Dara Melinn reports…
Recently there was a re-union of the Old Crofton TTC in the Bankers pub in Trinity Street, Dublin where ex members and friends met up. This venue was where the not so serious players gathered for refreshments after play and sometimes in between knocks, before the club folded in the early seventies. The late Jim Langan began his early career there and went on to become Irelands number one player, helped along the way by the late Ken O’Riordan, Jim beat many top internationals in his day but his greates disapointment was never winning the Irish Open (he won this title as a poker player) – he was beaten in two finals, once to the English international Stuart Gibbs and once to Tommy Caffrey in straight sets in Omagh ’67. Incidentally this was Tommy’s second title (some achievment!).
It was a super day in the Bankers with lots of blasts from the past including Tommy and his wife Eileen, lots of stories were told with even a song thrown in by Brian Doyle. It was a fun day and praise the good Lord we can make it an annual event
D.Melinn
Photo – Kieran O’Mara, Dara Melinn, Joe Clarke, Gerry Lonergan ( ex hockey international) Brian Doyle, Michael Gibney