[6] Chess in Ireland has been concentrated around the major cities of Dublin, Belfast and Cork; there are also a number of clubs throughout the country such as those in Ballinasloe, Derry, Drogheda, Drumlish, Ennis, Enniscorthy, Galway, Kilkenny, Portadown Lisburn and Wicklow.

][citation needed] A book by Brian Nugent claims that "The Irish Invented Chess".

The ICU had published magazines in the past such as the Irish Chess Journal for members of the association.

The Armstrong Cup is sometimes described as the oldest perpetual chess trophy in the world, and has been played continually since 1888.

Happening over the entire season, it features many leading[tone] players from the Leinster Leagues.

[citation needed] The Leinster Chess Union also runs a knockout team competition after the team league competitions have finished, the Branagan Cup,[14] for players from division one and two, the Killane Shield for divisions three, four, five and six, and the William Brennan Trophy for players rated below 1500.

The all-Ulster league competition usually played in a variety of formats over the years so as to include sides from the rest of the province.

[citation needed] In Munster, there are three divisions run annually, in which club sides from Cork, Limerick, Ennis, Shannon, Tralee and Dungarvan compete.

[citation needed] The Patrick Moore cup (presented by the astronomer) is a junior team competition played between Ireland and Sussex County Chess players.

These two events have been held annually and bring together national squads from across Europe (although it is mainly just between teams from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England, sides from France, Holland and Belgium have competed) for three days of intensive and extremely competitive chess.

The 2008 Glorney and Faber Cups took place in Liverpool as part of its City of Culture celebrations.

That year it was held at Dublin City University and organised by the Irish Chess Union.

The 2015 tournament was held in Enfield, County Meath, and the opening ceremony was addressed by Irish President Michael D. Higgins (patron of the ICU)[20] Results 2013[21] The Braille Chess Association of Ireland was established in 1985 to promote Chess among the blind and partially sighted.