Legendary seanchaí Eamon Kelly, in his many radio and television programmes including the Rambling House, really encapsulated the manner in which the inhabitants of rural Ireland organised their many social events each winter, which included the Station and Threshing dances.

Gamble and Biddy Ball nights included marathon card sessions culminating with a night of music, song and dance which, if not interrupted by a visit from the local parish priest, often finished by day break.

While many of such events which were very much part of the life of the Spa/Lissivigeen community are now but a distant memory for those of us old enough o remember them, one social pastime that has stood the test of time is card playing. The annual Spa 31 Championship of Kerry is growing in popularity each year since it was initiated as a fundraiser for the Spa GAA club back in 1972.

Following the revival of the GAA club in Spa in the mid 1960’s, training continued in Jack Doherty’s Pit in Tiernaboul, and later in the O’Keeffe family field at Tullig.

Success led to a demand for a permanent pitch and an approach was made to Denis O’Keeffe with a view to purchasing six acres. A committee was put in place to raise the necessary finance for the purchase and development of this facility. Among the fundraising events were local donations, the organisation of the Lily of Killarney Festival and weekly card drives culminating in a grand final to be known as the 31 Championship of Kerry.

Initially, such weekly card sessions, followed by a set dancing session, were staged in the Ryan Hotel (now Hotel Killarney) and as the weeks passed, card players and set dancers from all over the county converged on the Ryan Hotel each Wednesday night.

As well as being a financial bonanza for the club, such events proved to be the most enjoyable social occasions for all involved.

When the Ryan Hotel decided to close for the winter season of 1973, an approach was made to John C Cooper, then the proprietor of the Castle Heights Hotel, with a view to accommodating such events. John C acceded to this request and again such events even surpassed the success of the earlier season.

Card players from as far away as Waterville, Reenard, Caherciveen, Rathmore, Headford, Kilgarvan, Kenmare, Kicummin and Gneeveguilla flocked to those weekly sessions as well as the cream of the set dancing fraternity from many areas.

Such events continued in the Castle Heights until Spa developed their own clubhouse on the current site and which saw those events continuing in the newly developed clubhouse.

Excerpt from John Kelly’s feature in the 2015/2016 Spa Review