Joe was originally a member of the Caissa Chess Club, located in the White Horse Bar, Burgh Quay, Dublin 1. However, Joe wished to set up a more local chess club and, with the help of PC Quinn, he helped found Trinity Chess Club based in the Trinity Sports and Leisure cente in Donaghmede in 1982.
Joe was also a founder member of the Trinity Sports and Leisure centre and used his "good influence" to secure a small room located adjacent to the Squash Court for the chess club. This room was by no means generous in size and was probably the smallest chess venue in Dublin - if not the Country at the time! This room had no windows.
Nevertheless we all managed to squeeze in to it and we had some very enjoyable chess matches there. One drawback was that on the same night as our chess night an Aerobics class was held next door in the Squash court. This meant that we could hear all the hits of Madonna and the other stars of the time belted out on a ghetto-blaster while trying to concentrate on the chess. Certainly an intimidating atmosphere for any opposition!
From there we graduated to the back bar and then to the boardroom in the Trinity Sports & Leisure Centre with about a two year spell in the Baldoyle Youth club in between times.
Unfortunately a new Committee arrived in the Trinity Sports & Leisure Centre and we were no longer welcome in the Boardroom so it was a case of moving on. Again Joe used his good influence with a friend who was the caretaker of St. Kevin's School in Donaghmede to secure a playing venue. One drawback however was that we had to vacate the building when the caretaker arrived back at around 10.30 pm!
On one occasion I remember playing a League match and noticed the caretaker hovering around as it was getting late. I suggested to my opponent that we might adjourn the match which you could do at that time. He was initially reluctant to do this, but I had to explain to him that the lights would be going out shortly and that if he wanted to he could spend the night there. Needless to say he decided to adjourn the match.
Our stay in St. Kevin's School did not last long after that and we were on the move again. This time we managed to secure a room in Naomh Barrog GAA Club thanks to the goodwill of the Naomh Barrog Committee and soon after changed the name to Naomh Barrog Chess club.
Joe was a fully committed member of the chess club and very often was one of the few left at the end of the evening putting the chess equipment away. At that stage we would usually adjourn to the Bar upstairs where Joe enlivened the conversation and the craic.
Joe could always be relied on to get our chess stationery as he had a good contact that ensured we never ran short of chess score sheets,
There was also a very human side to Joe which some people may not be aware of. If anyone needed help or if anything needed to be mended Joe was always on hand. He saw to it that the Club notice board was properly fixed, that Tom was taking garlic pills for his cough and that John Forde had something to cure his sinus problem. Joe was forever making life more livable for those around him.
I myself recall a period when, after surgery, I spent two weeks recovering in the Orthopaedic Hospital in Clontarf. Joe was a frequent visitor to see me. He used to bring fruit, sweets and a chess board and, to the amusement of the other patients, we had some entertaining chess matches.
I along with a lot of other people have very fond memories of Joe.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dilis.
Michael O'Dwyer
Treasurer
Naomh Barróg Chess Club
