We are pleased to present the Spring 2026 edition of the Irish Bridge Journal. You’ll find it here.
As ever, the Journal includes a variety of interesting and educational material. The highlights of this edition include:
- Profiles of our two new sponsors, Cantor Fitzgerald and Travel Counsellors/Brian Bloomer. Some of you will have met Suzie Berkery of Cantor Fitzgerald at the recent Holmes Wilson competition, which they sponsored, and where Suzie did a great job, including bringing home a prize. You’ll have the opportunity to meet Brian Bloomer at the Spiro/Coen weekend in October. As part of his sponsorship he promises some special events for our members, starting with a special online seminar exclusively for CBAI members on Thursday 16 April, at 7.30 p.m. focusing on ocean and river cruising. Brian will be joined by guest speakers from Celebrity Cruises and Uniworld River Cruises, who will share insights into what makes these holidays so appealing. We gather that there will be some exclusive offers available on the night too. So whether you’re curious about cruising for the first time or already a fan looking for your next trip, you should enjoy the session. You can register for it using this link.
- A great article by Nicola O’Dowd concentrating this month not so much on her own personal journey in playing bridge as on her experience of promoting bridge, at which she has become very adept in a short career to date. Nicola’s observations on sharing ideas and best practices are well worth a read for any club or regional committee. As she notes: “Bridge doesn’t grow by chance it grows when we back each other.”
- A very interesting memoir from the always genial and affable Grand Master Derek O’Gorman on his lifetime in bridge. The genialness and affableness, in addition to the bridge skill obviously, explains why Derek is in such demand as a partner.
- And last but not least, what I am confident is the first ever reference in a bridge publication to a certain item of female apparel, in Enda’s interview with Emily Deavy on how Andrew Robson ended up giving tuition in the west of Ireland – see page 24 for full details. You’ll also see that the redoubtable Emily has signed up none other than Zia Mahmood for her next outing. Well done Emily!
We hope you will enjoy the Journal. Thanks to all our contributors – it’s great to see some names feature in this edition – and, as always, to our designer Sue Power and editor Enda Murphy for their considerable efforts on this publication. Thanks also to our advertisers and sponsors, without whose assistance producing material of this depth and quality would not be possible. Please support them whenever you can.
As Enda has commented previously, we would really like to feature the CBAI’s clubs more in the Journal. We are aware of several clubs with significant anniversaries upcoming; if they would like to submit pieces on any celebratory functions, including some pictures wherever possible, please, we’ll be delighted to feature them in the Journal if we can.