24/08/2015
Hi all Dublin badminton fans.
For those of you who yet haven't yet heard, Beag 's Beo Badminton Club (Irish for Small and Alive) is marbh (dead).
A club that has being around the Dublin & District Leagues and Cups for the last 10+ years has finally closed due to the usual factors that have befallen other clubs in the past in Dublin; top players leaving from normal life events or leaving for stronger nearby clubs. The club unfortunately has not being able to replace them.
The club started out as a social club having 2 courts on a Wednesday night in Terenure Badminton Centre (TBC) in Whitehall Road. Over time it grew to be a successful league and cup club with the most court time of any resident club in TBC with Wednesday and Friday nights with courts 2, 3 and 4. The club served as a useful path for many from the nearby beginner’s course and people returning back to badminton, many now who are playing at high grade levels. While many of the club members were from Dublin we also had an international feel with people for example from France, Malaysia, India, Scotland, England and Cork.
It had many memorable competitive successes down through the years probably culminating in April 2012 where Beag ‘s Beo won both the Mixed Division 6 and Division 10 Dublin and District League Finals. The club also lost narrowly on points the Division 8 final in a great match against PBAI.
Off court, Beag ‘s Beo members between them produced a couple of weddings and several kids, had great trips to the All-England Badminton Championships, and definitely in no small part help keep the bar busy upstairs in Terenure Badminton Centre.
Of course many people over the years made for the club as successful as it was.
Firstly to Ann Kelly who greatly assisted the club initially in getting itself organised for the Dublin and District League and Cup and constantly again assisted the club match secretary through various issues over the years. Thank you Ann.
Thanks to the many club / match secretaries we had over the years, for example, Edel Casey (in our early formative years), Claire Woods, Seamus Dunphy, Alec Hambling. Again I know I’m missing one or 2 here - apologies.
Thanks to great financial controllers such as Gareth Donovan and Sharon Kerr (I know I’m missing somebody from here too, sorry) that ensured we always ran the club financially in a very healthy state. To the very end we had reserve of €2000 in Prize Bonds hoping to become the richest badminton club in Ireland.
Also, thanks to our club coach (and great value shuttle procurer) Barry Gallagher, well known by many for his consistent great play, great energy, player recruitment, coaching of club players, socialiser and tight shorts.
So, just to say thank you to all the clubs, teams we played against over the years and hope you gain a couple of good ex. Beag ‘s Beo players in the next season. Good luck.
Beag ’s Beo Badminton Club - Thomas Bohan
