The Irish Chess Union

What makes a chess festival different from a traditional tournament? The Sligo Chess & Culture Festival explores how competitive chess, cultural experiences, education and tourism can come together to benefit players, develop chess in Ireland and attract new audiences.

Read the blog post on Chess.com.

https://www.chess.com/blog/SligoChessFestival/beyond-the-board-what-makes-a-chess-festival-different

Be advised there are some single and twin rooms still available in the Club House Hotel.

Ring them on 056 77 21994

There is still time to sign up for the National Arbiters course in Coláiste Éanna, Dublin on Sat 14 - Sun 15 Nov. See event page for details or to enter by Tue 10 Nov to avail of reduced rates. There are still a few spaces. Training in running Live Boards is included or available separately. Participants could read the Laws of Chess before the weekend.

The Drogheda Super Rapid & Blitz 2K26 KlimaX is now open for entry. In addition to the Super Rapid, for this 3rd edition, we're adding as a separate event, a 3rd day - a 15 Round Super Blitz!

Great prizes and trophies. Play in one or play in both and avail of a discount. In addition there are early bird discounts for adults until 11/11.

⏱️ Super Rapid

• 27th & 28th December (Sunday & Bank Holiday Monday)
• 15 rounds, 20+2, FIDE rated
• €60 entry, €5 reduction for Under 18s
• Puzzle Rush Competition mini-game (Optional)

⚡ Super Blitz

• 29th December (Tuesday)
• 15 rounds, 3+2, FIDE rated
• €30 entry, €5 reduction for Under 18s

Read the 2K25 KlimaX Report for a preview of what to expect and see Conditions & Prizes for more information.

Knights of Éanna is delighted to host our first Junior Classical Weekender.

The event is both FIDE and ICU rated and gives junior players a whole weekend of classical chess across five age categories: U8, U10, U12, U14 and U16.

Join us at Coláiste Éanna in Rathfarnham for a fun weekend of chess!

Enter here: Éanna Junior Weekender

The European Club Cup recently concluded with

• 3 new FMs
• 5 new CMs (one of whom will get FM at 2100)
• 4 prospective CMs

from among the record 8 Irish teams participating.

Congratulations are due as follow:

FM

• Daniel Abrahams UCD
• Shriman K UCD
• Conor O'Reilly (Knights of Éanna)

FM (pending reaching 2100 FIDE)

• Harry Braine (Elm Mount)

CM

• Darun Govindaraju (Master CC)
• Atharva Paibir (Master CC)
• Harry Braine (Elm Mount)
• Nicole White (Knights of Éanna)
• Snaevar Landmark (Malahide)

CM - pending reaching 2000 FIDE

• Tallann Maguire (UCD)
• Kevin Burke (St Benildus)
• James Kavanagh (Malahide)
• Jack Herring (Elm Mount)

Watch streaming commentary for 2nd Annual Irish Women's Chess Festival 2026

here!

Entries for the Éanna Junior Weekender, taking place November 14th - 15th, are now open! Two day, 5 rounds, FIDE rated classical tournament for junior players in U8, U10, U12, U14, & U16 age groups! Enter here.