David stoops to 'conker' inaugural competition

CARLOW has just gone bonkers for conkers after a bunch of enthusiastic players relived their childhood and took part in an inaugural conkers competition.

A bunch of friends who call themselves The Dudes collectively took part in a nailbiting (and finger bashing) game of conkers in Ewing’s bar, Haymarket, Carlow.

Sixteen players took part in the game, which had strict rules. It seems like the ancient game of chestnut bashing has enjoyed a bit of a revival in recent weeks, following the scandal surrounding the world conkers competition that took place in Britain. 

The winner there was alleged to have brought a steel conker to the game, knocking the opposition right out of the ballpark. The player has since been vindicated, but the story brought the game to international attention.

“We had decided to host our own game of conkers months ago, long before that. We usually have a pool tournament, so we decided to have one for conkers, too. We had a list of rules and everyone had to pick a conker out of a bag. All of the lads who played would have played the game as a kid,” explained David McDonald, one of the main organisers.

David is a bit a champion conkers player himself, having come in second place in the Irish competition in Kilkenny two years ago. 

He also won the competition that he and his friends in The Dudes organised in Ewing’s, so he must be a bit of an expert. It also transpired that all the players took the game as seriously, as they did decades ago when they played fiercely-fought out games in the school yard.

“The lads took it very seriously, but it was such a laugh. There’s definitely a revival of the game. I can see my grandchildren enjoying it. Look, it’s a bit of nostalgia. It’s understated, but it’s still a great game.”