Cliftonville Bowling Club

Congratulations to the NIWPGL on retaining their Inter-Association title! 🏆👏

A special mention goes to our very own Sheelagh McCafferty, who played her part.
Well done, Sheelagh! 👏🎉

Congratulations to all the players and management on a fantastic achievement! 🏆🙌

A great performance from the Senior Team today as we ran out 101–66 winners against Pickie B, taking all 7 points in a brilliant result! 🔴⚪️👏

Cliftonville 101 (7) - (0) 66 Pickie

E.McKenna 24-21 J.Magill
P.Neeson 34-12 J.Mooney
M.McKenna 24-15 R.Brown
G.Robinson 19-18 I.Hutton

A great team effort from start to finish, and another important win in the league! 💪

Well done to everyone involved, and thanks to Pickie B for the game. 👏

🏳️‍🌈 Happy Belfast Pride Week! 🏳️‍🌈

Today we are proud to fly the Pride flag as we celebrate Belfast Pride Week and everything it represents.

We pride ourselves on being a friendly, welcoming and inclusive club that is open to all. Everyone should feel comfortable, respected and valued, both on and off the green.

Everyone is welcome at Cliftonville Bowling Club. ❤️

It’s another big one for the Senior Team as we welcome Pickie B to Wilson Park this afternoon. 🏆

Cliftonville vs Pickie B
🏆 NIPGL Division 3
📅 Saturday 25th July
⏰ 2:00pm
📍 Wilson Park

The team will be looking to build on recent performances and pick up another important league win. Come along and show your support! 👏

A fantastic result for the Senior team tonight as they secure a convincing 89–67 victory over Forthriver in NIPGL Division 3! 👏

Cliftonville 89 (6) - (1) 67 Forthriver

P.Neeson 30-16 M.Reid
G.Robinson 23-10 G.McClenaghan
M.McKenna 15-24 S.Toy
E.McKenna 21-17 R.Lynn

The team continue to push on in what is proving to be a tightly contested Division 3 and tonight's result is another valuable step forward.

⭐ SPONSOR HIGHLIGHT ⭐

A huge thank you to our sponsors Mitchell Professional Cleaning for their continued support. Your backing is hugely appreciated and helps us continue to grow both on and off the green. 👏

Well done to everyone involved tonight!

We are absolutely delighted to congratulate our very own Joanna Donnelly on being selected to represent Ireland Under 25s at this year’s British Isles Championships! 👏

It is a fantastic achievement and a brilliant recognition of Joanna's talent, hard work and dedication to the sport. To be selected to represent your country on the international stage is something to be incredibly proud of, and we couldn't be happier for her!

Everyone at the club wishes Joanna the very best of luck and we will all be cheering her on! ☘️

🔴🟡 A BIG WEEK OF BOWLS AHEAD! 🟡🔴

Three big games coming up this week with both our Senior and Midweek teams involved in tightly contested league campaigns.

🔴 Tuesday 21st July - NIPGL Div 3
🎯 Cliftonville vs Forthriver Bowling & Tennis club
⏰ 6.30pm

🟡 Wednesday 22nd July – Midweek Div 2
🎯 Cliftonville vs Magheradroll
⏰ 6.30pm

🏆 Thursday 23rd July – Midweek Cup
🎯 Cliftonville vs Shaftesbury Bowls Club Belfast
⏰ 6.30pm

The league games are another chance to pick up valuable points in what are both closely fought divisions before the Midweek team turn their attention to the first game of the Cup on Thursday night.

As always, we would love to see plenty of support down at the club! 👏

🔥 SUPER SUNDAY AT CLIFTONVILLE BOWLING CLUB! 🔥

Join us on Sunday 19th July for an action-packed day of sport, live music, great food and fantastic company!

🏑 All Ireland Hurling Final
Galway 🆚 Limerick
🕞 Throw-in: 3:30pm

🎶 Live Music with AJ Mckeown
🕔 5:00pm – 7:00pm

⚽ FIFA World Cup Final
🕗 Kick-off: 8:00pm

🍔🔥 Summer BBQ served throughout the day!

Whether you're cheering on your county, enjoying a burger from the BBQ, singing along with AJ, or settling in for the World Cup Final, we've got your Sunday covered.

Bring your family, friends and fellow sports fans for what promises to be an unforgettable day!

✅ Big Screen Sport
✅ Live Music
✅ Summer BBQ
✅ Great Craic
✅ Everyone Welcome

We can't wait to see you there! 🍻☀️

World Cup QF action tonight as Spain take on Belgium. Who will set up a semi final clash with the French ?
Live and exclusive in the main lounge on the big screens. Kick Off 8pm
🇪🇸 vs 🇧🇪 ⚽️

💚 JIM BAKER Inducted Into WORLD BOWLS HALL OF FAME 💚

Born in Belfast in 1958, Jim Baker became a legend of Irish bowls through sheer determination and skill – qualities that were evident from the start. Making his international debut for Ireland in 1979, when he was only 21, he rose to prominence by winning the 1984 World Indoor Championship, becoming the first and only Northern Irishman to do so.

That same year – in 1984 – Jim played a pivotal role in Ireland’s World Bowls triples victory with Sammy Allen and Stan Espie in Aberdeen, Scotland. He went on to skip the fours teams that won gold for Ireland in Henderson, New Zealand, in 1988 and in Ayr, Scotland, in 2004.

He won the World Bowls Tour UK indoor singles title in 1985, and, in 1990, became the first Irishman to win the Bushmills Irish Masters title at the Ballymoney Indoor Bowls Club.

He was famous for his drive, which he delivered with pinpoint accuracy, but he could also draw delicately under pressure and was an inspirational skip.

In his early schooldays at Boys’ Model, Belfast, Jim was really interested in football. However, he was already playing the short mat version of bowls which is very popular in Ireland, at Helen’s Bay Church, and other pupils at school knew Jim was already having success at bowls. Ernie Davis at the Boys’ Model knew Jim had a talent for bowling and allowed Jim to practise at the Cliftonville club during games time. Those practice sessions helped Jim to eventually perfect his delivery and he developed a routine of playing certain shots.

Jim balanced his sporting career with teaching and mentoring young bowlers at Cliftonville and Ballymena clubs, and he has served as an IBA team manager. His legacy endures through a generation of players he inspired and the Jim Baker Stadium in Newtonabbey, which has hosted international and World Bowls events, most recently the World Bowls Indoor Junior Championship in 2025.

Commonwealth Games

1990 (Fours Silver), 2002 (Fours Bronze)

World Bowls

1984 (Triples Gold), 1988 (Fours Gold), 2004 (Pairs Silver), (Fours Gold)

World Bowls Tour Open Singles

1984 Winner, 1982 Runner-up