Curragh Chess Club

Heidenfeld (Div 2) Rd 10 and O'Hanlon Cup (Div 4) Rd 9

Welcome to the Curragh Chess Club Website.

The Club meets every Thursday evening at 8 p.m. in the former Curragh Library beside the Fire Station. New players always welcome.

Latest News

Both teams had good results this weekend.

Heidenfeld Trophy - Division 2 - Round 10

Curragh v Tallaght (18 February 2010)

Curragh scored a 5.5-2.5 win against Tallaght.

 Score (after 10 rounds) 43/80   Currently 5th /12 teams

O'Hanlon Cup - Division 4 - Round 9

Curragh v Bray/Greystones (13 February 2010)

Curragh on 3.5 with 1 game to be played.

Heidenfeld (Div 2) and O'Hanlon Cup (Div 4) 6 Feb results

Welcome to the Curragh Chess Club Website.

The Club meets every Thursday evening at 8 p.m. in the former Curragh Library beside the Fire Station. New players always welcome.

Latest News

Both teams had good results this weekend.

Heidenfeld Trophy - Division 2 - Round 9

Curragh v Bray/Greystones (6 February 2010)

Curragh had a good 6-2 win against a below strength Bray/Greystones side..

 Score (after 9 rounds) 37.5/72   Currently 5th /12 teams

O'Hanlon Cup - Division 4 - Round 8

Curragh v Classic Kings (6 February 2010)

Curragh scored a good 4-2 win over the Dunshaughlin side

Score (after 8 rounds) 24.5/48. Currently 6th/12 teams

Heidenfeld - Div 2 - Rd 7 - 2009-10

Welcome to the Curragh Chess Club Website.

The Club meets every Thursday evening at 8 p.m. in the former Curragh Library beside the Fire Station. New players always welcome.

Latest News

Heidenfeld Trophy - Division 2 - Round 7

Curragh v Wicklow (27 January 2010)

Curragh defeated Wicklow in this postponed Round 7 game by 6.5-1.5 bringing the overall score  to just under 50% for the season to date.

Total Score 31.5/64 (after 8 rounds)

Heidenfeld (Div 2) and O'Hanlon Cup (Div 4) Update

Welcome to the Curragh Chess Club Website.

The Club meets every Thursday evening at 8 p.m. in the former Curragh Library beside the Fire Station. New players always welcome.

Latest News

Both teams were in action against Rathmines this weekend.

Heidenfeld Trophy - Division 2 - Round 7

Curragh v Rathmines 'A'  (23 January 2010)

Curragh managed to hold the league leaders to 5 points.

O'Hanlon Cup - Division 4 - Round 6

Curragh v Rathmines (23 January 2010)

Curragh held Rathmines to a very respectable 3-3 draw.

O'Hanlon Cup - Div 4 - 2009/10 - Rd 6

Welcome to the Curragh Chess Club Website.

The Club meets every Thursday evening at 8 p.m. in the former Curragh Library beside the Fire Station. New players always welcome.

Latest News

O'Hanlon Cup - Division 4 - Round 6

Curragh v Drogheda (16 January 2010)

Curragh scored a good 3-3 draw against Drogheda.

 Score (after 6 Rounds): 17.5/36

Heidenfeld Trophy (Div 2) 2009/10 - Round 6

Welcome to the Curragh Chess Club Website.

The Club meets every Thursday evening at 8 p.m. in the former Curragh Library beside the Fire Station. New players always welcome.

Latest News

Heidenfeld Trophy - Division 2 - Round 6

Curragh v Drogheda (12 December 2009)

Curragh suffered a 2-6 defeat against Drogheda.

Total Score 21.5/48 (after 6 rounds)

Heidenfeld (Div 2) & O'Hanlon (Div 4) Round 5 Results

Welcome to the Curragh Chess Club Website.

The Club meets every Thursday evening at 8 p.m. in the former Curragh Library beside the Fire Station. New players always welcome.

Latest News

Heidenfeld Trophy - Division 2 - Round 5

Curragh v Inchicore (5 December 2009)

Curragh and Inchicore finished the day on 4-4 each at a match held at the back of McDowell's pub beside Richmond Park football grounds.

Total Score 20/40 (after 5 rounds)

Full results on : http://www.leinsterchess.com

O'Hanlon Cup - Division 4 - Round 5

Curragh v Dublin (5 December 2009)

Curragh suffered a serious setback in their promotion hopes with a 5-1 thrashing by Dublin Chess Club. Dermot's opponent even made an illegal moves which was not spotted (castled despite moving the rook earlier!).

Heidenfeld Trophy (Div 2) 2009/10 - Round 3

Welcome to the Curragh Chess Club Website.

The Club meets every Thursday evening at 8 p.m. in the former Curragh Library beside the Fire Station. New players always welcome.

Latest News

Heidenfeld Trophy - Division 2 - Round 3

Curragh v Kilkenny (14 November 2009)

The Curragh suffered a 3-5 reversal against a solid Kilkenny side. Ireland also lost the football qualifier to France 0-1 to make the evening worse.

Total Score 10.5/24 (after 3 rounds)

Heidenfeld Trophy (Div 2) & O'Hanlon Cup (Div 4) 2009/10 - Rd 3

Welcome to the Curragh Chess Club Website.

The Club meets every Thursday evening at 8 p.m. in the former Curragh Library beside the Fire Station. New players always welcome.

Latest News

Heidenfeld Trophy - Division 2 - Round 3

Curragh v Lucan (7 November 2009)

A full-strength Curragh scored a 5.5-2.5 win against a strong Lucan side.

Total Score 13/24 (after 3 rounds)

Full results on : http://www.leinsterchess.com

Noel Lynch v Pat Daly The following position occurred in Noel Lynch v Pat Daly. White found a simple tactic to win a pawn.

Rxh7! If Kxh7, then Qh5+ recovering the rook in a strong position.

B Norris v M McLoughlin  In the following position, white has just played f3 attacking the knight. Black came up with a novel way of relieving the pressure and keeping in the game.

.... Rxb4 20. Bxb4 Nc6  21. Qd6 ef  ultimately winning in a tricky position.

John McMahon v Harijs Valters Harijs playing Black allowed his opponent to walk into a simple trap. Self mate in one move?

Kd3 Rd2 mate!

_______________________

O'Hanlon Cup - Division 4 - Round 3

Curragh v Inchicore (7 November 2009)

Curragh suffered a 2.5-3.5 defeat against Inchicore.

Total Score (after 3 rounds): 11/18

O'Hanlon Cup - Div 4 2009/10 - Round 2

Welcome to the Curragh Chess Club Website.

The Club meets every Thursday evening at 8 p.m. in the former Curragh Library beside the Fire Station. New players always welcome.

Latest News

O'Hanlon Cup - Division 4 - Round 2

Curragh v Naomh Barrog (31 October 2009)

Curragh scored a good 3.5-2.5 win against Naomh Barrog.

 Score (after 2 Rounds): 8.5/12

Heidenfeld Trophy Div 2 - Rd 2 - 2009/10

Welcome to the Curragh Chess Club Website.

The Club meets every Thursday evening at 8 p.m. in the former Curragh Library beside the Fire Station. New players always welcome.

Latest News

Heidenfeld Trophy - Division 2 - Round 2

Curragh v Rathmines 'B' (17 October 2009)

The Curragh managed a 4-4 draw against a team we never manage to get a good result against.

Total Score 7.5/16 (after 2 rounds)

Resault also on Rathmines chess club website: http://rathmineschessclub.wordpress.com/

O'Hanlon Cup - Div 4 - 2009/10 Round 1

Welcome to the Curragh Chess Club Website.

The Club meets every Thursday evening at 8 p.m. in the former Curragh Library beside the Fire Station. New players always welcome.

Latest News

O'Hanlon Cup - Division 4 - Round 1

Curragh v Kilkenny (3 October 2009)

Curragh kicked off the seaaon with a comprehensive 5-1 win against a young Kilkenny side.

Heidenfeld Trophy (Div 2) Rd 1 - 2009/10

Welcome to the Curragh Chess Club Website.

The Club meets every Thursday evening at 8 p.m. in the former Curragh Library beside the Fire Station. New players always welcome.

Latest News

Heidenfeld Trophy - Division 2 - Round 1

Curragh v Malahide (25 September 2009)

Curragh kicked off the new season with a 3.5-4.5 defeat to a strong Malahide team with some very strong performances.

30th Anniversary 1979 - 2009

The Curragh Chess Club recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. The club was founded in May 1979 and this was celebrated at the Annual General Meeting held on Thursday 28 May.

The Curragh Club championship was won by Noel Lynch for the second year in a row and he was presented with the Billy O'Connor Perpetual Trophy by Billy O'Connor himself, a founding member of the club.

2008/09 Season Report

Leinster Leagues

Heidenfeld Trophy Division 2: The team finished in 8th place and retain their position in this division.

O'Hanlon Cup - Division 4:  The team finished in 11th place and were relegated. Presently waiting the outcome of an appeal.

Team Competitions

Branagan Cup (For Div 1 & 2 Teams): Team knocked out by Elm Mount in Round 1.

William Brennan Trophy (For players rated under 1500): Defeated 3-2 in Semi-Final by Wicklow Chess Club.

Killane Shield (For Div 3-6 Teams): Defeated in Round 2.

2009/10 Season

The club will reopen on Thursday 3 September in the Curragh Library. Doors open 7.30 p.m. Newcomers are always welcome. Further details from kildaremark@hotmail.com

Killane Shield 2009

The Curragh chess club meet every Thursday in the Curragh Branch Library from September to May. Necomers are always welcome. The Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday 28 May, 2009.

Latest News

Curragh v Phibsboro - Killane Shield 2009 - Saturday, 9 May 2009

The Curragh were knocked out of the Killane Shield in the Quarter Final after suffering a 5-0 defeat to a much stronger Phibsboro side.

Hugues and Franco played good games and were both unlucky to lose.

William Brennan Trophy 2009

The Curragh Chess Club meet every Thursday night at 8 pm in the former Library opposite the church. Newcomers always welcome.

Latest News

Curragh have qualified for the semi-final of the inaugural Brennan Trophy after drawing 2.5-2.5 with Phibsboro Chess Club. Curragh go through on board count.

Curragh v Phibsboro - Saturday 18 April 2009

Wicklow defeated Bray/Greystones so the Semi-Final line-up is:-

Semi-Final 1: Finglas or Dun Laoghaire  v Balbriggan

Semi-Final 2: Curragh v Wicklow

Team Competitions

The Curragh Chess Club meet every Thursday night at 8 pm in the former Library opposite the church. Newcomers always welcome.

Latest News

The Curragh have entered three teams in the three different end of season Leinster League competitions:

Branagan Cup

Open to teams in Divisions 1 & 2 - 12 teams competing

Round 1 - 28 March 2009 - Elm Mount v Curragh

The Curragh lost out in the first round 4-1 to the Division 1 Elm Mount side.

             - - - - - - - 

Killane Shield

Open to teams in Divisions 3, 4, 5 & 6 - 12 teams competing

Team Captain: Dermot Earls

Round 1: Curragh Bye into Quarter Final

The Curragh won the inaugural Killane Shield in 2005 and repeated the success in 2006.

- - - - - - - 

William Brennan Trophy

Open to players rated under 1500 - 13 teams competing

Team Captain: Niall O'Shea

Round 1: Curragh Bye into Quarter Final

This is a new competition.

- - - - - - - 

T.P. Byrne

T. P. Byrne (died 17 Nov 2008)

The death has occurred, on 17 November 2008,  of former club member T.P. Byrne. 
Tom was a regular in the club throughout the 1980s and 1990s serving as club chairman in 2000 and 2001. He was a member of Naas Chess Club prior to that and was also an active member of the Curragh Golf Club. Tom worked as a teacher in the Dominican College, Newbridge and was a character in the club throughout his many years of membership. He will be sadly missed.

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2008/09 Season

The Curragh Chess Club reopened on Thursday 11th September 2008.

The club has two teams participating in the Leinster Leagues and always welcome new members. Division 2 commences on Saturday 20th September with Division 4 commencing on the following Saturday.

Anyone interested in playing this season is very welcome to attend. Members meet every Thursday evening at 8 p.m. in the Curragh Library (opposite Church).

Further details about the Curragh Chess Club at kildaremark@hotmail.com

Branagan Cup & Killane Shield 2007

Maurice Canavan

 Both Curragh teams interest in this competition ended in the first round against stronger opposition.

Branagan Cup 2007

Peter Klompers (left)

The Curragh's Division  2 team was defeated by Division 1 side Trinity College Dublin at their first time to enter the competition. In the end the result was a very respectable one for the Curragh and Richard very nearly won it for us in the end!

Killane Shield 2007

The defending champions Curragh were defeated 1.5-3.5 by a much stronger Phibsboro side. In the end the result was a very reasonable performance.

Noel Lynch (right)

Dermot Earls and Niall O'Shea

Killane Shield Final

Curragh v Rathmines,  27 May 2006

The Curragh won the Killane Shield for the second year in a row against all the odds by beating Rathmines in the final round.  The Curragh entered the competition with an almost completely different team to that which won the trophy last year and still came away with it in the end defeating stronger opposition from Elm Mount and St. Benildus in previous rounds. The final was played in the An Oige Hostel on Mountjoy Street under the watchful eye of Phibsboro Chess Club's Mick Germaine who organised the competition.

The final round was an excellent result considering the team was outrated on four out of the five boards.

Other players who participated in previous rounds were Brendan Duffy and Derek Stacey. Congratulations to all those involved and well done!

The club's successes are now as follows:

The club will  reopen on Thursday 7th September  2006 at 8 p.m. in the Curragh Branch Library - beside the Curragh Fire Station. The club will be entering teams in the Heidenfeld Trophy ( Division 2) and the O'Hanlon Cup (Division 4) of the Leinster Leagues so new players are very welcome.

The handover of the Curragh, May 1922.

May 2006 Rating list

The Irish Chess Union May 2006 Ratings have been published.

Curragh players as follows. Peter Klompers and Noel Lynch's good seasons reflected in the ratings:

Killane Shield 2006

Semi-Final

Curragh v St. Benildus,  8 May 2006

The Curragh knocked St. Benildus out of the Killane Shield in the Semi-Finals with a 3-2 win, yet again against stronger opposition.  The Curragh will now play Rathmines in the final with a good chance of retaining the trophy which they won last year, the inaugural year of the competition.

Rathmines defeated Roy Lopez in the other semi-final.

Killane Shield 2006

Elm Mount v Curragh (Round 2)  19 April 2006

The Curragh as winner's of the inaugural event held last Summer got a bye in Round 1. This year's Curragh Team comprises mostly of players from the O'Hanlon Cup team and met Elm Mount in Round 2 whom the Curragh defeated in the final last year. The match ended in a draw with the Curragh proceeding to the next round by virtue of winning board 1 - a good result against a stronger team.

 The semi-finals are:

Killane Shield 2005

Curragh Win the Inaugural Killane Shield 2005!

Photo: Dermot Earls, Derek Stacey, Noel Lynch, Charlie Talbot and Mark McLoughlin are presented with Killane Shield by Tony Gregory T.D.

The Curragh Chess Club won the inaugural Killane Shield 2005.  The competition was open to teams in Divisions 3-6 of the Leinster Leagues and played at the end of the League Season.The Curragh defeated teams from Rathmines, Inchicore, Bray/Greystones and Elm Mount on their way to winning the Shield. The trophy was presented on 28th August 2005 at the City of Dublin Championships.

The Club will reopen for the new season on Thursday 8th September 2005 at 8pm in the Curragh branch library (Beside the Fire Station). New members always welcome!

Photo: Club Chairman Derek Stacey is presented with the Killane Shield by Tony Gregory T.D. at the City of Dublin Championships on 28th August 2005.

This is the Curragh's first trophy since 1992!!   Team members were Richard Arundell, Mark McLoughlin,  Noel Lynch (Capt), Peter Klompers, Dermot Earls & Derek Stacey.  Congratulations to all!

Results of the competition were as follows:-

Round 1: Curragh v Rathmines

Saturday, 25 June 2005 :  Curragh 3-1 Rathmines

Round 2: Inchicore v Curragh

Thursday,  7 July 2005 :   Inchicore 1.5-3.5 Curragh

Semi-Final: Curragh v Bray/Greystones

Saturday, 14 July 2005 :    Curragh 3.5 - 1.5 Bray/Greystones

Final: Curragh v  Elm Mount

Saturday, 30 July 2005 :    Curragh 4-1 Elm Mount

Christmas Swiss Competition 2004

The Christmas Swiss Competition held from October to December 2004 was won by Richard Arundell. Richard needed to win his last round game against Mark McLoughlin to take the victory after conceding a draw earlier in the competition to Peter Klompers.

1st Richard Arundell
2nd Mark McLoughlin
3rd Peter Klompers

25th Anniversary

On Thursday 27th May 2004, members past and present gathered together to celebrate 25 years of brilliances, blunders, premises moves, characters, promotions and relegations. Tony Carr and Tom Bermingham The club was founded by serving members of the Defence Forces on 22nd May 1979 in the Military College. Founding member Tony Carr recalled that the Club was initially set up to run an army chess championship but due to popular demand, it was agreed to allow civilians join the club. The club met in the School of Signals until it moved to its current location at the Curragh Library in 1990. The club entered a team in the Leinster Chess League for the 1979/80 season and has participated in every season since then. At its height in 1995, the club had four teams competing in the Leagues with members from Kildare, Newbridge, Kilcullen and Naas.