A new lease of life for The Glue Pot after difficult period
By Maurice Garvey
CLONDALKIN Paper Mills Sports and Social Club is celebrating a new lease of life after a tough number of years, and will re-open on Friday week (November 22).
The financial situation at the pitch and putt club was so bad in early 2016 that the Sheriff was in a number of times, and they were struggling to stay afloat under a mountain of bills.
Joe Connor (Secretary), Martin Gouldsbury (Chairman) and Ann DowlIng (Treasurer)
“Four years ago we were in terrible trouble financially,” said Joe Connor, Secretary of CPM.
“The Sheriff was in three times, and we owed money to Revenue.
Five of us formed a committee and implemented changes in the club. We wrote to suppliers and asked if they would accept a payment every week, which took a bit of the debt.”
Following an unsuccessful bid for a Sports Capital Grant in early 2016, the club made the decision to place some of their land on the market.
Local agents O’Dwyer English Auctioneers was instructed to bring two lots to the market – effectively selling nine of the 18 holes.
The clubhouse and bar – known locally as The Glue Pot – was not included in the sale.
A parcel of land at the club was sold and developers Rhonellen Properties Ltd are currently building an elderly housing scheme comprising 85 apartments.
Joe Connor continued: “Land was sold, we were able to pay off the mortgage and all debts. We kept the roadside nine. Money went back into the club, saving it. The last six weeks we have been refurbishing, and working on getting the grounds back up to standard.”
The committee includes SecretaryJoe Connor, Chairman Martin Gouldsbury, Assistant Secretary Bobby Roe, Treasurer Alan Doyle and Assistant Treasurer Ann Dowling.
Located in the centre of the village, close to the Round Tower, the club was initially run by Clondalkin Paper Mills.When that closed down, it became a members’ club.
CPM has approximately 350 members, including men and women, who both have darts teams that play each week.
The clubhouse bar is open Friday to Monday, with a pint of Guinness available for €4.30. Mr Connor said visitors are invited to attend and sign in three times, and after that, they hope visitors will apply for membership.
Ribbon-cutting will take place on Friday, November 22, and the club hope to officially re-open in the New Year.
The bar is known as The Glue Pot, as workers used to glue bags in the paper mills.
TAGS news
