To mark the Republic's historic achievement in winning the home international championship (Camrose Trophy) for the first time - last March - a presentation was made to the team by the outgoing president, Kay Molloy, at the annual general meeting of the Contract Bridge Association of Ireland.
The Republic's successful squad was: Tom Hanlon, Dr Hugh McGann, Dr G.M. Keaveney, Rory Timlin, Rory Boland, Niall Toibin, B.J. O'Brien, Ranald Milne, and non-playing captains, Mark Burke and Mark Moran.
Michael O'Connor assumed the office of president in succession to Mrs Molloy. The Dublin South Region nominated Seamus Dowling as president-elect. The other honorary officers, all re-elected unopposed, are: vice-president, Joe Moran; chairman, John Cunningham; secretary, Una Walsh; treasurer, Clare Pippet; auditor, Joe Bevan.
Resolutions passed: affiliation fee for the coming season to be £4.50 per member; inclusion of immediate past president on management committee; increase in minimum delegate representation at executive committee meetings from one to two.
The general secretary, Paul Porteous, in his report, appealed to the members to encourage young people to take up the game. He asked that clubs, where feasible, should organise classes for beginners next September, thus strengthening the association.
He then referred to successes during the season. Along with the nail-biting home international championship win in Templepatrick, Co Antrim, another highlight was the victory of Tommy Garvey and Dr McGann in the English Bridge Union's men's pairs championship in Coventry.
The secretary asked members to buy and promote the Irish Bridge Journal, which costs £8 for six issues, and may be ordered from Una Walsh (091-526502), 41 Friarshill, Galway.
The new president said that recently through research he discovered in proportion to our population we have more bridge players than any other country in the world. He asked players to support the national mixed pairs championship (Spiro Cup), which will be decided via the Swiss Movement, in Galway, on September 16th-17th.
