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.

For this issue the Gallery Item displays a photograph taken at the Centenary Celebrations of Badminton Union of Ireland in 1999. It shows the current President, Audrey Kinkead, and eight former Presidents who attended the function on the night. It gives a good indication that Badminton is an all-Ireland game with Presidents from each of the four Branches. These would have been honoured for their work for the game at all levels from club, Branch and Union. George Henderson is the only one who played for Ireland at International level.

Current players and officials are often frustrated at the poor perceptions that some people hold of Badminton. Often seen as a game for the garden and purely of a social nature. Looking through some material I was struck by the same irritation that was shown by the Article displayed in the Historical section which was written in 1924.

The Museum project welcomes comments through the website and we are keen to seek support from those holding material confirming the long heritage of Badminton in Ireland.

Dick O’Rafferty
Curator