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.

Reading history often brings home the point that there can be repetition of issues where opposing sides should be on the one side but for lack of understanding each other’s point of view.

The Historical item in this issue is the first page of the Minutes of a Special General Meeting of the Midland Branch held in December 1930. In case of difficulty in reading the handwriting the matter concerns a special meeting called because of the resignation of the President and Honorary Secretary of the Branch as a protest against “undue interference with the Branch by members of the Badminton Union of Ireland and an unwarranted demand the resignation of the Honorary Secretary of the Branch be called for”. After discussion it was proposed and seconded that the officers be asked to reconsider their resignations. The proposal was carried and both resignations were withdrawn. Interesting times 74 years ago!

The gallery item shows Dublin and Surrey teams prior to an Exhibition Match in Terenure Centre. Both teams were very strong with very few uncapped players. The Surrey team played other matches outside Dublin and I was lucky to have seen them play in Carlow before a packed audience.

We have no further developments to report on official support for the Museum but we are very keen that old material be retained so that the valuable historic records Badminton in Ireland can be as complete as possible.

Dick O’Rafferty
Curator