Determined ladies fight to save Navan parish bingo
LOUISE WALSH
Three determined lotto ladies have managed to save Navan's parish bingo which closed in August, after over 60 years.
Dwindling numbers at the Monday night St Mary's Parish bingo forced the Parish Administrator to cease operations on the event, which first began in the 1960s
At the time Fr Declan Hurley told bingo-goers that the prize money had been consistently greater than the income from the sales of books and sheets which meant the bingo account could not afford new books and sheets.
However he acknowledged that it was an important social occasion for many and remained open to suggestions for a more sustainable model.
The closure moved three of the committee to appeal to local businesses for sponsorship.
After a lot of 'begging and door knocking', Jean Hogge, Breege Scullion and Linda Fitzpatrick, who have given between 15 and 35 years of voluntary service at the bingo, have managed to resurrect the weekly night beginning on Monday, 19th October
“It was struggling and the numbers were falling but to see it closed was very upsetting and disappointing to us all,” said Linda
“It was a real community event where people met and got to know each other. They may not know names but they knew everyone's faces.”
Three halls, including one upstairs at the community centre, were once needed to hold bingo lovers. This then dwindled to about 500 before Covid-19 hit, closing the bingo for months and failing to attract back some attendees once it reopened.
In its last few weeks before it closed it is estimated that numbers fell to about 120 people which proved unsustainable to meet book and prize costs as well as electricity and heating fees.
Books were up to €20 and prizes were down to just €30 a line while prizes at other bingo were far higher and attracted the remaining bingo lovers.
“It was a super occasion for everyone, especially the older generation who are just shocked,” added Breege.
But the ladies refused to let the bingo go without a fight.
“We just went around every business and begged. Simple as that. Fitzsimons' Undertakers and Peadar Farrelly Undertakers as well as Clem's Pub gave us sizeable donations while other businesses were kind enough to give smaller donations and vouchers for raffles.
“Fr Hurley was kind enough to agree to let us use the hall, the insurance and the licence and any profit will go back into the parish account.
“We hope to up prizes to €50 a line and a double line and €100 a panel with a €400 jackpot but that money will go up if the numbers go up.
“So we are asking everyone to please grab their partner, children, neighbour, even their bus driver and come down and support us or we will have to close again for good”
The St Mary's Parish Bingo will restart at the Navan Community Centre on Trimgate Street on Monday 19th October at 8pm and continue every second Monday until attendance grows.
Parish ADM Fr Declan Hurley said: “Navan Parish is happy to once again host bingo in St. Mary's Community Centre. It is indeed an important social outlet for many people in the local community.
I am grateful to those who have made this possible through pledging sponsorship and hopefully this will sustain this much loved bingo night for a long time to come.”