Squash in Ireland
Irish Squash includes notable players such as Jonah Barrington, Derek Ryan, Madeline Perry, Liam Kenny Aisling Blake and John Rooney. Jonah Barrington was honoured with a lifetime achievement award in 2006 at the World Squash Awards.
Irish Squash is currently experiencing a resurgence in popularity following a dip in its profile during the 1990s. Belfast hosted the Women's International Squash Players Association World Championship in November 2006 with the final being played at the Ulster Hall.
Irish Squash, the national governing body for squash in Ireland, celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2010. There are many growth areas within Irish Squash particularly as junior level where promotion and funding has helped to produce talented and promising players.
The Irish senior ladies team have performed particularly well at the WSF World Team Squash Championships. They won bronze in 1985 and finished 5th in 2008. They also finished in 4th position at the recent European Team Championships in France.
The Irish Open is usually held at the imposing and prestigious Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club.
Irish Men's Open Results
| Year | Winner | Opponent in final | Score in final |
| 2007 | Alex Gough | Borja Golán | 11–6, 2–11, 11–10 (2–0), 8–11, 11–9 |
| 2006 | Borja Golán | Davide Bianchetti | 11–5, 10–11 (4–2), 11–2, 11–9 |
| 2005 | Ong Beng Hee | Laurens Jan Anjema | 11–9, 7–11, 11–7, 11–4 |
| 2003 | Not Held | ||
| 2002 | |||
| 2001 | Peter Nicol | David Palmer | 15–11, 15–5, 15–9 |
| 2000 | Peter Nicol | Jonathon Power | 15–12, 15–12, 15–9 |
Jonah Barrington won the Irish Open in 1966, 1967, 1969, and 1979, and was runner-up (to his great rival, Geoff Hunt) in 1972. In 1976, Geoff Hunt beat Mohibullah Khan in the (then) new Squash Ireland Centre in Dublin. Earlier, from the mid-1950s onwards Donald Pratt, an all-round sportsman who also excelled at cricket, won the Irish Open for ten years in succession.
In 2005, an infamous incident occurred when the Pakistani squash team were unable to play in the Irish Open due to their Visas for Ireland not being granted in time following qualification. The incident was also reported in the Pakistani press at the time.
Irish Women's Open Results
| Year | Winner | Opponent in final | Score in final |
| 2007 | Madeline Perry | Jaclyn Hawkes | 9–3. 9–3, 9–5 |
| 2006 | Madeline Perry | Laura Lengthorn | 9–7. 9–3, 9–4 |
| 2005 | Madeline Perry | Annelize Naudé | 9–4, 2–9, 7–9, 9–4, 9–6 |
| 2004 | Vanessa Atkinson | Jenny Tranfield | 10–8, 9–1, 9–3 |
| 2003 | Vanessa Atkinson | Cassie Jackman | 3–9, 9–4, 9–5, 4–9, 9–7 |
2003 marked the first Women's Irish Open since 1991, where Cassie Jackman - the 2003 losing finalist - reached the semi-finals.
External links
- Official Irish Squash web site
- Official site for the sport in Leinster
- Official site for the sport in Ulster
- Official site for the sport in Munster