Some of our younger readers may not know this, but snooker was once one of the most popular sports in Ireland. Snooker halls once littered the streets of Dublin city, and with Irish icons like Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins and Ken Doherty, Ireland boasts a special place in the history of the sport.
While few of the old clubs are open to this day, Crossgun’s Snooker Hall in Phibsborough is still going strong. Open since 1958, it’s recognised as one of the oldest in Europe, and as you walk through the old wooden door, this is clearly the case.
The room feels like a time capsule. Its stippled walls are lined with posters of tournaments and players from a bygone era and the only things that seem to have changed in the last 40 years are the tables, which are freshly clothed and have gorgeous new netted pockets. Patrons can also avail of a free cup of tea, a delightful touch that adds to the old-school feeling of the building.
Playing on a century-old table with a priceless scoreboard from the 1920’s, we had the chance to speak to the old club’s owner; Fin Ruane, who took over from his father in 1992, making him the third generation to own the club. His passion for the game was obvious as he shared with us the pride he has for his old club. “It’s something I’m very proud of. I would like to think now if my grandfather walked in the door, he’d say ‘yep. That’s exactly how I left it.’” He laughed that he has zero plans of leaving either. “I’ll stay here until they wheel me out!”
Fin grew up in Dublin, and is a great friend of the 1997 world champion Ken Doherty. They first met at a junior tournament in Finglas at the age of 12 and lived together in London as they pursued careers as professional players. While Ken went on to have greater successes in snooker, Fin still became a very accomplished player, achieving over 20 maximum breaks in his career. Nowadays, he works as one of just two professional WBPSA Snooker coaches in Ireland, even coaching at the cuezone during the world championships in Sheffield.
Crossguns has welcomed players new and old for over half a century now, and Fin believes this sense of welcoming and homeliness is what has made the club so endearing. “You don’t have to love snooker to enjoy coming here, and you don’t have to be a great player because you’ll be made to feel at home”. Players can enjoy a free cup of tea as they play, a touch that Fin believes adds to this homely feeling. “I coined this place the ‘home of snooker’ many years ago, and it is a home. If someone calls to your house, you’re not going to charge them for a cup of tea.”
One of the things that makes this old club so lovable is the fact they charge such a reasonable price. While others charge over €15 an hour, Fin does everything in his power to maintain a fair price. It’s €12 an hour on weekdays, €10 for students and €8 on weekends. He attributes the fact he owns the building and therefore doesn’t have the need to pay rent as a reason he can maintain such low fares compared to other clubs.
“I think €12 an hour is a fair price. For two students it’s a fiver each and on weekends it’s only €8 an hour. I don’t want to put it up anymore.” These are some of the lowest rates in Dublin, an absolute bargain given the standard of the tables, which are brushed and ironed nightly, something Fin takes “great pride in.”
Throughout the last half century, Crossguns has welcomed a variety of great characters. The likes of Steve Davis, Alex Higgins and more recently Ronnie O’Sullivan have graced the cloth of these historic tables. Former rock star Paul Weller filmed the launch for the Oasis Bohemians jersey there last year, and thought the place was “fantastic.”
Fin also told us an incredible story of how a young man visited, saying he had never been, but his late father used to play there. Fin said he remembered his father and managed to find his old cue and gave it to him. Tears welled in his eyes as he had the opportunity to play with his father’s old cue.
Moments like these are only possible in a place that values history and tradition as much as Crossguns. Fin joked that he has a room full of players’ cues he knew were “long gone” but would never touch.
While the popularity of snooker in this part of the world has dwindled in recent years, business is booming in Crossguns. “The club is actually thriving at the moment. I don’t think it’s ever been as busy.” Fin attributes the success of the club to its old-fashioned hospitality and the friendliness of the community it serves.
“We’ve never had a day’s trouble. If there’s someone who wants to come in and cause trouble, they know this is not the place for them.” He also added that visitors can always expect to have a great time, feel welcome and leave wanting to come back. “Everybody knows everybody, and if a stranger walks in with his cue any day, there is somebody there to play them.”
Fin and his beautiful old club serve as perfect ambassadors for the game of snooker, and as it approaches its 70th birthday, Crossguns remains one of the most cherished establishments in Irish sport. For anyone with an interest in playing pool or snooker, this is the place to go. You’ll be met with a warm welcome and have the chance to admire a club that truly is a glorious relic, and a testament to the rich history of Irish snooker.
Words: Pádraig Darcy
Images: Emma Winters
7 Royal Canal Bank, Phibsborough, Dublin, D07 A06F
Mon – Fri: 6pm – 11pm.
Sat & Sun: 2pm – 11pm.
