Triumph for wordsmiths

WORDSMITHS FROM all over Ireland flocked to Hotel Curracloe for a summer Scrabble tournament, hosted by Menapia Scrabble club.

Up to 30 players, hailing from Dublin, Belfast, Galway, Cork and Waterford attended the event which is being held for the first time this year.

Tournament director John Ryan said they hoped to continue the event in the future. Wexford Scrabble clubs had, he said, been hosting tournaments for over 20 years.

‘We got to tournaments around the country and players from those areas come to ours. The next tournament is in Waterford in September.’

Games took place over two days, with each competitor playing 14 games. At the end of that, the players with the most games won, by the most points, were awarded first, second and third prize.

While the winner of the tournament was the reigning champion Kevin McMahon, from Dublin, there was some joy for Wexford as Feargal Weatherhead, from New Ross, took second place and Theresa Scallan from Curracloe was third.

Wexford currently has two clubs: Wexford Scrabble Club in Castlebridge has been in existence for over 20 years while the Menapia Scrabble Club, based in Wexford town, was founded about ten years ago.

Mr Ryan said the game had increased in popularity yearon-year.

‘More and more people are playing Scrabble on their phones and tablets so the challenge for us is to entice people away from the screen and to the table.’

The Menapia club meets every Tuesday night from 8 p.m. in Sinnott’s Bar, Bishopswater. All are welcome to come along, have a chat and enjoy some Scrabble.

Runner-up Feargal Weatherhead (left), New Ross, receives his prize from John Ryan, tournament director.

Ronnie Gordon from Wexford.

Theresa Scallan, Curracloe, who was third, checking an opponent’s word.

Deirdre Eckbauer, Wexford, tots up her score.

Jenny Frizelle from Enniscorthy.

Aileesh Harpur, Wexford.

Mary Doyle, Wexford.