title: Squash in Ireland
text: # Squash in Ireland
  
  ## History
  
  Irish Squash experienced a resurgence in popularity in the 2000s, 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.
  
  The Irish senior ladies team have performed well at the WSF World Team Squash Championships, winning bronze in 1985 and finishing 5th in 2008. They also finished in 4th position at the European Team Championships in France.
  
  ## Clubs
  
  * List of some active Irish squash clubs
  * Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club
  * Old Belvedere Squash Racquets Club
  * Mount Pleasant Lawn Tennis Club
  * Westwood
  * Aer Lingus
  * Galway Lawn Tennis Club
  * Naas Squash Club
  * Leinster Cricket Club
  * Sandycove Squash Club
  * Sutton Lawn Tennis Club
  * Thurles Squash Club
  * Tullamore
  * UCC
  * Trinity College Dublin Squash Club
  * Curragh Squash Club
  
  ## Governance
  
  Irish Squash, the national governing body for squash in Ireland, celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2010. Below the national body are four provincial organisations.
  
  ## Notable players
  
  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. Barrington played for Trinity and returned to compete against the Trinity team in 1992.
  
  ## Competitions
  
  The Irish Open is usually held at the 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 | Not Held | Not Held |
  | 2002 | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held |
  | 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 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 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.
  
  ### 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.
  
  