New Ross Workmen’s Club is marking its 60th birthday
WORKMEN’S CLUB TREASURER JIM HOWLETT ON HIS 60 YEARS AT THE CLUB HE CALLS A HOME AWAY FROM HOME, WRITES DAVID LOOBY
FOR SIXTY YEARS the New Ross Workmen’s Club on Mary Street has been a home away from home for countles Rossonians, none moreso than for its treasurer and longest serving member, Jim Howlett.
Jim clearly recalls his first time going into the club and the welcome he received.
Jim said: ‘It was February 1957. I was 16 and in September 1959 I was asked to go on the committee. I was brought on the committee in 1961 I got a real shock as four or five of the committee announced that they were all retiring. I became secretary and treasurer.’
Jim had been working at Driver Harris since he was 15 and he suddenly found himself effectively running one of the town’s great social institutions, the New Ross Catholic Workmen’s Club, founded in The Tholsel in 1899, before opening at a three storey building, located at 118 Mary Street.
Over the decades the club has played an instrumental part in the history of the town, from New Ross Credit Union being founded there in April 1964, to the founding of the world championship winning New Ross & District Pipe Band, founded in the club in October 1974.
The clubhouse has two snooker tables, a pool table, a dart board and a TV room.
‘We had a good league with the Commercial Club, which was more white collar, whereas we were more blue collar. Billiards, card games, it was a good social club. People went into it because then they could go to Enniscorthy and Gorey to compete in snooker tournaments.’
The club has always had an open door policy and this extended to the old vocational school, which had to relocate into the building for a time due to electricity problems in their old building.
Jim was club treasurer and secretary until 1981. ‘I kept giving it up but I kept being asked as Treasurer.’
He was involved in the hugely successful silver circle draws which were run over a decade and in Ponco, which ran from 1974 to 1984, making more than £4,000 for the club.
‘It hasn’t changed over the years. It’s a family oriented club. Fathers and sons and grandsons have played games there and it goes from generation to generation. The club went through streets and through families. It never closes.’
The club committee got a €25,000 grant from Wexford Local Development to refurbish the building in 2012, the year the club bought the premises from the Tottenham estate for around €25,000.
Today the building is open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. and all committee members have keys for the front door. Coffee and tea making facilities are available.
‘It’s like a home away from home.’
Membership works out at less than a euro a week and there are special rates available. It costs €3 to play snooker.
At 77, Jim shows no signs of slowing down. ‘I’m still playing pool and snooker. I never hooked up with anyone. When I get up in the morning the club is on my mind. It’s somewhere to go and somewhere to keep my mind running.’
Down through the years numerous competitions like the Albatros Cup, the Workman’s Club competition, Stafford’s open, the Cherry Cup (for billiards players) and the junior members cup were all very popular in the town.
One of the greatest pleasures Jim gets from his involvement with the club is to see young players break through and younger members join the committee.
‘I’m in favour of talking to the younger generation. A lot of young fella pass the building and probably think “what is going on in there”. Some open up to you. When young fells come in you give them the respect on the table and then they respect you. When they win a competition they can barely fit their heads in the door they are so delighted with themselves.’
Autumn and early winter are the busiest time of the year for Jim as he sets about collecting membership fees.
‘We are depending on sponsorship from businesspeople in the town who sponsor our competitions. Once the tables are active the money is coming in.’
He has seen many lifetime friendships forged within the walls of the old clubhouse. Many former members who emigrated return to pay a visit to Jim and club members when they are home in New Ross.
‘It’s an old, homely spot on everyone’s doorstep in the town centre. No alcohol is allowed and this has been the way for a long number of years. Exceptions were made for Chistmas parties years ago.’
The club used to have 65 players in the Albatros Cup, back in 1965. Today around 16 players compete.
Jim is concerned about the falling memberships and the lack of involvement at committee level by younger members.
‘ The committee is getting older. The young lads are the future of the club,’ he said.