[5] His wife Catherine Veronica O’Hanlon, was born in 1885, and they both lived in Portadown for some time until they moved to Dublin.

On 10 June 1922, O'Hanlon was one of several hundred people arrested by the government of Northern Ireland, for suspicion of being a member of an unlawful association or party.

His wife Catherine had to write an affidavit stating that he was arrested on the 10 June and had since been detained without any charge being brought against him.

He also played in British championships; among others, he tied for 8th-9th places at Oxford in 1910 and 7th–9th at Stratford-upon-Avon in 1925, both won by Henry Ernest Atkins.

He played for Ireland in unofficial and official Chess Olympiads in France at Paris 1924, Warsaw 1935 and Buenos Aires 1939.

At the time of his passing, John O'Hanlon was preparing and practising his techniques with plans to make a comeback the following July.

[13] O'Hanlon was reputedly so well known in the chess world that from Moscow to Munich a disclosure of Irish Nationality would prompt the question "How is Mr.

"[2] The O'Hanlon Cup, awarded for competitions in the fourth division of the Leinster Chess Leagues, is named in his honour.

[16] In 1962 the O'Hanlon Memorial was held as part Irish Chess Union Golden Jubilee celebrations.