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.

The Gallery item in this issue shows the formal presentation by Betty Uber of the trophy bearing her name. The competition is the World Team event for Ladies and is the female counterpart of the Thomas Cup. Ireland played with distinction in the early years with a team spearheaded by Mary Bryan (nee O’Sullivan) and Yvonne Kelly. In more recent times Ireland decided not to compete on a regular basis. Non-participation often caused serious controversy within the Irish game. Betty Uber was a top class player and played in Ireland on many occasions. The Irish connection is furthered strengthened by the fact that the President of the International Badminton Federation (now World Badminton Federation) at the time was Irishman J. Plunkett-Dillon who accepted the trophy on behalf of the I.B.F. The photograph is displayed by kind permission of Peard Collection

The first ever Badminton International Match was played between Ireland and England and for very many years this annual match was the highlight of the International Calendar for Irish fans. Ireland never managed to defeat the English but the report here shows just how close they were to doing so on this occasion. It is noted that the strength of the team at that time was in the men. It is sad to say that as this group of players were retiring Mary Bryan and Yvonne Kelly were beginning to make their presence felt and they became the strength of the team. I think there is little doubt that if they were born a little earlier or the men on the team reported here were born a little later the record would not show Ireland losing every time.

As usual I am keen to hear comments or suggestions and these can be made to me through the web site

Dick O’Rafferty
Curator