Leinster Chess Leagues

The Leinster Leagues are amateur chess team competitions run by the Leinster Chess Union (LCU) in the province of Leinster in Ireland. The competitions include the Armstrong Cup, which is reputed to be the oldest Irish team league competition. Played every year since 1888, the Armstrong Cup is one of the longest running chess leagues in the world.

League structure
The leagues include a number of divisions which are sometimes divided into sections, depending on the number of teams participating. In the 2023/24 season, for example, there were three sections in the Bodley Cup but no O'Sullivan Cup divisions. At the end of each season, there is promotion and relegation of two or more teams between divisions. As of the July 2023, the Leinster Leagues consisted of seven divisions:


 * Division 1 - Armstrong Cup
 * Division 2 - Heidenfeld Trophy
 * Division 3 - Ennis Shield
 * Division 4 - O'Hanlon Cup
 * Division 5 - BEA Cup
 * Division 6 - Bodley Cup
 * Division 7 - O'Sullivan Cup

The LCU is affiliated to the Irish Chess Union (ICU), and all players have to be registered with the ICU.

Knockout cups
The leagues normally start in late September and continue until early May. After this, clubs may put forward teams for three knockout competitions, from among players who played in the leagues. These competitions include the:
 * Branagan Cup - for players from divisions 1 and 2
 * Killane Shield - for players who played in divisions 3 and below
 * William Brennan Trophy - for players rated below 1500