Author Archives: David McAlister

More games from Lilienthal’s 1935 Dublin simul

Posted on March 4, 2026 by David McAlister

In one of the earliest posts on IRLchess, in Lilienthal in Dublin, we recounted his visit to the city in 1935. That post featured a game from his simultaneous exhibition won by Barry St. John Galvin. More recently in Austin … Continue reading →

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William Crawford Palmer

Posted on January 30, 2026 by David McAlister

DEATH OF A WELL-KNOWN CHESS PLAYER The announcement of the sudden death of Dr. Crawford Palmer from heart disease will come as a great shock to chess players throughout Ireland. The sad occurrence took place on Friday at Birkenhead Workhouse … Continue reading →

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1950 Irish Championship, Belfast

Posted on November 7, 2025 by David McAlister

We previously published reports on the 1949 and 1951 Irish Championships, and have now compiled a full report on the Championship in the middle. The group photograph above, unfortunately missing a few participants including the winner, is one of several … Continue reading →

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Austin Bourke: Margate 1935

Posted on September 25, 2025 by David McAlister

From 1935 to 1939 the Kent County Chess Association staged five Congresses at or near Easter, until the Second World War put an end to the series. Many of the elite players of the period played in the Premier section, … Continue reading →

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Austin Bourke: First Steps

Posted on September 25, 2025 by David McAlister

Bourke, Patrick Martin Austin (1913–95), meteorologist and historian, was born 10 May 1913 in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, second son of Patrick M. Bourke, stationmaster, and Clare Bourke (née O’Sullivan). He was educated at Mount Sion CBS, Waterford, and UCC, where he was … Continue reading →

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Two small miracles

Posted on September 17, 2025 by David McAlister

Philidor Cup, Hyères 1928 A total of 45 games were played in the tournament but unfortunately we have so far succeeded in finding only one brilliant game from the 2nd round, when M. Duchamp crushed the last player E.H. Smith. … Continue reading →

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De Búrca or Cranston again, and other Warsaw reverberations

Posted on August 30, 2025 by David McAlister

“At the time I was 22 years old and easily the youngest member of the Irish team. Cranston, Creevey and O’Hanlon were already veterans of the chess-board; so that Ireland’s team had the doubtful distinction of being the oldest, in … Continue reading →

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Sonja Graf – Part 4: A Bewitching Visit to Cork

Posted on August 22, 2025 by David McAlister

The Evening Echo for Saturday 9th February 1935 gave Sonja Graf the big build-up, with some impressive evidence to back it up. TO VISIT CORK. FRAULEIN SONJA GRAF. Up to recently, Fraulein Wally Henschel (Hamburg) was the sole, and none … Continue reading →

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Sonja Graf – Part 3 Overlapping Matches

Posted on August 22, 2025 by David McAlister

MATCH AGAINST  JOHN J. O’HANLON John James O’Hanlon, as the saying goes, needs no introduction, but the Irish Chess Union website does have this fine tribute from J.J. Walsh. The Irish Independent reported on Day 1 of the match in … Continue reading →

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Sonja Graf – Part 2: Simultaneity, Dancing and Blitzing

Posted on August 22, 2025 by David McAlister

The Evening Herald in its 2nd February 1935 edition reported on Sonja Graf’s imminent arrival and gave a brief preview of her likely engagements. The German lady chess champion, Fraulein Sonja Graf, who will arrive in Dublin this (Saturday) evening, … Continue reading →

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