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.

In this issue we have displayed items in which the connection is different leagues not run directly by Leinster Branch.

The Gallery Item displays two photographs from 50th Anniversary of South West Leinster League that was celebrated in 1997. We are grateful to Roy Cobbe for donating the very interesting Fixture List booklet of that year. This League was set up in 1947 by the following Clubs – Edenderry Parish, Maryboro, Mountmellick YM, Carlow YMCA, Portarlington Parochial, and Mountmellick St.Joseph's. The League has continued to flourish and is regarded as one of the best organised Leagues in Badminton.

The Historical Item displays a winners list of Tallaght and District League for the years 1990 to 1995. This was an interesting League in that it was dealing with Clubs already playing in Dublin and District Leagues. It was intended that this League would not clash with Dublin and District League but would extend the competitive season for clubs in the general area. The initial organisers were very positive and the competition was well run. One recollects that the winner's names were on the trophy when presented to the winners on the night. The effort involved in running the League eventually took its toll and ceased to function after a number years. This display is shown by kind permission of Leinster Branch.

I would welcome expressions of interest in the Museum project and of course will be delighted to receive loans or donations of material. From this issue it has been decided to upload material on a monthly basis at the beginning of each month.

Dick O’Rafferty
Curator