Death of another rural club...

Another rural club bites the dust. Declining numbers have been blamed for the death of one of Leitrim's most respected clubs.
There's hardly a man of my age within 10 miles of here that hasn't seen service with this legendary club in the course of his time. Discussions yesterday amongst surviving members reached the conclusion that this wonderful club should cease to be, with immediate effect.

Difficulties with sufficient numbers, aligned to various forms of Governmental regulations regarding blood/alcohol counts and the use of tobacco have seen this once proud institution fall into sad and indeed terminal decline. The younger lads of today just haven't the time, inclination or funding to rescue the sinking ship at this stage and so the famed "Monday club" in Fenagh is to be with us no more....

It was not even exclusive...many's the Monday, the neighbouring clubs indulged in celebrations or defeats under the shadow of the ancient Abbey's and indeed many's the man fell asleep in the graveyard, having in a drunken state gone up there to pray for a deceased relation...

The end of an era and wonderful memories....

Bring on the Tuesday club. I blame the three day week meself ....

I have been a member of a couple of monday clubs. When one died out a couple of us moved to another which was struggling and our efforts revived it for a while but it has since died a death.
I recall a few years back at the height of the boom, there was a famous North Leitrim hostilrie in which we used to frequent most Mondays. The Guiness lads delivered there every Monday and came in for a couple of minerals and a sandwich. In they end they were on first name terms with us all. But all of a sudden it ended, coicinding with the crash of the Tiger economy.
Instead of mourning the loss we moved across the county boundary to join a Monday gathering in a small village in Co.Sligo.
It was however on its last legs and although our arrival boosted it's membership for a while it was a lost cause.
Although it enjoyed something of a revival after Sligos 4 Championship matches this year, so I'm hoping that they win this weekend and we will have at least another couple of Mondays like the old ones.

I once recall that following an unprecedented upsurge in Monday club membership that a severe crackdown was enforced by local employers, footballteam trainers and neglected wives, The local clubhouse became liable to incur spot checks and raids at frequent intervals.

It was therefore proposed, seconded and agreed that the club would meet at an out of town and remote venue.
It was on one Monday on a cold April morning that we were in this remote spot, An auld buck landed in about 11.00 am and proceeded to ignore both us and the landlord. He went over to the fireplace and cleaned out the grate, disposed of the ashes and set the fire with kindling, Turf and coal. He then lit the fire and once this was done he left the pub. In response to our curiosity the landlord advised us that the auld buck in question had breached house rules and rather than barring him - the punishment laid out was that he had to light the fire for five mornings on the trot before he would be served again.

OMAR wrote: In response to our curiosity the landlord advised us that the auld buck in question had breached house rules and rather than barring him - the punishment laid out was that he had to light the fire for five mornings on the trot before he would be served again.

No appeals to the CCCC in that neck of the woods, you take your medicine and move on.

Ah! the joys of rural Ireland. I remember, years ago, being in a famous Monday club in a nearby parish when about 4pm. an oul' lad came in, half dragging, half carrying a sheep. He put the sheep down beside the fire and had a comfortable lock of pints, all the while having the banter and in topping form.
After the 6 o'clock news he stirred himself and proceeded to have a raffle for the sheep - €2 a head. This yielded the guts of €50 and was won by a member of our company. The ensuing craic was fookin' mighty but the state of us loading the sheep into his wife's car later on was Candid Camera stuff....

The post Celtic Tiger days won't throw up these evenings again...

Boxtyeater wrote:

OMAR wrote: In response to our curiosity the landlord advised us that the auld buck in question had breached house rules and rather than barring him - the punishment laid out was that he had to light the fire for five mornings on the trot before he would be served again.

No appeals to the CCCC in that neck of the woods, you take your medicine and move on.

Ah! the joys of rural Ireland. I remember, years ago, being in a famous Monday club in a nearby parish when about 4pm. an oul' lad came in, half dragging, half carrying a sheep. He put the sheep down beside the fire and had a comfortable lock of pints, all the while having the banter and in topping form.
After the 6 o'clock news he stirred himself and proceeded to have a raffle for the sheep - €2 a head. This yielded the guts of €50 and was won by a member of our company. The ensuing craic was fookin' mighty but the state of us loading the sheep into his wife's car later on was Candid Camera stuff....

The post Celtic Tiger days won't throw up these evenings again...

and from there the first Leisure Centre in Leitrim was born

Sounds more like a ram raid to me ..........

Jayo Cluxton wrote:Sounds more like a ram raid to me ..........

Eweing to the drink in all one could be forgiven in thinking it was a he not a she

A shower of scallywags....