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.

I am indebted to Barry Coffey for the items displayed in the Historical Section. For Juvenile players participation in the English Schools Inter-county Competition in Nottingham has been an aspiration. Next season will be the 40th anniversary of Leinster’s first participation. Displayed is the cover of the programme for the 1975/76 season and this was the second occasion that Leinster competed. Also displayed is the invitation to compete in trials that was received by Barry. He must have done well as he was selected! Other members of the teams were Anna Jackson, Ita McGrath, Nikki Lane, Susie Egan, Anne McCauley, Peter Hannon, John McArdle, Jack Killoch, Roy Bailey. Many of these players progressed to Senior representative honours.

The gallery item displays a photograph of the Irish team that played Scotland in 1957. This was a very experienced team. It should be noted that only three ladies are on the team as opposed to six men.

Having attended the recent BI AGM I am further convinced that the current powers that be have no intention of supporting the Museum Project. However the Trustees are most reluctant to have valuable records and artifacts lost to the Badminton public and will be discussing what more can be done to have an actual Museum and I will report on developments as they arise.

Dick O’Rafferty
Curator