Page 34 - Winter 2013

Page 34:Layout 1 09/02/2014 17:49 Page 1

Spreading the
34 Spreading the
word in Ireland
word in Ireland
When elected as Irish Indoor
Bowling Association Honorary
Secretary, Seamus Kyne ad-
vised the AGM of the urgent
need to remember that the as-
sociation covered the entire is-
land and that steps had to be
taken in order to ensure the
growth of the Association.
Chairman Jim Pinkerton,
Seamus Kyne and Hon Comp
Secretary Jim McIlroy met with
members of the Kildare and
IIBA representatives Jim Pinkerton, Seamus Kyne
and Jim McIlroy either side of Donal Burke of the West Wicklow league which
Wicklow and West Kildare League in the Naas area. comprises 32 clubs. However
they currently play with small
bowls but use IIBA rules.
The hope was that with continued contact they might be persuaded to move to the normal
sized bowls. In the meantime 24 sets of the normal bowls have been donated to them. The 3 of-
ficers plan to visit Westport in the West, Killarney in the South and the Dublin area in the East.
The potential for growth of the association in these areas is immense and needs to be addressed
without further delay.
Seamus Kyne

Ed - this item should have been included earlier last year but was overlooked by me. Since
then Seamus Kyne is now responsible for development and also assisting with the competition
organising for the IIBA. The Chairman is now David Hunter and Jim McIlroy remains as the Com-
petition Secretary.
The Irish Indoor Bowling Association operates mainly in Northern Ireland and just over the
border with Southern Ireland, as well as big area of Short Mat around Cork at the bottom of Ireland.
However, the IIBA represents the whole of Ireland both North & South. Seeking to encourage other
areas of Southern Ireland to join the IIBA, Seamus Kyne arranged a visit to Naas.
The Irish language name for Naas, Nás na Ríogh literally means Meeting Place of the Kings
or the place of the Assembly of the Kings. Situated just 20 miles South of Dublin it has recently
developed very quickly as a commuter town.
I beleive they play on Short Mat Carpets but use Carpet bowls, not be confused with the
small black bowls also adertised as carpet bowls. They are 98mm (3.875 in) in diameter, and
737.09gm (1lb 10oz) in weight and No. 3 bias. The smallest outdoor/indoor bowls are 116mm
(4.6875”) and1210 gsm (2lbs 10.75oz).
Players do not use their own bowls a set of 8 for each “team” is already provided for play. As
their rules say in part, no bowls other than this match-
ing set shall be used in a game. Stickers may be used
to distinguish between the bowls.
I believe in the NAAS area they use full length
carpets.. If you’ve not played carpet bowls as such,
they use a 30 foot long carpet and the same width as
ours AND it is a very skilful game with no striking to
speak of. They have a restricted area for delivering
the bowls and an 18” circular Centre block.