The Republic of Ireland Ladies Snooker Association has had many influencers in female cue sports over the years since it’s official formation back in 1986.
Gloria Ruane is one of these people who played an important part in developing the sport for females. Gloria started playing snooker at the tender age of 17. The Crossguns Snooker Club in Dublin is where it all began and she certainly made her mark on the circuit throughout the 1960’s and 70’s having reached the final of the National Ladies Snooker Championship on two occasions and won numerous events during her playing career.
Gloria along with Anne Jones were the first ever team to represent Ireland at the Ladies World Snooker Championship in Middlesboro UK in 1976.
L-R Anne Jones, Des Campbell & Gloria Ruane
Gloria was introduced to the sport by her late mother and father Mr & Mrs Patrick Carroll who came from Tuam Co Galway. In the early 1980’s she joined the Ladies Leinster and Billiards Snooker Association which began to establish an official organisation specific to female cue sports.
The Ladies Leinster Billiards and Snooker Association continued their promotions up to July 1986 where Gloria along with Paddy Comerford, Margaret Browne, Lillian Collins and a few other interested parties were instrumental in setting up the Republic of Ireland Ladies Snooker Association from the Ladies Leinster Billiards and Snooker Association, Gloria was elected our first ever President, a position she held until 1993. Gloria also held the position of Chairperson from 1992 – 1995
Gloria was also very much involved with RIBSA for many years, having filled the position of Treasurer. She also took up the position of Treasurer of the International Billiards & Snooker Federation (IBSF) for a number of years.
We thank Gloria for all her help and support over the years with RILSA and to this day she is in constant contact from her home in Malta. Her son Fin is now at the helm in the Crossguns snooker club in Dublin, only one of very few that survived the test of time and continues to provide excellent facilities and indeed with Fin having become the most qualified Professional Snooker coach in Ireland after a number of courses at World Snooker in the UK, he provides first class coaching at the club.
