Category Archives: Irish championships

P. B. Kennedy and the Irish Championship 1949

Posted on July 23, 2019 by Sean Coffey

The Irish Championship of 1949, held in Galway, ended 70 years ago today. The event was a 7-round Swiss—the first time the Swiss system was used for an Irish Championship–with 16 players. The field included the defending champion, Dónal J. … Continue reading →

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Kernan – Cassidy, Irish Championship 1974

Posted on July 13, 2019 by Sean Coffey

Last year, we reported here on the 1974 Irish championship, and remarked that no games were available from the event. Remarkably, a few months later one turned up, on the ICU web site, in Paul Cassidy’s article My Memorable Games … Continue reading →

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Irish championship players, updated

Posted on July 10, 2019 by Sean Coffey

The lists of Irish championship players have been updated to include the 2018 championship: see the full list in descending order of number of championships played, and the same in alphabetical order. Two errors have been corrected: Previously “W. Laveney” … Continue reading →

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1975 Irish Championship revisited

Posted on June 23, 2019 by David McAlister

Just over a year ago we published a tournament report on the 1975 Irish Championship which was much enhanced by material provided by joint winner Alan Ludgate. At that time 11 games were available, 8 of those featuring Ludgate, and we … Continue reading →

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Irish Championship 1976

Posted on June 14, 2019 by Sean Coffey

A report on the Irish Championship 1976 has been added to the tournament section here. The championship was held at the New University of Ulster in Coleraine (now “Ulster University at Coleraine”), from July 17-25, 1976. It was sponsored (for … Continue reading →

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An instructive ending

Posted on January 17, 2019 by Sean Coffey

In the diagrammed position, taken from the game between David Fitzsimons and Peter Cafolla in the 2010 Irish championship, it is Black to play. Fitzsimons – Cafolla, Irish Championship 2010 47… ? At the end of the event Peter commented … Continue reading →

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Irish Championship 1996

Posted on December 20, 2018 by Sean Coffey

A report on the 1996 Irish championship has been added to the Irish championships page here. This was the year when the championship ended in a three-way tie, with Richard O’Donovan winning his first, and so far only, title over … Continue reading →

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Irish Championship 2017

Posted on December 7, 2018 by Sean Coffey

A report on the Irish Championship 2017, held July 29-August 6, 2017 in Ennis, has (belatedly) been added to the archives here. It was the strongest Irish championship for many years—the average rating jumped 150+ points over the previous edition—and … Continue reading →

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Irish Championship 1997

Posted on November 1, 2018 by Sean Coffey

A report on the Irish Championship 1997 has been added to the archive here. The event was the ultimate two-horse race: Stephen Brady and Joe Ryan drew their second-round game, but otherwise mowed down the field, and they were still … Continue reading →

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Irish Championship 2002

Posted on October 27, 2018 by Sean Coffey

A report on the Irish Championship 2002 has been added to the archive here. For the second year in succession, the championship was held in Greystones. In all, 19 players competed. The defending champion and top rated player Stephen Brady … Continue reading →

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