Margaret Shanahan has loved bingo nights for over 50 years

As always with ventures that stand the test of time, passion is key to success and that applies to Bingo Nights in Littleton. For over 50 years bingo in Littleton has been a part of Margaret Shanahan’s life.

Newly married and arriving to the parish from The Ragg, the activity played a central part in bringing the Drom Inch native into the community in earnest.

The secretary of Muintir na Tire in Littleton is busy organising for the night’s bingo when I spoke with her last Friday night:
“I have fond memories of nights here going back the years. There were always great people involved and it is thriving now. We have roughly 180 to 200 here every Friday night. We fill the hall. They come from Johnstown, Urlingford, Cashel, Clonmel, Ballingarry and there are a lot of locals as well. 

“People meet one another. There is great friendship in it. If one is missing they would be enquiring what is up!

“We would have men and women as well as young people. It is an outlet. It struggled at one point over the years but it got new life then and it has gone from strength to strength. The value of it is great to the village too.

“It brings people around and they go into the local shops and some of them would go to the chipper afterwards. The money is good here; you could win €300 euro on a game. We have a split the bucket as well so the night draws the crowds,” she said.

Tipperary senior hurling goalkeeper Rhys Shelly is Margaret’s grandson and helping on the night was Rhys sister, Aoife Shelly, who said she really enjoys the nights in the hall: “I sell the tickets here and help out in the shop. I come here with my granny and I’m always here unless I’m playing a GAA match with Moycarkey Borris where I play football as well as camogie.”

Margaret says Aoife is a great help to her when it comes to bingo nights: “It is great to have her here and there is plenty to do. She is a big help.” 

Martin Cooney is on the committee as well, and he says bingo nights add so much for everyone involved: “It is going great and while Covid knocked us hard, people have their confidence back now. There are so many places after closing in rural Ireland and the pubs aren’t what they were but if you come here it is social and Joe O’Sullivan brings groups from all over. 

“We have generations of people involved here. I can remember coming here as a child in the 1970s with my mother  and Margaret Shanahan was here from day one along with her husband Jimmy and a lot of other people have passed on since. There were some people that put in so much time for example the likes of TK Dwyer and his wife Phyllis. Now we have a good committee again and a good community here so long may it continue.”