Sir, - There appears to be thousands of lawbreakers all over Ireland at present. This fact came home to me as I, with three others, was playing a game of bridge in a leading Dublin hotel.
We had just begun our game in the foyer (no money wagers were involved), when the hotel manager approached our table and informed us that because of the State gaming laws, we were not permitted to play cards there. He was polite, but insisted that we must cease our game immediately.
Rubber bridge is often played for stakes, but we were playing a type of pairs bridge. In almost every town and village in Ireland, bridge clubs exist; invariably, they play in the local pub. Then there are the popular bridge tournaments, which are played in some of the leading hotels of the country. I tend writing to the Police Commissioner to ask him if we were actually contravening the Gaming Act, and if he would direct his force to investigate such practices, if such were the case.
I had considered asking the manager if the card game "snap" was prohibited. I refrained, because I did not think that I would get an informative answer - likewise with the harmless practice of solitaire. - Yours, etc.,
Drumree,
Co Meath.