Club re-opens on Monday 4th January 2016

Jacqui Devereaux pictured with Club President, Peter McWalter, receiving the President's prize. Congratulations to all the winners in this year's President's prize competition which we played on 27th January. Jacqui was delighted to be the overall winner taking home Peter's beautiful picture. Well done Jacqui!

The annual club dinner was held in conjunction with Neptune Bridge Club the following Friday in Wicklow Golf Club. An excellent dinner was provided by the golf club with Ann Looby, Neptune President, presenting her prizes before the meal. Abbey Bridge Club member, Stasia Hagen was the very popular winner of the Neptune prize. Dinner was followed by Peter's presentations and then a game of bridge. A very enjoyable night was had by all. 

Due to the threat from Corona virus bridge is cancelled until further notice.

Below is an extract from CBAI CEO, Paul Porteous's, email (dated 22nd June 2020) updating club secretaries about his negotiations with Dept. of Health to get us back to the bridge tables to play our game.

RETURN TO “LIVE” BRIDGE

I am happy to relate that a return to live bridge, albeit with significantly changed circumstances, is not as far away as we might have thought. The Government has accelerated the opening of activities across the economy and has relaxed many of the previously essential restrictions.

A submission has been made to the Department of Health to seek permission for a phased return to “normal” bridge. We have been very fortunate to have the help of Dr Joe Barry, a recent and enthusiastic recruit to bridge, and a Professor in Public Health in TCD, in the preparation of our submission, and would like to thank him for his time and energy.

Our plan includes adherence to current physical distancing regulations, the indoor meeting numbers restrictions, the introduction of table screens, and personal safety precautions to safeguard our players.

Above you will see a photograph of what a Table Screen will look like. At this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItVQGJHmKYI&feature=youtu.be on You Tube from Australia, you can see what a club looks like when fitted out – I wish we had the weather for those facilities!

Full details will be circulated as soon as we receive the Green Light, which hopefully will be sooner rather than later, and a return for all our club players may be possible.

There will be understandable reluctance on the part of some of our members to place themselves in any real or perceived danger; this is a decision for individuals to make for themselves and no element of coercion should be allowed. All in due time!

Our situation here in Ireland is mirrored across the world, where many countries have already returned to “live” bridge, some with little change, but many introducing the kinds of precautions we envisage.

Sadly, our fellow member, Rita McNamara, passed away on Saturday 24th August 2019. Rita was a former President of the Abbey Bridge Club, President of the Eastern Region of CBAI and also served as CBAI President in 2003/04.  She was an excellent bridge player and teacher and co-founded the Wicklow Bridge Club. All her bridge friends will miss her enormously and the members’ sympathies go to her husband Jim, children Claire, Morgan, and Michael, and all her family and friends.

Click here to read Fearghal O’Boyle personal tribute to Rita which captures her spirit perfectly. May she rest in peace.

Winners of the Monica O'Rourke trophy 2018, Evelyn Lalor and Michael Gleeson, receiving the trophy from Monica's daughters Pauline Earls and Siobhan Delahunt. Pictured on the left is club president, Eric Levingstone.

Congratulations to the 2017 winners of the Gerry Cullinan trophy, Margaret Walshe and Paschal Doyle. Pictured are Margaret and Paschal being presented with the trophy by club president Eric Levingstone.

John Hopkins, winner of the 2017/18 season President's prize, pictured being presented with his prize by the club's president, Eric Levingstone.

Welcome back to all the Abbey Bridge Club members for the Autumn bridge season. The club re-opens on Monday 4th September and players should be seated by 7.20 to facilitate a 7.30 start.

Noeleen Redmond and Peter McWalter were the winners of this year's Monica O'Rourke trophy. Congratulations to them both. Pictured are Noeleen and Peter being presented with the trophy by club president Gertie Hallihan. Also in the photo are Monica's daughters Pauline Earls and Siobhan Delahunt.

Christine Campbell, Mark Somsen, Gertie Hallihan, Miriam Watchorn and Paddy Gleeson pictured at our very successful bridge charity night in the golf club on Monday 20th February. Marc and Paddy won 1st prize in the Novice section of the competition with Christine and Miriam coming a close second. Congratulations to them all.

Congratulations to Joan D'Arcy, winner of the President's prize competition. Pictured is Joan being presented by club president Gertie Hallihan with the beautiful painting  at the Abbey and Neptune Bridge clubs' joint dinner on Friday 27th January.

Congratulations to the winners of the Gerry Cullinane Trophy, Michael Gleeson and Evelyn Lalor. Pictured are Michael and Evelyn being presented with the trophy by club president Gertie Hallihan.

Sadly another of our members has passed away. Mick Carey, a very long term member of the Abbey Bridge Club, died on October 19th and will be greatly missed by his fellow bridge players. Our condolances to Mick's wife, Catherine, and all his family. May he rest in peace.

We are sorry to tell you of the death of our valued member Sean Cahill. Sean died on 1st August and we extend our condolances to Margaret and his family. It was always a great pleasure to meet Sean at the bridge table as he was such a friendly, good-humoured man and, while he usually took a "top" from me, I always left his table feeling the better for having met him. May he rest in peace.

We are developing this web page for the Abbey Bridge Club and intend to have details of all our club activities, events, membership and results available to the members. If you have any suggestions for the development of our club's website please contact Maura Kavanagh or Bernadette Rountree.