Irish Chess Union
Encyclopedia
The Irish Chess Union formed in 1912, is the governing body for chess
in Ireland
and a member of FIDE since 1933 and the European Chess Union
. The ICU promotes Chess
in the Republic of Ireland
and maintains the chess rating for players in the Republic of Ireland, which are published three times a year. It runs competitions such as the Irish Chess Championship
and selects teams to participate in international competitions for Ireland.
Until 2005, the Ulster Chess Union, which administers and develops chess in Northern Ireland
, was affiliated to the Irish Chess Union.
Before the establishment of the ICU, chess competitions in Ireland were run under organisations named The Irish Chess Association (formed in 1885), the Hibernia Chess Association, or various chess clubs. The Armstrong Cup is the oldest Irish team league competition and has been played every year since 1888, perhaps giving it a claim on the longest running chess competition
in the world.
While chess in Ireland has been concentrated around the big cities of Dublin, Belfast
and Cork
, there are a number of clubs throughout the country such as those in Ballinasloe, Derry
, Drogheda
, Ennis
, Galway
, Kilkenny
, Portadown
and Wicklow
, to name but a few. Leagues are held in the provinces, with the winning teams (and runners up) playing off in the National Club Championships (although in recent years the Ulster
leagues have not participated). The winning team and runners up are entered into the European Club Championships.
There have been a number of incarnations of the official magazine from the ICU, such as Ficheall/Irish Chess Magazine in the 1950s and Chess in Ireland, in the 1960s.
A number of significant tournaments have been held in the past
In the past the O'Hanlon Cup, BEA and Bodley Cups had been divided into North and South Sections. Although geographically in Connacht Ballinasloe have won the Bodley Cup in 2010 and 2011. Also, Ulster Club Cavan in 1975 and 2011 won the Leinster League BEA Cup. The O'Connell Cup is a novice team competition mainly lenister teams but also includes teams from Cavan and Ballinasloe.
The Lost Knights is an interesting new individual league tournament started by the Leinster Chess Union. Happening over the entire season, it features many leading players in the Leinster Leagues.
The Leinster Chess Union also runs a knockout team competition after the team league competitions have finished, the Brannigan Cup, for players from division one and two the Killane Shield for divisions three, four, five and six, and Willie Brennan Trophy for players rated below 1500.
The Ulster Chess Union run a number of team league competitions in Ulster for teams mainly in the Belfast area. The Belfast and District Leagues Division One play for the Ulster Trophy/Silver King, which has been played for since 1893. The all-ulster league competition usually played in a variety of formats over the years so as to include sides from the rest of the province. The UCU also organise the individual Ulster Chess Championship
for Ulster born players.
In the mid-1950s the Leinster and Ulster Chess Unions organised the Oriel League competition for clubs in South Ulster and North Leinster.
In Munster there are three divisions run annually for which club sides in Cork, Limerick, Ennis, Shannon, Tralee, Dungarvin compete.
In Connaught, Galway
Chess Club is the most active holding the Galway Congress tournament, although in 2011 a Connaught Chess League was established. This was contested by Ballina, Ballinasloe, Castlebar, Galway, Manorhamilton and NUIG
.
and organised by the Irish Chess Union.
The 2008 Glorney and Faber Cups were held in Liverpool as part of its City of Culture celebrations.
, the Irish Chess Union and Irish BlindSports.
They hold the National Championships and organise teams for international Competition.
activities for Irish players living at home or abroad. A non-profit organisation, they run the national championship, Irish teams and other activities. The ICCA is affiliated to the International Correspondence Chess Federation
(ICCF).
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and a member of FIDE since 1933 and the European Chess Union
European Chess Union
The European Chess Union is an independent association for the interests of European chess. It is based in Lausanne Switzerland.-Member Federations:* Albania - Federates Shgiptare te Shahul* Andorra - Federació d'Escacs Valls d'Andorra...
. The ICU promotes Chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
and maintains the chess rating for players in the Republic of Ireland, which are published three times a year. It runs competitions such as the Irish Chess Championship
Irish Chess Championship
The Irish Chess Championship is the national Championship of Ireland as run by the Irish Chess Union , the governing body for the sport and a member of FIDE since 1933. Below are the list of winners for the Men's and Women's titles. Note that women are currently admitted to the Men's tournament....
and selects teams to participate in international competitions for Ireland.
Until 2005, the Ulster Chess Union, which administers and develops chess in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, was affiliated to the Irish Chess Union.
Before the establishment of the ICU, chess competitions in Ireland were run under organisations named The Irish Chess Association (formed in 1885), the Hibernia Chess Association, or various chess clubs. The Armstrong Cup is the oldest Irish team league competition and has been played every year since 1888, perhaps giving it a claim on the longest running chess competition
Chess tournament
A chess tournament is a series of chess games played competitively to determine a winning individual or team. Since the first international chess tournament in London, 1851, chess tournaments have become the standard form of chess competition among serious players.Today, the most recognized chess...
in the world.
While chess in Ireland has been concentrated around the big cities of Dublin, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
, there are a number of clubs throughout the country such as those in Ballinasloe, Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
, Ennis
Ennis
Ennis is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway. Its name is a shortening of the original ....
, Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
, Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
, Portadown
Portadown
Portadown is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The town sits on the River Bann in the north of the county, about 23 miles south-west of Belfast...
and Wicklow
Wicklow
Wicklow) is the county town of County Wicklow in Ireland. Located south of Dublin on the east coast of the island, it has a population of 10,070 according to the 2006 census. The town is situated to the east of the N11 route between Dublin and Wexford. Wicklow is also connected to the rail...
, to name but a few. Leagues are held in the provinces, with the winning teams (and runners up) playing off in the National Club Championships (although in recent years the Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
leagues have not participated). The winning team and runners up are entered into the European Club Championships.
Irish Chess Journal
The ICU had published magazines in the past such as the Irish Chess Journal for members of the association. In 2007, to reduce costs, this has been curtailed to a biannual online magazine. Since 2009 no journal has been produced. Junior Chess Corner was a magazine/ezine produced in 2007 by the ICU aimed at juniors and beginners.There have been a number of incarnations of the official magazine from the ICU, such as Ficheall/Irish Chess Magazine in the 1950s and Chess in Ireland, in the 1960s.
Competitions
Competitions are held throughout the year mostly run by individual clubs or by provincial Unions such as the City of Dublin, Cork Congress (Mulcahy Cup), Bunratty, Limerick Open, Galway Congress, Drogheda, Malahide, Bray, Kilkenny Congress, Ulster and Leinster Championships.A number of significant tournaments have been held in the past
- 2005 European Union Chess Championship, Cork
- 1993 Dublin FIDE Zonal
- 1991 Telecom Éireann International, Dublin
- 1988 CIMACIMA-Acronyms:*Canadian Independent Music Association, formerly the Canadian Independent Record Production Association*Cayman Islands Monetary Authority, Cayman Island's primary financial services regulator...
Dublin Millennium Chess Congress - 1979 O'Hanlon Memorial (ICU Golden Jubilee), Dublin
- 1957 Dublin Zonal
- 1957 An TostalAn TóstalAn Tóstal was the name for a series of festivals held in Ireland in the 20th Century. Inaugurated in 1953 as a celebration of Irish life, it continued on until 1958 when it died out....
, Dublin - 1956 An Tostal, Dublin
- 1955 An Tostal, Cork
- 1954 An Tostal, Dublin
- 1951 Clontarf International, Dublin
- 1932 Tailteann GamesTailteann GamesThe Tailteann Games were an ancient sporting event held in Ireland in honour of the goddess Tailtiu. They ran from 632 BC to 1169-1171 AD when they died out after the Norman invasion....
, Dublin - 1928 Tailteann Games, Dublin
- 1924 Tailteann Games, Dublin
- 1892 North of Ireland Congress, Belfast
- 1865 Dublin Masters
Team Competitions
The Leinster Chess Union run chess leagues. There are six divisions, a number of them named after significant figures in Irish Chess. The Armstrong Cup is probably the oldest perpetual chess trophy in the world played continually since 1888.- Division 1 - Armstrong Cup
- Division 2 - Heidenfeld Trophy
- Division 3 - Ennis Shield
- Division 4 - O'Hanlon Cup
- Division 5 - BEA Cup
- Division 6 - Bodley Cup
In the past the O'Hanlon Cup, BEA and Bodley Cups had been divided into North and South Sections. Although geographically in Connacht Ballinasloe have won the Bodley Cup in 2010 and 2011. Also, Ulster Club Cavan in 1975 and 2011 won the Leinster League BEA Cup. The O'Connell Cup is a novice team competition mainly lenister teams but also includes teams from Cavan and Ballinasloe.
The Lost Knights is an interesting new individual league tournament started by the Leinster Chess Union. Happening over the entire season, it features many leading players in the Leinster Leagues.
The Leinster Chess Union also runs a knockout team competition after the team league competitions have finished, the Brannigan Cup, for players from division one and two the Killane Shield for divisions three, four, five and six, and Willie Brennan Trophy for players rated below 1500.
The Ulster Chess Union run a number of team league competitions in Ulster for teams mainly in the Belfast area. The Belfast and District Leagues Division One play for the Ulster Trophy/Silver King, which has been played for since 1893. The all-ulster league competition usually played in a variety of formats over the years so as to include sides from the rest of the province. The UCU also organise the individual Ulster Chess Championship
Ulster Chess Championship
The Ulster Chess Championship is an annual chess tournament organised by the Ulster Chess Union which has been held since 1892. It is currently open to all players who qualify as having been born in any of the 9 counties of Ulster. Nearly all Championships since 1982 have been played in Belfast...
for Ulster born players.
In the mid-1950s the Leinster and Ulster Chess Unions organised the Oriel League competition for clubs in South Ulster and North Leinster.
In Munster there are three divisions run annually for which club sides in Cork, Limerick, Ennis, Shannon, Tralee, Dungarvin compete.
In Connaught, Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
Chess Club is the most active holding the Galway Congress tournament, although in 2011 a Connaught Chess League was established. This was contested by Ballina, Ballinasloe, Castlebar, Galway, Manorhamilton and NUIG
Junior Chess
Underage/Schools Chess Provincial and All Ireland competitions are held annually. Chess also features as part of the Community GamesCommunity Games
The Community Games is an Irish independent voluntary organisation and National Governing Body providing opportunities for children and young people to grow and develop in a positive and healthy way while experiencing a wide range of sporting and cultural activities...
.
Glorney and Faber Cups
In 1948 a Dublin businessman Cecil Parker Glorney and competitive chess player and President of Rathmines Chess Club, created the Glorney Cup. It was joined twenty years later by the Faber Cup. These two events have been held annually and bring together national squads from across Europe (although it is mainly just between teams from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England) for three days of intensive and extremely competitive chess. This year, under 12 and under 14 teams competed alongside their older compatriots. Held this year at Dublin City UniversityDublin City University
Dublin City University is a university situated between Glasnevin, Santry, Ballymun and Whitehall on the Northside of Dublin in Ireland...
and organised by the Irish Chess Union.
The 2008 Glorney and Faber Cups were held in Liverpool as part of its City of Culture celebrations.
Irish Braille Chess Association
The Braille Chess Association of Ireland was established in 1985 to promote Chess among the blind and partially sighted. The BCAI is affiliated to the International Braille Chess AssociationInternational Braille Chess Association
The International Braille Chess Association is organization for blind and visually impaired chess players. The IBCA is a FIDE-affiliated chess organization as well as a part of the International Blind Sports Federation. The International Braille Chess Association was formed in 1948 by Reginald...
, the Irish Chess Union and Irish BlindSports.
They hold the National Championships and organise teams for international Competition.
Correspondence Chess
Affiliated to the Irish Chess Union is the Irish Correspondence Chess Association (ICCA) which is the 32-county governing body organising correspondence chessCorrespondence chess
Correspondence chess is chess played by various forms of long-distance correspondence, usually through a correspondence chess server, through email or by the postal system; less common methods which have been employed include fax and homing pigeon...
activities for Irish players living at home or abroad. A non-profit organisation, they run the national championship, Irish teams and other activities. The ICCA is affiliated to the International Correspondence Chess Federation
International Correspondence Chess Federation
International Correspondence Chess Federation was founded in 1951 as a new appearance of the ICCA , which was founded in 1945, as successor of the IFSB , founded in 1928....
(ICCF).
External links
- includes history, pictures, tournament details, events biographies, and interviews