Greystones Bridge Centre

What do Martina Navratilova, Bill Gates and Greystones have in common? They all love the mental gymnastics that goes with a good game of bridge.

Bridge has been a big sport in Greystones for many decades. Perhaps that's why Greystones is home to such a high concentration of smart and successful men and women. They walk the hills, swim the sea and engage in a cerebral sport! 

“Bridge is more than just a card game. It’s a cerebral sport. Bridge teaches you logic, reasoning, quick thinking, patience, concentration and partnership skills. And no matter where I go, I can always make new friends at the bridge table”, Martina Navratilova, Tennis Champion (CBAI).

Bridge - An Olympic Sport

The Contract Bridge Association of Ireland (CBAI) lists the reasons why a person should take up Bridge:

• It’s fun
• It’s social
• It’s great value
• It’s played all over the world, by people from all walks of life
• It can be a lifelong pursuit
• It involves continuous learning
• It’s competitive, within a grading system that pits you against your peers
• It’s primarily a game of skill, with a little luck thrown in
• It provides mental stimulation
• Research shows that it makes a positive contribution to your health

"I love Bridge. Everybody who is good at Bridge is going to be good at lots of things", says Bill Gates who still can't beat Warren Buffet.

In fact, Glen Fuels co-founder, Mrs Miriam Keyes, a Bridge player, had the quickest and sharpest brain in the Irish oil industry during her career.

Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere

A game for all ages and all walks of life, the Bridge club in Greystones is open mornings, afternoons and evenings.

Greystones Bridge Centre was built more than 25 years ago and can hold 120 players in one sitting. There are six independent clubs using Greystones Bridge Centre.

According to GBC member, John Royds, Bridge is a "very stimulating mind game that is mentally challenging at which a person never plateaus - never stops improving."

Maybe you're a gang of friends looking for a collective hobby, perhaps you're single and ready to mingle, you might be lonely and in need of conversation or your motivation could be to stregthen your mental agility as you move into the next life stage.

To accelerate rapidly, enquire about lessons from Bridge Centre Committee Chairperson Bernadette Coggins 087 4146587 or email berno2000@gmail.com.

Kids and teenagers can also play and benefit from Bridge and while writing this blog, we came across Bridge for Peace, World Youth Teams Championships and World Youth Open Championships.

Glen Fuels - Energy for Everything

Our thanks first of all to the playing and committee members of Greystones Bridge Club. We are honoured to have been keeping your Centre and your homes warm for more than 25 years.

Each year the Club hosts the Greystones Open Cup in which all the best players from Bridge clubs all over Ireland compete in a one-day, two-session event. Sponsored by Glen Fuels, Greystones Open Cup 2020 will take place on March 29 at Greystones Bridge Centre.

We encourage people of all ages to find one creative outlet - drama, library and music activities lead to improved literacy and mathematical skills in young people and help restore joie de vivre in adults.

We also encourage people of all ages to find one physical activity they can do regularly - physically active kids are better able to maintain focus, multi-task and retain information while team sports teach communication and patience and foster inter-generational friendships.

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Photo credit: World Bridge Federation