Updated 14th June 2010

 

Congratulations to Mervyn Carlisle, Una Carty, Jean Patterson & Margaret Nairn
on winning the CBAI Fun Teams in Dublin at the weekend

Their designer outfits are amazing. Well done to everyone involved
in producing the team strips. You all did Donegal proud

 

Charlie Whyte, Ardara has been elected Congress President 2009 - 2010

 

Congress Dates for 2010 - 12 13 & 14 November
Same Format - No Change

 

Following a questionnaire distributed at the 2009 Congress the Committee
confirm that the format of the Donegal Congress will not change.
350 questionnaires were distributed - and although only 70 were
returned less than 10% requested a changed format

 

However, your comments have been noted, and we will do our best to improve

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Hotel Rates in Central & Abbey Hotels for 2010

2 nights B & B + 1 dinner €145
Extra night B & B €35
2 night B & B €120
1 night B & B €70
Single supplement €20

Mr Jim White of the Central and Abbey Hotel Group is the main sponsor of Donegal International Bridge Congress
Please support him and book into one of the above hotels

Central Hotel 074 97 21027
info@centralhoteldonegal.com

Abbey Hotel 074 97 21014
info@abbeyhoteldonegal.com

 

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Congratulations to Cass O Donnell & JC Boyle on winning Mixed Pairs at Sligo Congress
(I did not have my camera, if anyone has a photo please email it to me)
Also, congratulations to Fearghal Mairead and all committee on running a very successful congress

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Congratulations to Sandra Carron, Margaret Nairn, Betty O'Loughlin & Paddy Doran
on winning the Tierney Trophy in Ballinasloe on 25th April 2010

Also the Donegal Team who won the inaugural Marie Cummins trophy
presented to the best region over all three competitions

 

 

2009 Presidents & Main Prizewinners

 

John McClenaghan Congress President with Mary Kelly Rogers CBAI President

Justin & Jason Hackett Congress Pairs Winners

Mary McCleneghan & Jim O Sullivan Area Master Winners

Intermediate A Winners Brid & Desmond Irwin

ntermediate B Winners Alexis Lafferty & Patsy Doherty

 

Congress Teams Winners
Simon Cope Jason Hackett Thomas Paske Justin Hackett

Intermediate Teams Winners
Gladys Sheridan Mary Kilfeather Jim O Malley Assumpta Kelly

 

Intermediate B Team Winners Martin O'Brien Paul Brennan Geraldine Healy Irene Hoey

 

 

 

Mixed Pairs Winners Columba Diver & Mary Dunne

 

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL DONEGAL BRIDGE CONGRESS

The 34th Annual International Bridge Congress took place last weekend in the Abbey and Central Hotels Donegal Town. The White Group are the main sponsors of the congress along with McCambridge Duffy from Derry ,Failte Ireland and Diageo. In these recessionary times the Bridge Congress Committee are grateful to all of them for their continued sponsorship. Bridge players from all parts of Ireland and the UK filled both hotels for the weekend with over 300 playing in the major competitions and up to 500 playing in open pairs.

Mary Kelly Rogers, President of the Contract Bridge Association of Ireland, who hails from Belleek came ‘home’ to officially open the 34th Congress ably assisted by John McClenaghan, Greencastle, Donegal Congress President, and Alan Hill who represented the Northern Ireland Bridge Union.

We made our English visitors very welcome by allowing them to win both the major competitions - Jason and Justin Hackett winning the congress pairs and also the congress teams along with Simon Cope and Thomas Paske. The Hacketts are well known on the bridge circuit and very popular visitors to Donegal bringing more bridge players with them each year. Thomas McCormac from Dublin (a first time visitor) and Ronan McMaugh from County Tyrone were second in the Congress Pairs and Liam and Teresa Breslin (with Donegal connections) were third. The Letterkenny/ Greencastle partnership of Mary McClenaghan and Jim O’Sullivan retained their Area Master Trophy which was kindly presented to the Donegal Congress by Sinead & Tony Reilly from Drogheda.

The CongressTeams were a close run event with Ardara man Charlie Whyte & his team of John Godden Mary & Vincent Brennan keenly contesting the competition but the Hackett Team ran out winners in the end. Past winning teams captained by Gay Keaveney and John McClenaghan came in third and fifth respectively. The Belfast ladies Moya Kelly, Hilary Ferguson, Mary Madden & Anne Fitzpatrick taking fourth place.

Intermediate A Pairs were won by regular supporters of Donegal Competitions
Brigid & Desmond Irwin and the Inishowen pair of Patsy Doherty & Alexis Lafferty won the Intermediate B Pairs. Congress President’s brother Paddy won the Novice section along with Michael Bonner. The Sligo ladies Gladys Sheridan Mary Kilfeather Assumpta Kelly won the Intermediate teams along with Jim O Malley and Martin O’Brien Paul Brennan Geraldine Healy and Irene Hoey won the best Intermediate B Team prize

The Mixed Pairs on Sunday evening was won by Ardara businessman Columba Diver and Mary Dunne who are already preparing to defend their trophy next year. Congress President John McClenaghan and Anna Carr were second with Mary & Vincent Brennan third
Ted McQuilken and Collette McCool, Derry won the overall Open Pairs.

As usual, the social events played a large part in the weekend. Noel Cunningham and the staff of Magees entertained in their usual style at the fashion show on Saturday morning. Gay Keaveney gave a very interesting workshop on Saturday morning pointing out where we had all gone wrong with the hands the previous evening. Pauline from Killybegs played and sang into the small hours of Sunday morning, thoroughly entertaining the large number of players who stayed up. However when Pauline packs up the guitar the Drogheda/Donegal/Mayo etc etc. singers continue in full voice until day break.
Where do they get the stamina ?

Chief Tournament directors over the weekend were Paddy Carr, Stranorlar, Paschal Buckley Ballyshannon, Seamus & Susie McGarvey Dungloe, John Grant Buncrana, Michael J Sullivan Letterkenny and joined this year by John and Breda Mulkearns Mayo. As usual the mammoth task of scoring was ably handled by Fearghal O’Boyle International Tournament Director, Mairead Basquille Sligo and Michael Fox Donegal.

It’s all over for another year and everything ran smoothly
thanks to a very hard working committee and volunteers.

 

Please see Templemichael Bridge for
John Godden's kind comments

I could not not do as well as John Godden so I quote

 

"Early notice of Donegal International Bridge Congress.

Being held at the Central and Abbey Hotels in Donegal Town on Friday, Saturday
and Sunday, November 6th to November 8th. One of the best known and best
supported Congresses in Ireland
for a weekend of bridge competition and social entertainment.
On the Friday evening the Congress kicks off with the Congress Pairs Championship,
the Intermediate 'A' Pairs Championship, and the Intermediate 'B' and Novice Pairs Championship.....something for everybody!
Second sessions of these events commence at 1.00pm on Saturday.
Teams of Four for all categories commence at 7.00pm on Saturday,
recommencing with the second session at 1.00pm on Sunday.
The Mixed Pairs Championship (currently held by a Templemichael partnership!),
ie Aileen Raftery & the aforementioned John Godden begins at 7.30pm
on Sunday evening.
Open Pairs are available throughout the course of the entire weekend.

You want more?

Well, what about a Ladies and Gents Fashion Show with coffee
at 10.00am on Saturday morning, given by Magee Ltd. of Donegal.
Following this at 11.15am, Gay Keaveney will be giving a master-class
in the Central Hotel. This will be well worth attending.

As if all that was not enough to entice you to one of the most enjoyable weekends
on the bridge calendar, why not try the Congress Gala Night of music, dancing and
craic in the Central Hotel
commencing immediately after the first session of the Teams Championship.
They will tell you in Donegal that this will continue on until the wee early hours
of the morning.
In my language and experience, this means breakfast time!
However I do believe that there is no penalty if you wish to catch a few hours sleep
before a Reception in the Central Hotel at 11.30am on Sunday morning.
Is it New York that never sleeps, or was it Donegal?

For a weekend that you will not forget for a long time to come, you may pass your entries
for the major competitions to me or directly to
Sandra McGinley at 074-9135266 or sangelacam@eircom.net.
Central Hotel reservations at 074-9721027, or Abbey Hotel at 074-9721014.

Incidentally, both of these hotels are part of The White Hotel Group.
They do have more than 200 rooms between them, and they will be booked out very soon.
Do join us in Donegal, after all, whatever else could you possibly be doing in November
that would be anyway half as enjoyable or entertaining as this spectacular Congress?"

 

Thanks, John, and look forward to meeting you again.

Main Sponsors - Abbey & Central Hotels, Donegal Town

 

Paddy Carr, President CBAI 2005 with Jim White, main sponsor
Donegal Bridge Congress

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At our recent Regional AGM, Mr John McClenaghan,Greencastle was elected Regional & Congress President
for the season 2009 - 2010

 

(photo to follow !) but while we are waiting ~

SPOT the President

Congrats to both Donegal Teams who finished 4th & 6th
in the CBAI County Teams for Fun day ~ bet they
brightened up Templeogue on the wettest day of the year

 

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Past Presidents

John McClenaghan 2009 Paschal Buckley 2008 Mary Doherty 2007

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It is with regret that we announce that Dee Crossan, Congress Hostess for many years,
passed away peacefully this evening Saturday 15th December 2007

Dee will be buried following 11 am Requiem Mass in Donegal Town on Monday 17th December 2007 RIP

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