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Maybe there’s nothing to these rumblings but, if true, that would be a shame, given that this club has long been a major part of the town, and it’s now positioned as the jewel in the crown down at the harbour.
We’re not interested in rummaging around in the personal politics here. We’re sure the club is well capable of making itself ship-shape all by its lonesome, and it can’t be easy with the move from one building to another. And, as we said, this is just from the outside, looking in.
There’s still work to be done, of course, and plenty more arguments to be had about the design, the money, the
Across the great divide…
e tried. We really tried. Hands across the water, and all that.
But, for some strange reason, the Greystones Sailing Club don’t seem to want us coming down their end of the pool.
Sent another email on January 2nd, and current commodore David Nixon this time replied, letting the Guide know that ‘we will, of course, send you any relevant news, events, etc’. Yippee!
It’s got the only balcony seat, looking out over the sea, Bray Head, out to Howth, and beyond. And for anyone approaching the harbour from the South Beach side, that great big clubhouse is the first thing they’ll see of the harbour.
So, why all the secrecy? It hardly needs to be said that, right now, the people of Greystones and those lucky enough to call the new harbour their home need to come together. One and one, and one, is three, after all.
Today, even if what you’re taking in is still dominated by a few tons of concrete and seemingly endless, Escher-esque miles of fencing, it’s still better than the closed shop the harbour has been for eight long years.
Mercifully, as the transition from old Victorian harbour to shiny new marina kicks into its final stages, there are signs of new life. There’s greenery. Benches. A play area. Finally, the harbour is once again becoming fit for human consumption.
materials used, the fishing, the erosion, the toadying, the tallying, and who the harbour truly belongs to, but, the simple fact is, what we’re dealing with here is pretty much the heart of Greystones.
If there’s nothing to all these murmurs and rumours, and the Greystones Sailing Club is in tip-top shape, hurrah! If it isn’t, and this article helps give it a kick in the right direction, hurrah! We don’t have a dinghy in this race, and, as magnificent as we are, the Guide isn’t actually the Bible – we’re just interested in the actual truth. And in everyone pulling together. With the wind’s blowing in the right direction, of course.
5 comments
I am not a member of Greystones Sailing Club, but a member of my family is.
I think the Greystones Guide should be careful about making such public criticism. In particular, I don’t think it’s fair to name an individual who is in an unpaid position. GSC is run by volunteers. They do, and always have done, a great job, devoting hours of their own time to the club’s activities.
I accept that you are endeavouring to write something positive about the new facilities at the harbour, and that is to be commended. But please be aware that the Commodore also has a family and a job, and that this period of transition for the club inevitably brings its own stresses.
Having these compounded by such public criticism is not fair, in my opinion.
I echo the comments of Eoin O’Reilly above. Let’s get fully behind the members of the club, and yes, they are giving up their own time to get the facility up and running and kitted out. Though I am not a member , nor was I in the past, I am aware of the club’s achievements to date, from launching many sailors’ interest in dinghy racing, through to members of GSC going on to represent their sport (and through their club membership, Greystones) at international and Olympic level. With a first class facility and a growing membership, let’s get fully behind Greystones Sailing Club as it embarks on the latest leg of its journey – I know that’s exactly what my late father, Derek Paine and the other founders of the club in the late 1960s envisioned !
Is this actually serious it seems like a child like letter to complain that the “cool kids ” are too busy for you. You claim to be a member of 5 years then why are you going on a rumor stirring wild goose chase instead of getting stuck in there and helping . Greystones is a very sucessful sailinv club and i am certain that they will have that club ship shape as soon as they can but in the mean time instead nagging the busy hardworking members of the club just so you can have an article please go and find out is there anyway you can help because this certainly isnt .
Well done Darragh Cafferkey and friends! It’s many years since we met in the good old days! But as Liam Byrne bless his soul and Ann would say ( oldies from the past) progress is to be welcomed, managed and supported for the good of our beloved Greystones, it’s families and visitors. So come on everybody work together, each do what they can do, no negatives, make Greystones a true family and community town for all. GSC good luck. Look forward to visiting and seeing my hometown again.
As a non boat owning sailing club member, who does not have a million euro yacht!
I can openly say David Nixon is actually flatout along with Darragh Cafferkey (oh yes the son of the respected Dermod Cafferkey) and a heap of other members trying to get the new clubhouse open while doing their own jobs and keeping family commitments etc!
Oh Yes, they are doing all this 100% free of charge on their own time!
I guess I must be one of the ‘New Blood’ as I’m only a member of 5 years, does that mean I must ‘respect’ the old blood? As a paying club member my vote is equal to all others, and as grown adults I think we are all able to make our own decisions, that ‘old boys club’ is exactly what ruins any good club. GSC is a very open friendly club, who are seeking new members and are open to anybody from any backround who come from sailing or non sailing backrounds such as myself, maybe join yourself and find out rather than knock a group who are working hard to improve the club and make some tough changes to make the club more accessable to ‘New blood’ such a local families, kids, adults who would like to try sailing and use the water that surrounds us?
If the rumours your hearing of old blood not being happy with change it must be only a small few as the club is run in a vote system and the majority must have ruled this time.
So I’m sure in time when we get the new club house open we will of course have a big announcment and open day and a fantastic facility that will be available for use by many not just the have yachts, or have nots!