The first ever Pétanque Club in Cavan officially opened their new extension at Belturbet Golf Club yesterday. The extension brings the number of pitches - or pistes - for playing the French game on, from seven to 11, and now the local club is vying to host inter-club, inter-province and, even international games, in Cavan.
Billy Gleadell is chair of the Belturbet club and also President of the Irish Petanque Association. He says the game can be played by anyone aged 4 to 94, and even by people with mobility issues but warns, it can become addictive. The game has grown so popular locally that a club in Magheraveely just over the Monaghan border in Fermanagh is currently constructing its own pistes.
And, there are already plans in place for the Belturbet club to host the first All-Ireland Pétanque competition. "We've got the biggest club, biggest playing area in Ulster," Billy told Northern Sound, "We're looking to host the Celtic Cup and the next time it comes to Ireland we'll be hosing Scotland and Wales in the Celtic Cup and, it's very exciting this year because for the very first time we have an all-Ireland in pétanque so each province will have its own club competitions and the best club from each province will come to Cavan Pétanque Club at Belturbet."
