Cavan CYMS St Felim’s Branch
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Official Opening of New CYMS Clubrooms, on September 11, 1997. From left: Henry McNulty, National Treasurer; Sean Coyle, Joint Hon Treasurer; Richard Cassidy, Vice Chairman; Michael Breslin, CYMS Committee; Niall Rawl, structural engineer; Owen Smith, building contractor; Most Rev Francis McKiernan DD, Bishop of Kilmore, who officially opened the new clubrooms; Tommy McKiernan, CYMS Committee; Sean Walsh, CYMS Committee; Paddy O’Reilly, Joint Hon Treasurer; Kieran Cullivan (partly hidden), CYMS Committee) and Tom Sheridan, CYMS National Secretary.Image 2 of 3
Cavan CYMS makes generous donation to Cathedral Restoration Project. From left: Michael Shiels, CYMS Committee; Martin Sexton, Chairman, Cavan CYMS; Father Kevin Fay, Adm; Bishop Martin Hayes, Bishop of Kilmore; Paddy O Reilly, Hon Treasurer, Cavan CYMS and Karl Dunne, CYMS Committee. Adrian Donohoe Photography. 086 3716199Image 3 of 3
Bishop Martin Hayes receives recent book on history of Cavan CYMS. From left: Michael Sheils, CYMS Committee, Father Kevin Fay, ADM; Martin Sexton, Chairman Cavan CYMS (making presentation); Bishop Martin Hayes, Bishop of Kilmore; Paddy O’Reilly, Hon Treasurer, Cavan CYMS and Karl Dunne, CYMS Committee. Adrian Donohoe Photography. 086 3716199Cavan CYMS is celebrating the Silver Jubilee of its move to the new CYMS club and shopping complex at 4 Farnham Street.
To mark the occasion, the club recently presented a substantial cheque to the Cavan Cathedral Restoration Fund.
A Remembrance Mass will be held in the Poor Clare Convent followed by a gala banquet in the Cavan Crystal Hotel next Thursday, September 29.
Speaking about the upcoming events, club treasurer Paddy O’Reilly said: “We have a function in the Crystal Hotel, which will be paid for by all members. So, if you pay €30 for membership, you'll be given a free meal so the money will be back in your pocket.”
A separate event will be held for the younger members of the club with details still to be arranged.
A PROUD HISTORY
Established first as a Catholic club in 1891, the club's first home was at ‘The Temperance Hall’ at the Cathedral of Ss Patrick & Felim.
The club was amalgamated into the Catholic Young Men's Society (CYMS) movement in 1936 with the specific aim of providing recreational facilities for the young men of Cavan Town.
The organisation was closely associated with the famous Holy Family Confraternity and provided stewards for all the big events in the Cathedral most famously for the annual Corpus Christi procession around the town. Under controversial circumstances, they were forced out of their premises of over 70 years in 1961 when the Parish decided to demolish the ‘The Temperance Hall’.
The club was later facilitated by the British Legion at their ’Hut’ premises in Farnham Street and, in 1975, bought the building from Lord Farnham.
“We were in a prefab type building before we came here. It had iron windows that you couldn’t close properly so it was impossible to get it heated. Then if we did get it heated, it was impossible to keep the heat in,” recalled Paddy.
There followed a period of consolidation with the ‘Hut’ being completely refurbished until 1997 when the premises was demolished to make way for a super new CYMS complex. "It is this great event that we celebrate this month recalling 25 years of service and recreation to successive generations of young Cavan men," Paddy said proudly.
COMPLETE REVAMP
The building has recently undergone a complete refurbishment with the installation of a new state-of-the-art TV Room.
“The World Cup is coming up, so we got a new television so the kids and the younger members can come in here to watch it.”
New LED lighting and decor, together with the refurbishment of their three championship snooker tables, brought the club up to a par with World Senior Snooker Championship tables as used in venues such as ‘The Crucible’ in Sheffield. The snooker tables are brushed and ironed by one of the members, Marius Kettlyes, and are a testament to the dexterity and expertise of Marius and Paddy Brady who continues as caretaker to supervise the outstanding care and welfare of the members who enjoy the many facilities and camaraderie in an alcohol, drug and smoke free environment.
A SAFE PLACE
Members of the committee take great pride in the structure of the club, with the safety of its members the prime concern. New members undergo an interview process to ensure they are an appropriate fit. All members must sign in and out of the premises and some members are Garda vetted to ensure younger members are not put at any risk.
“We’re working with kids, we’re working with adults, everybody has their Garda vetting so the fabric of the club is excellent,” says chairman Martin Sexton, confident in the measures CYMS has taken.
MEMBERSHIP
Cavan CYMS now boasts over 200 members.
“We have 131 life members, 57 seniors and 17 juniors. We also have a waiting list for those who want to become a new member of the club,” says Paddy.
CYMS is open seven days per week Monday to Saturday with early opening on Sunday at 3pm, for all males who want to play a game of snooker. Life membership costs €200 on a once-off basis. Senior members who wish to pay annually must pay €30. Juniors pay €5 a year, and any guests who want to play must pay €1 for 20 minutes to access the snooker balls.
Contact the club by calling Paddy on 086-8551988 or drop into the premises for a guided tour and details of application for membership during opening hours.