clubs.
Chairman of ABCD, Martin O’Brien said it was a proud day for the club and completed a journey that began seven years ago, with the idea first suggested by Paddy Brennan.
The CEO of the Bridge Association, Paull Porteous, hoped the new base would inspiree even more local people to embrace and takee part in the sport in the years ahead.
‘ The teachers here have brought out somee great players,’ he remarked.
Mayor Frank Godfrey said it was no easy challenge to get the new centre and he applauded the bridge club for their outstanding work for charities too.
Margaret Hanlon, North East President, felt the club was a success because the people of Drogheda and district had got behind the dream.
‘Bridge is in a very healthy state in Drogheda and this area,’ she added.
Paul Brennan, who was also a key part of the project, but said the efforts of the whole committee was paramoun
‘Dave Doherty brought a special element to the whole thing,’ he stated, also praising Cllr Richard Culhane, Clann Credo (for a €250,000 mortgage when the banks could not be convinced) and Fergus O’Dowd TD for bringing their fight to the Oireachtas.
‘ This is our building, we bought it and we built it and it secures the future for years to come,’ he stated.