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 this month displays the Irish and Swedish teams that competed in the Inaugural Uber Cup Match. This was the first match played in the European Zone and Ireland won the match 6-1. The match was played at Terenure Centre. Interestingly Sweden conceded home match to Ireland much to the pleasure of Irish Badminton fans. Dorrie Donaldson and Lena Rea were nominated for Ireland but did not play. The Honorary Referee was J.Plunkett-Dillon on behalf of the international Badminton Federation.

Match results

Yvonne Kelly lost to Berit Olsson 5-11 10-12
Mary O’Sullivan beat Ulla-Britt Lagerstrom 11-5 12-9
Sheila Smyth beat Inger Nilsson 11-5 11-4
Sheila Smyth & Jean Lawless beat Berit Olsson & Ingrid Dahlberg 15-11 15-7
Yvonne Kelly & Mary O’Sullivan beat Ulla-Britt Lagerstrom & Inger Nilsson 15-1 15-1
Sheila Smyth & Jean Lawless beat Ulla-Britt Lagerstrom & Inger Nilsson 15-7 15-4
Yvonne Kelly & Mary O’Sullivan beat Berit Olsson & Ingrid Dahlberg 17-15 13-18 15-5

The Historical Item gives an amusing and informative account of a trip by the famous Strollers to help develop Badminton in Donegal. The Strollers are credited with the development of the game in Denmark. Would it be possible that the progress of the Magee family to prominence is a late flowering of the efforts of the Strollers.

Next October marks the 60th.anniversary of the opening at the Centre at Whitehall Road. We would be very interested in receiving press reports and photographs. Please make contact through the website.

Dick O’Rafferty
Curator