Going strong 50 years on

THE Rathcoole Bridge Club marked its 50th anniversary with a celebratory dinner in Beech Park Golf Club last Thursday, May 18.

A total of 47 members attended the dinner to mark the milestone, and to toast to the continued success of the club which already has 50 members – and they are hoping to recruit even more.

The club meets three times a week to play the trick-taking and mentally stimulating card game, and over the last five decades it has become a key part of the fabric of the Rathcoole community.

Maura Russell, the current president of Rathcoole Bridge Club, told The Echo about the role the club has played in the community over the years, particularly when she joined 26 years ago.

“There wasn’t an awful lot for people in our age group to do in Rathcoole at that time,” said Maura, who joined when she was in her mid-30s.

“There were a lot of younger mothers at home and there wasn’t a lot for us to do, but there was a badminton club and a bridge club.

“They filled a great gap for us. We played badminton and then we had our other love, bridge.”

Local woman Margaret Keane has been a central figure in the club over the years, and has taught bridge lessons for new starters and ensured the club’s survival across many decades.

Explaining why the game of bridge is so appealing to so many, Maura said: “I think going to a game of bridge is a lovely social event.

Members of the Rathcoole Bridge Club in Beech Park Golf Club

“There’s a lovely atmosphere, and there’s no pressure on people. It’s just a lovely occasion and people are so friendly, and we’d all be so lost without it.

“There are people in their 80s and 90s who are in the club, who are going strong and are as bright as a shilling.”

Numerous studies have found that games like bridge can help with mental alertness and memory, particularly as you age.

Playing bridge is a challenging but rewarding pursuit, according to Maura, whose enjoyment of the game has never waned during her 26 years in the club.

“It’s a tough old game, but once you get the hang of it, you become addicted to it,” she explained.

“It’s a fabulous game, and it keeps the brain sharp. It’s a very complex game, but no one I know has given it up – they all come back to the club.”

Now that the Rathcoole Bridge Club has concluded its 50th anniversary celebrations, the members are now keen to look forward to the future and invite new members to join.

Lessons on how to play bridge will be provided for a small fee, and interested parties of any age can go along to the club’s Thursday night games in the Rathcoole Community Centre at 7pm.

Maura added: “We’re open to meeting anybody who is interested in getting involved in our bridge club, they’d be more than welcome.”