BBO Etiquette

Welcome to DLGC Bridge Club, a fully affiliated Bridge Club with CBAI since 2018. Bridge is played three times a week in the Kingston Room. Monday at 10.00 am, Wednesday at 7.00pm and Friday at 7.30pm. We ask players to arrive 15 minutes beforehand because the competition cannot be set up on the computer until the Tournament Director knows how many tables are playing. Therefore, it is best for players to arrive and sit down at a table. Decide between the players who will be north/south and who will be east/west. 

We are a sociable, friendly club with over 130 members at all levels of ability from beginners and novices to master players. One Friday a month we have dinner before bridge which adds to the sociability of the club.   Table money is 5 euros.

We no longer have standbys instead players use the WhatsApp group to find a partner. The WhatsApp group is called Bridge-DLGC 26/27 Members group. If you are a bridge member and your name is not in the WhatsApp group but you would like to be included please contact a member of the committee. 

Membership: DLGC is a social club in Dun Laoghaire Golf Club (DLGC). Only members of  DLGC (Full, 6 day, 5 day, Pavilion) can become a member of DLGC Bridge Club provided they pay their annual membership. We welcome new members. The bridge year begins in September and ends in April. The annual subscription of €35 is due in October which includes €12.50 membership of Contract Bridge Association Ireland. Since Covid, the annual subscription is deducted from members' competition purses. 

Governance: The bridge section of DLGC is a social club, which is bound by the Constitution of DLGC and the Bylaws for the Bridge Club. 

GDPR and Data Protection – Like other organisations DLGC Bridge Club is subject to Irish data protection legislation. Data is only kept for the purpose for which it is required, e.g. for DLGC Bridge Club only. Member’s contact details are kept on file in a password protected computer and sent to CBAI for membership (affiliation) purpose. Member’s data is not shared with any other external parties. Any member can opt out of receiving emails or can remove their names from the WhatsApp Group. https://www.dataprotection.ie/en/organisations/resources-organisations/self-assessment-checklist Each member fills out a separate GDPR consent form. 

Guests: Guests can play up to a maximum of 4 times a year in non-major competitions. 

Majors: To be eligible to win the President’s Prize, a member must have played on at least 3 club nights prior to that competition during the current year. Players who do not fulfil this condition may play in the competition but will not be eligible to win first prize. 

Player of the year

The ‘Player of the Year’ will be the member with the highest average percentage out of their 18 best competitions to include  a minimum of 14 different partners. Prizes will be awarded to the best overall player, and to the best in each category (A, B (intermediate) and N (novice)) as defined by CBAI.

I am very honoured to be taking on the role of President of the DLGC Bridge Club, and I would like to thank Helen for nominating me. I hope to do the role justice and to serve the club well during the year ahead. I look forward to working with our Vice President, Martina Noonan, and our very hardworking committee.

We have a busy and enjoyable programme planned, beginning with our Team of 4 events for Monday players on 12th October and Friday players on 16th October.

It is wonderful to see Monday Bridge continuing to grow, and I am delighted that Wednesday Bridge has got off to such an encouraging start. Our monthly suppers return on Friday 9th October, and there is plenty more to look forward to, including the turkey competitions, Massey League, Rose Bowl, Simultaneous Pairs and our Bridge Weekend Away at the River Court Hotel, Kilkenny, on 9th and 10th April.

Thank you in advance to our TDs and committee for all they do. I encourage everyone to support our bridge sessions, welcome new members and, above all, enjoy our bridge together. ♠ ♥ ♣ ♦

November may bring shorter days, but there’s plenty to brighten the month at the bridge club! Join us for friendly competition, good company and a little festive fun.

💙 Monday 2 November – IBU SIMS
Put your partnership to the test and enjoy taking part in this simultaneous pairs event.

💜 Friday 6 November – IBU SIMS
Another opportunity to join in the SIMS fun!

💡 Monday 9 November – A Little Learning, Then Some Playing!
Join David Whitaker at 9:45 am for Overcalls and Doubles, followed by bridge at 10:00 am.

🍽️ Friday 13 November – Supper & Bridge
Enjoy supper at 6:00 pm, followed by bridge. A lovely way to spend a November evening!

🏆 Friday 20 November – Century Cup
Bring your best game and enjoy the competition. Best of luck to everyone taking part!

🦃 🎄 It’s Turkey Time! 🎄 🦃

Our Turkey Competitions bring a little festive cheer to the tables:

🧡 Wednesday 25 November – Turkey Competition
❤️ Friday 27 November – Turkey Competition
💚 Monday 30 November – Turkey Competition

💛 A Little Support for Wednesday Bridge

Our Wednesday bridge sessions have been a little slow to get going, and we would really appreciate all the support we can get. If you can join us, please do—every extra table helps, and your support will help these sessions grow into a regular gathering full of friendly faces and enjoyable bridge.

A warm welcome awaits—come along, enjoy your bridge and join in the fun! ♣ ♥

As we look forward to another season of the Massey Bros League, it is disappointing that there will again be no Novice Section. However, we are delighted that Dun Laoghaire will be represented by both an A and a B team.

Our A Team will be hoping to build on its fantastic success, having won the A Section for the past two consecutive years under the excellent guidance and captaincy of Victor Ryan. This season, Deirdre Baneham takes over as A Team Captain, while Noelle O’Sullivan will captain our B Team. We wish them both every success in their roles.

Teresa Whitaker will once again coordinate our participation, helping to ensure everything runs smoothly throughout the season.

Our sincere thanks go to Victor Ryan and Teresa Whitaker for their dedication, enthusiasm and commitment as team captains over the past number of years. We would also like to thank Moya Murphy for her valued assistance, leadership and captaincy of the Seniors Section in previous seasons. Their contributions have been greatly appreciated.

Our Panels for 2026/2027

♠ A Section - Deirdre Baneham (Captain), Katharine Verso, Victor Ryan, Teresa Whitaker, Margo Wall, David Whitaker, Theresa Murphy, Catherine O’Sullivan & Margaret Leonard

♥ B Section - Noelle O’Sullivan (Captain), Anne-Marie MacGoris, Helen Hearnden, Michael Cunningham, Martina Noonan, Annette Johnson, Ruth Shiel, Deirdre Waters & Anne Barbara Mongey

First Round Team Selection - The following partnerships have been selected to represent the Club in the opening round: 01/11/26 @ 7pm Mount Merrion Parish Community Centre

♠ A Section

• Deirdre Baneham (Captain) & Theresa Murphy

• Katharine Verso & Margo Wall

♥ B Section

• Noelle O’Sullivan (Captain) & Annette Johnson

• Anne-Marie MacGoris & Ruth Shiel

We encourage all panel members to play regularly with one another throughout the season. Building a good understanding with your partner is an important part of successful team bridge, and every opportunity to practise together will help.

♦ Dates for Your Diary - 7 February 2027 – Greystones Bridge Centre, 14 March 2027 – Dun Laoghaire Bridge Club, 18 April 2027 – Greystones Bridge Centre

Thank you to everyone who has put their name forward to represent the Club. Your enthusiasm, commitment and team spirit make our participation in the Massey League so worthwhile.  We wish both panels the very best of luck for the season ahead—and hope our A Team can make it three in a row! 🏆

Our Team of Four competitions took place on Monday 12th and Friday 16th October, with plenty of friendly competition and an opportunity to enjoy bridge as a team.

🌟 Monday — A First for Our Group!

This was the first time our Monday group had played a Team of Four competition, making it a special occasion. Congratulations to our joint winning teams:

🏆 Niamh McCarthy, Barbara Dillon, Mai Tan and Martine Keenan

🏆 Liz Hogan, Martina McArdle, Eilish Boylan and Sandra Phelan

🌟 Friday — Congratulations to Our Winners!

🏆 Teresa and David Whitaker, Maeve and Tim Cassidy

👏 Runners-up: Mary Sheerin, Goretti Hester, Jane Murphy and Emer O’Sullivan

A special thank you to John Ryods, who acted as Tournament Director for both events, ensuring everything ran smoothly and guiding our Monday players through their first team competition.

Well done to all our winners and runners-up, and thank you to everyone who took part across both days. It is wonderful to see our members supporting these events and sharing the fun of team bridge.

We look forward to many more! ♠️ ♥️ ♦️ ♣️

Well done to the following members on moving up a level this season:

🌟 A1: Jean Hennebry
🌟 A2: Barbara Browne and Teresa Whitaker
🌟 B1: Marie Igoe
🌟 B2: Mary Rye
🌟 N1: Frank Kennedy, Noel Mannion and Ann Marie Quinn

👏 Congratulations to you all on this lovely achievement. Wishing you continued success and many enjoyable games in the season ahead!

We're happy to serve you for the coming year.  We have plenty of fun events planned, Team of 4, Kilkenny Weekend Away (9th/10th April 2027), Charity Event, Monthly Suppers, Centenary Cup, President's Prize and President’s Covid Trophy. President Deirdre Waters, Vice President Martina Noonan, Treasurer Michael Cunningham, Secretary Anna-Maria Bailey, Ex-Officio Helen Hearnden, Deirdre Baneham, Martina Noonan, Margaret Penny and David Whitaker,

Pictured with President Helen, Margot Wall, Victor Ryan, Teresa Murphy, Margaret Leonard 

Once again the Massey Brothers generously sponsored the Massey League – an interclub competition run in the Eastern Region by Fedelma Martin. DLGC fielded four teams: the A Team captained by Victor Ryan, the Seniors Team captained by Moya Murphy. Inter B Division 1 Team captained by Teresa Whitaker and Inter B Division 2 Team captained by our very own President Helen Hearnden. This year they changed the number of events to 4 in the following venues: St Teresa’s Parish Centre, Mount Merrion, Greystones Bridge Centre, Dun Laoghaire Bridge Club Clarinda Square with the final event being held in Greystones Bridge Centre on the 24th May. Sincere thanks to all our players who gave up their Sunday nights to participate in this exciting event.

WE ARE DELIGHTED THAT OUR INTERMEDIATE A TEAM WON THE LEAGUE ON 24TH MAY TO RETAIN THE TROPHY - CONGRATULATIONS!

PRESIDENT’S PRIZES

The combination of the President’s Prize and the President’s Covid Prize were our final majors of the 2025/26 season.

President’s Helen’s Prize and Dinner took place on Friday 17th April.  We had a terrific turnout, and all agreed that it was a most enjoyable evening. Huge credit to President Helen for all her hard work during the year and for the beautiful President’s prizes.

Congratulations to all our prize winners!

PRESIDENT’S COVID PRIZE

The final major of the season, The President’s Covid Prize, took place on Monday 20th April followed by a delicious lunch in the Tivoli Dining Room.  It proved to be a very popular occasion as have all of the Monday morning Bridge sessions.  Thank you all for your support and your very positive feedback.

Congratulations to All our Winners!

CAPTAIN BETH PRESENTING FLOWERS TO PRESIDENT HELEN AT THE CHAPTAINS’ CHARITY BRIDGE DAY

To round off the bridge season we held two further bridge sessions on Friday 24th and Monday 27th April in aid of the Captains’ Charities, HUGG and Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Service.  A big thanks to all who attended, we raised €680 - a great start to the Captains’ Charity Fund for 2026.

♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ The Rose Bowl is an interclub bridge competition held annually between eight clubs: Elm Park GC BC, Grange GC BC, Rathfarnham GC BC, Edmondstown GC BC, Foxrock GC BC, Milltown GC BC, Castle GC BC, and DLGC BC, with each club fielding two teams of four players. The event took place in Edmondstown Golf Club on Sunday, 1st March 2026. DLGC Bridge Club was represented by Moya Murpy & Victor Ryan, Pam Cooper & Vera McCague, Teresa Whitaker and David Whitaker.

Edmondstown Golf Club were incredibly welcoming, and provided the players with a delicious spread of food before and after the competition in what turned out to be a wonderful social evening. Unfortunately, the results weren't in our favour, and the Rose Bowl was won by Elm Park.♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ 

DLGC Bridge Away Weekend

27th February - 1st March 2026

The River Court Hotel, Kilkenny

No sooner had we recovered from the Charity Bridge night, than we were off to Kilkenny on our annual away weekend.  The weekend kicked off with golf at Mount Juliet Estate which was enjoyed by 25 golfers on a beautiful sunny day!  There was a quick turnaround to join the rest of our party of 50 at the River Court Hotel in Kilkenny City.  There was a wonderful atmosphere, with bridge played on Friday night, a leisurely morning of shopping and coffee and more bridge on Saturday afternoon and for the hardy souls on Sunday morning!  Thank you to President Helen for curating a wonderful and memorable weekend.  Deirdre Waters ably stepped in for Helen who despite all her hard work was sadly indisposed, she was sorely missed on the weekend.

We had a marvelous turn out of 132 players for our Charity night in aid of the Down Syndrome Centre on Friday 13th February 2026. Thank you to all our members, their guests for the huge effort and commitment to this worthy cause. It was great to see DLGC Bridge members feature in all the top bridge prizes in the main event and third in the Novice section which attracted 8.5 tables. Congratulations to all, but particularly to Deidre Waters and Kathleen Flynn on their first place. 

Huge thanks to the generosity of all our donors to the raffle which was accompanied by tea and delicious homemade cakes by our team of volunteer bakers!  David Whitaker’s beautiful Print as 1st Prize was won by Mary Cryan.

Pictured Below President Helen presenting the cheque to Rhonda from The Downs Syndrome Centre.

Our first major event, The Piers Segrave-Daly Team of Four Trophy, took place in the Kingston Room on Friday 23rd January 2026. Players arrived with their respective partners before being drawn into their teams, this is a fantastic opportunity to experience a pairs competition . With a full house, John Royds ran a smooth and enjoyable competition.

Congratulations to our winners Moya Murphy & Malachy Murphy and Teresa & David Whitaker pictured with President Helen and Piers Segrave-Daly.

The Centenary Cup competition was a great success on Friday 20th November. We had an unusual result with three pairs tying for first place. Congratulations to Margot Wall and Katherine Verso, Alison Polley and Evelyn Cahill and Victor Ryan and Piers Segrave-Daly.

DLGC Bridge Club AGM 

 DLGC Bridge Club AGM Update

The recent AGM was a great success, with a fantastic turnout.  Outgoing President David Whitaker expressed gratitude to Helen Hearnden and the committee for their dedicated efforts over the past year.   54 members participated in a 4 person Team Event after the AGM.  

Helen Hearnden, the new President, is excited to take on the role of President, aiming to uphold the high standards set by her predecessors.  

Congratulations to Our Prize Winners:

Player of the Year: Victor Ryan

Monday Player of the Year: Chris Davenport

‘B’ Category Player: Owen Fox (RIP)

‘A’ Category Player: (joint) Deirdre Baneham, David Whitaker

Novice Player of the Year: Niamh McCarthy

Most Partners: Deirdre Waters

New Leadership:

President: Helen Hearnden

Vice-President: Deirdre Waters

Secretary: Anna-Maria Bailey

Treasurer: Michael Cunningham

Committee Members: David Whitaker, Deirdre Baneham, Tim Cassidy and Martina Noonan.

Upcoming Events November:

Massey League: Began on 2nd November, coordinated by Teresa Whitaker

IBU Sims competition Friday 7th November

Monthly Bridge Dinner 6pm 14th November

Centenary Cup 21st November

Turkey Competitions Monday 24th and Friday 28th November

Save the Date:

Away Weekend: February 27th-1st March, Kilkenny River Court Hotel.

We warmly invite all DLGC members interested in joining the Bridge Club to reach out at dlgcbridge@gmail.com.

Looking forward to a fantastic season ahead!

♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ The Rose Bowl took place at Grange Golf Club on Sunday, 23rd February 2025. Eight clubs participated: Elm Park GC BC, Grange GC BC, Rathfarnham GC BC, Edmondstown GC BC, Foxrock GC BC, Milltown GC BC, Castle GC BC, and DLGC BC, with each club fielding two teams of four players. DLGC BC was represented by Moya Murpy & Victor Ryan, Pam Cooper & Vera McCague, Teresa & Dave Whitaker and Maeve & Tim Cassidy.

The Grange GC BC were incredibly welcoming, and it turned out to be a wonderful social evening. Unfortunately, the results weren't in our favor, and the Rose Bowl was claimed by Grange GC BC.♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ 

🏆 May 25th – The Grand Finale in Greystones

The final round had it all: drama, determination, and sandwiches. With the action starting at 5pm and a light supper at 8:30 (bridge is a marathon, not a sprint), our teams gave it their all in the ultimate showdown.

The Results? Drumroll, please…

• 🥇 Inter A Team – 1st Place Overall Champions!
• 🥈 Inter B Team – A razor-close 2nd place finish!

A huge round of applause to all our fabulous players, and special thanks to the Team Managers – your calm under pressure and snack logistics were unparalleled.

🎉 Representing DLGC in the Final Round:

• Inter A Team: Victor Ryan (Captain), Katharine Verso, Moya Murphy, Margot Wall, Margaret Leonard & David Whitaker
• Inter B Teams: Maeve & Tim Cassidy, Anne-Marie MacGoris, Owen Fox, Teresa Whitaker, Mary Cryan, Helen Hearnden & Ruth Shiel

🎓 Final Thoughts (and a Few Thank Yous)

To all our participants: thank you for your dedication, patience, and for not flipping the table during a bad hand. You’ve all turned this season into a wonderful learning experience – filled with laughter, a few tense stares, and the occasional questionable bid.

We’ll see you all back at the bridge table in September, under the presidency of Helen Hearnden. Until then, have a fabulous summer, enjoy some well-earned rest, and remember: life’s too short to pass on a good hand!

🌷 March 30th – Mothering Sunday Madness (With Tricks & Tips!)

On this sacred day of flowers and forgotten bookings at fancy restaurants, our Inter B teams headed to Dun Laoghaire Bridge Club to face "the usual suspects". With Teresa’s top tips in their back pockets, our players were primed: no unnecessary doubles, no risky tricks, and no mercy.

Armed with Blackwood, Gerber, and nerves of steel, our Inter B teams left the table smiling and satisfied. The TW Team nabbed 2nd place, and the EOS Team proudly finished 7th.

🃏 Our March Warriors: Teresa Whitaker, Anne Marie MacGoris, Maeve & Tim Cassidy, Helen Hearnden, Noelle O’Sullivan, Ruth Shiel & Martina Noonan.

On Sunday 2nd February we had more success in the Massey League, Inter B League, Division 2, with both of our teams securing victories in all their matches against strong opponents, including Blackrock College, St. Crispin's, Foxrock GC and The Well.

Congratulations to Anne-Marie MacGoris, Teresa Whitaker, and Tim and Maeve Cassidy - You have made us proud!

On behalf of the DLGC Bridge Club, we extend our sincere thanks to all participants for their involvement.

We are pleased to announce that Massey Brothers are once again sponsoring the Massey Bros League 2024/25, an inter-club bridge competition featuring 34 teams. The competition takes place over several rounds at four different venues. The Massey Bros League is off to a strong start, and the teams from the DLGC Bridge Club are actively participating across various divisions under the leadership and guidance of Ruth Shiel.

The DLGC Bridge Club has entered three teams, participating in the following divisions:

• Inter B Division 1: Helen Hearnden, Deirdre Waters, Marion and Padraig Rushe

• Inter B Division 2: Maeve and Tim Cassidy, Anne Marie MacGoris and Teresa Whitaker

• Inter A Division 1: Victor Ryan, Margot Wall, Katharine Verso, and Moya Murphy

The first two rounds, consisting of two 12-board matches, were held at the Mount Merrion Parish Community Centre on Sunday, November 3rd. Our teams performed admirably.

The next round of the competition will take place on February 2, 2025.On behalf of the DLGC Bridge Club, we extend our sincere thanks to all participants for their involvement.