22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Wexford bingo marks half a century – ‘Over the years, it's given me back more than I've ever put into it'
In Ireland it was the year of the Miami Showband Massacre. Eamon De Valera passed away. George Best lined out for a league of Ireland game for Cork Celtic against Drogheda and the likes of The Bay City Rollers were taking over the charts.
It was also the year that the Clonard bingo was established. Five decades later, Frankie Thomas, one of the original committee members, turns the key in the lock at the community centre and gets things ready to call the numbers once again – this time marking the major milestone.
'It's just been lovely to be involved in it over the years,' he smiles. 'I would say that I've gotten back more from it than I ever put in.'
It was back in 1972 the idea of the bingo first came up. With funds required to build a church in Clonard, it was decided that running a bingo could be a great way of bringing in funds.
Frankie and a few others were dispatched to observe the successful bingo at the Dun Mhuire and get some advice. Little did they know that the Clonard bingo would not only outlast the one in Dun Mhuire, but it would outlast the parish hall building itself!
In the early days, Frankie found himself in charge of handing out the prize money to lucky winners, while Joe Brennan and Martin Shannon did the calling and kept the large crowds entertained. Also involved since day one is Dave Ormonde, who was chairman of the first committee.
"It's been a real team effort,' Frankie says. 'Over the years some great people have been involved. I count myself really lucky to have been part of it.'
Nowadays, the operation is run by Frankie and Carol Goodison and they along with Denny Farrell do the calling. There's a whole team that helps in various ways, however. From Geraldine Mahoney and her team in the box office to Sophie Hendrick and Tess Duggan in the shop and Margaret Brennan in the kitchen.
The committee are also grateful to those who look after the hall and are so accommodating, as well as Karen the Parish Secretary.
While the numbers being called and books being marked are still the same, the age profile of those in attendance is steadily going up. The love of bingo hasn't quite caught on with new generations as it did with those who packed out parish halls across the 70s, 80s and 90s.
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"We could do with some fresh blood coming into it alright,' Frankie concedes. 'But we do have very loyal supporters who come every Wednesday. Some of them have been coming for the full 50 years. It's a great social night out and it gives a great opportunity for people to get together. It's a real community.'
As well as raising money to build two churches, the Clonard bingo community also managed to raise €10,000 for the oncology unit at Wexford General Hospital in the past.
"The only break we had in the whole 50 years was when Covid hit,' Frankie says. 'That was a tough time for everyone. Obviously, everything closed down. Then we were able to do it out in the car park before getting back properly. Some people were a bit worried about coming back at that stage, but thankfully we're back in full flow again now.
As he gets the machine going, microphone in hand, Frankie is extremely proud of the legacy of the Clonard bingo, and hopeful that there are a few more years left in it yet.
"I count myself very luck to be here,' he smiles.
