The club together with the Four Masters GAA Club invited former UK Champion John Virgo and Dennis Taylor to Donegal Town in the spring of 1982 and they played a nine-frame exhibition in the Abbey Hotel. They first warmed up in the clubrooms and a photo of the pros with fourteen-year-old Paul Thomas is a treasured memento. John compiled a total clearance of 139 which is still the highest break ever achieved in the town. John Hanna -who was heavily involved in organising the event along with Mickey Cooney- refereed the exhibition and the scorekeeper was Jack Keeney. Two years later Dennis won the Rothman's Grand Prix and in May of 1985 he defeated Steve Davis 18-17 in the World Championship Final at the Crucible in Sheffield. Poignantly, John's father David (who was close to the Taylors of Coalisland) died the season Dennis became World Champion.