Margaret Salisbury received a life membership at Rathdowney Memorial Bowls Club after being a part of the club for over 37 years.
The news of Margaret receiving a life membership was kept very quiet and she had no idea what was being presented to her.
“It was a lovely surprise really – I was told ‘rightio, all you lot in the kitchen, come out here,’ and that’s what they presented to me,” Margaret said.
Although the bowls club is a small part of Margaret’s life, she loves the company there and appreciates her role as their secretary.
“I like the company and feeling a bit useful – it does take up quite a bit of my time still,” she said.
Margaret was part of the construction process of the Rathdowney Bowls Club back in 1986 with the official opening being in May 1987.
The community would hold barbeque fundraisers with the local soccer club to raise money for their newest development.
“We would raise money to build it – it was a big community effort,” Margaret said.
“I hope the members now appreciate how much effort it took to build it.”
Margaret was new to bowls when she first joined the club with most of the original members having no experience playing the game themselves.
“When we started first, nobody had played bowls. Someone who used to live in Rathdowney was the only man that could play,” Margaret said.
“We had so much to do with raising money for it that we joined.”
The club celebrated their 37th Anniversary last year on June 18 with some of the original volunteers paying a visit to celebrate.
“Most of the people who helped build the green didn’t turn into bowl members,” she said.
Margaret enjoyed celebrating the Club’s anniversary and seeing familiar faces, including seeing five of the original members on the day.
“There’s only seven of our original club members still alive,” she said.
“Five of the original members came back – it was a lovely day.”
