Welcome to BADMINTON MUSEUM OF IRELAND.

The purpose of the Badminton Museum of Ireland is to preserve the great heritage of Irish Badminton and to make the general badminton public aware of it.

In this issue we are displaying two contrasting items.

In the historic section we have displayed a copy of the Ailesbury Badminton Club Secretary’s Report. There are a number of interesting aspects to this report. Firstly it is the 52nd report confirming that the Club was formed in 1903. It is likely that this is the Club with the longest continuance playing existence in Ireland. The club has retained its Minute Book going back to its inception. It is interesting to not the affect the New Hall was having on Club attendance. At that time the Club was based in Camden Row in Central Dublin. However the competitive instinct of the Secretary shines through. Also the Secretary appears to have been ahead of his time in relation to diet. The contribution of Ailesbury members to Leinster badminton is quite rightly highlighted.

As the European Senior Championships are being held in Dundalk at the end of September we thought it appropriate to make reference to the European Championships, which were held in Ireland in 1976. I am sure that anybody who helped at or attended the event will find it hard to believe this took place 34 years ago. It was a magic week of Badminton. The photograph shows the delegates from all member countries at the Mansion House. Frank Peard carried out the role of Director with consummate professionalism. Audrey Kinkead served for many years as Honorary Secretary of Badminton Union of Ireland. David Townsend acted as Honorary Treasurer for a number of years. Bob Colhoun is still heavily involved in the game in Ulster.

We are pleased to say that the Museum project received the backing of the Leinster Branch Executive at the recent AGM of the Branch. Having, earlier in the year, received backing from Badminton Ireland there is hope that matters are now progressing nicely.

For administrative reasons there will not be an issue in mid August so the next issue will appear at the beginning of September

Dick O’Rafferty, Curator, Badminton Museum of Ireland