John O'Hanlon

John O'Hanlon (23 April 1876 – 20 February 1960) was an Irish chess player. He won the Irish Chess Championship nine times, the first title in 1913 and the last in 1940.

Early and family life

John O'Hanlon was born on 23 April 1876, Portadown, County Armagh. O'Hanlon played many sports in his youth, competing in swimming and rowing events. In many news articles about O'Hanlon, his wife is only mentioned once. 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. Catherine and John were married for 53 years

O'Hanlon won the Tailteann Games on second and third occasions, in 1928 and 1932. He played for Ireland in unofficial and official Chess Olympiads in France at Paris 1924, Warsaw 1935 and Buenos Aires 1939. Just after the war, he won a prize at the Zaandam tournament in Holland in 1946. At the time of his passing, John O'Hanlon was preparing and practising his techniques with plans to make a comeback the following July.

Legacy An impression of a medal won by John O'Hanlon (1943)A collection of four medals won by O'Hanlon were sold at auction for one thousand euro by Fonsie Mealy auctioneers. The same lot was sold at Whytes auction for eight hundred and fifty euro. 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. O’Hanlon?" In the 1960s a group of visually impaired chess players formed the O'Hanlon Chess Club in Dublin, they competed in the Leinster Leagues, winning the O'Hanlon Cup, and progressing through the leagues, until 1967 when they disbanded.

The O’Hanlon cup was originally the third division but as a result of the introduction of the Heidenfield Trophy, which is now the second division, the O’Hanlon Cup became the fourth division. The trophy was used prior to the beginning of the league as a prize for a chess championship in Connacht, by the Irish Chess Union.

O'Hanlon Memorial tournament For a number of years Dublin Chess Club, for which O'Hanlon has been a member, hosted the O'Hanlon Memorial tournament. In 1962 the O'Hanlon Memorial was held as part Irish Chess Union Golden Jubilee celebrations. This series of five tournaments in his memory were played at the Dublin Chess Club, where he had been a member. Five tournaments were played in J.J O’Hanlon's honour. They took place at the Dublin Chess Club. The first tournament took place in 1961 and the last concluded in 1964. YEAR DATES1960 31 August – 12 October1961 18 September – 13 November1962 An international tournament, organised by the Irish Chess Union took place in 1962. This tournament was called the ICU Golden Jubilee and it incorporated the O’Hanlon Memorial. In September of the same year the Dublin Chess Club organised another O’Hanlon Memorial. 1963 2–30 September1964 20 October- 1 November