THOSE who have enjoyed the many social and sporting benefits of a Southside club that was specifically established for members of the gardai have written a new book recalling its history.
The book entitled
‘The Garda Club – A History of Dublin Metropolitan Garda Recreation Club’ tells the story of how the club, located at Harrington Street in Dublin 2, was founded and the impact it has had on the lives of its members.
The illustrated tome offers testament to the vision, industry and sheer grit and determination of its founding members and those charged with carrying on its legacy.
From its Harrington Street premises, the Garda Club emerged as one of the top entertainment hotspots in Dublin in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Christy McCarthy, who co-wrote the book, was born in Glendeigh, Co Kerry in 1946 and became a member of the force in 1966.
He worked his way up the ranks as a young man and retired in 2006 as superintendent after 40 years of service. He became involved in the Garda Club in 1986 and was a committee member before becoming secretary, a position he held from 1991 until 2003.
He explained how prominent members of the force in the 1960s, including former Garda Commissioner Edmund Garvey, helped establish the club.
“My group of people saw a need for it and that group was headed by Edmund Garvey, who later became Garda Commissioner,
? Mr McCarthy said.
“He had an interest in the welfare of people and his colleagues.
“At that time young gardai in Dublin had to live in Garda stations and there were no social facilities for them. That is how the idea came about and like minded people formed a committee and brought it forward from there.
“It meant that people and their friends could socialise in a friendly atmosphere. There was a dance hall and the members’ bar was downstairs.
“Aside from Harrington Street the guards at that time had no sporting facilities as such, aside from a couple of snooker tables and darts and things but they had no facilities for outdoor sports.
?
The revenue generated from bingo, cabaret, big band dancing and disco, as well as members’ subscriptions, made it possible for the club to embark on ambitious development plans.
Some of these plans ultimately led to the kind of sport and social facilities that few police forces in the world can rival. These facilities include Stackstown Golf Club, which was later opened up to civilian membership and became the training ground for Irish golfing legend Padraig Harrington in his youth.
Additional lands purchased in the mid and late-1980s in Westmanstown, Clonsilla gave rise to the jewel in the crown – the Westmanstown Sports and Conference Centre.
From such prized premises, the club provided training facilities not only for Garda and civilian members but also for Irish athletes preparing for the Special Olympics in 2003.
Written over three years, this book is the work of editor Antoinette Walker, Christy McCarthy and historians Jim Murphy and Helen Corrigan, among others.
The nostalgic nature of the book is greatly enhanced by a collection of photos and letters from the early days of the Garda Club.
It also includes forewords from Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan, Garda Club Chairman Dave Dowling and Eddie Murphy, managing director of Ford Ireland, as well as a range of contributions from various members of the Garda Club.
The Garda Club can be purchased for
?¬19.99 by logging onto www.libertiespresscom