Pool-playing pensioners ask council for a second chance

THE elderly members of a Northside pool club have appealed to Dublin City Council for a second chance after they were locked out of the room they practise in because of alleged anti-social behaviour. 

The Millwood Court senior citizens’ pool club in Edenmore have been left without a home after the council effectively banned them from a recreational room in the complex they had used to practise in.

The recreational room is located adjacent to the Millwood Court senior citizens’ complex and is used by the residents of the flats and their guests. But the members of the pool club, who had a table installed so they could practise there, have been the subject of complaints from some of the other residents regarding noise, drinking and smoking.

The members the club acknowledge that while some of the complaints are valid, others are “unfounded”.

“There was some drinking going on but there had always been a bit of drinking going on,” argued the manager of the club, David Glanville. 

“We even had Christmas parties in there and we’d have a few drinks but nobody told us to stop or to put up rules to say you could not drink. 

“There are signs there about no smoking that were disobeyed so maybe we’re guilty of that but there was always drinking here.

“I do remember there was one night when another team came to play against us here. I’ll never forget the night as it was a great night. They had their members and their supporters and we were here with our members and supporters so there must have been about 20 people congregating here.

“We were only eating sandwiches and drinking tea and coffee but somebody wrote a letter to say that their mother was frightened to death of going down to the washhouse because of all the people gathered here.

“The captain of the visiting team was 94-years-of-age and the age of the average player was over 66. But here we were, accused of terrifying this woman. 

“Nobody even came down to accuse us so we didn’t get a chance to answer the accusation.”

The Millwood club recently became Pool League Champions after winning a Crosscare-sponsored event but they are now effectivity champs without a home. 

“We did this place up ourselves, and we put a lot of work into it but now you can see we have our trophies there and nowhere to put them,” Mr Glanville added. “We’re champions of the league but it is starting up again soon and now we have no home to call our own. 

“We don’t blame the council,” he insisted. “They inherited a problem and they had to take action, but they should have come down and talked to us first. We regret what happened, big time, but I drew up a list of new rules about no drinking and only smoking in certain areas. All guests and visitors would have to obey these rules.

“We contacted the council and gave them a copy of the rules and then asked a local councillor to ring them up on our behalf but my understanding is that the council said they felt they could not control the building.”

The playing standards of the individual members of the club are now starting to slip as they have been forced to practise in a nearby youth club where they only get to use the tables for an hour or two a week.

“That’s how we won the league,” explained team captain, Paddy ‘Captain Marvel’ Behan.

 “We were practising almost every day but now we’re already getting rusty.

“As any pool player will tell you, if you don’t have your own table to practise on you’re at a disadvantage.

“If we went up against competition now we’d be beaten, it’s as simple as that,” Mr Behan added.

“We don’t know the form anybody is in now because we’re not practising enough,” added coach Colm Walsh.

Captain Behan described the sense of loss among the members.

“I was always a very passionate sports person and the club means a lot to me,” he stated. “Sport brings people together.

“It means that we could bring together a group of people who otherwise would be sitting alone in their houses, not being very active.”

He added: “I would be very concerned if we don’t find a home.”

Northside People asked Dublin City Council for a response but they were unable to comment at time of going to press.