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Irish Squash is experienced a resurgence in popularity in the 2000s, following a dip in its profile during the 1990s. Belfast hosted the Women's International Squash Players Association World Championship in November 2006 with the final being played at the Ulster Hall.
The Irish senior ladies team have performed well at the WSF World Team Squash Championships, winning bronze in 1985 and finishing 5th in 2008. They also finished in 4th position at the European Team Championships in France.
| List of some active Irish squash clubs |
|---|
| Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club |
| Old Belvedere Squash Racquets Club |
| Mount Pleasant Lawn Tennis Club |
| Westwood |
| Aer Lingus |
| Galway Lawn Tennis Club |
| Naas Squash Club |
| Leinster Cricket Club |
| Sandycove Squash Club |
| Sutton Lawn Tennis Club |
| Thurles Squash Club |
| Tullamore |
| UCC |
| Trinity College Dublin Squash Club |
| Curragh Squash Club |
Irish Squash, the national governing body for squash in Ireland, celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2010. Below the national body are four provincial organisations.
Irish Squash includes notable players such as Jonah Barrington, Derek Ryan, Madeline Perry, Liam Kenny Aisling Blake and John Rooney. Jonah Barrington was honoured with a lifetime achievement award in 2006 at the World Squash Awards. Barrington played for Trinity and returned to compete against the Trinity team in 1992.
The Irish Open is usually held at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club.
| Year | Winner | Opponent in final | Score in final |
| 2007 | Alex Gough | Borja Golán | 11–6, 2–11, 11–10 (2–0), 8–11, 11–9 |
| 2006 | Borja Golán | Davide Bianchetti | 11–5, 10–11 (4–2), 11–2, 11–9 |
| 2005 | Ong Beng Hee | Laurens Jan Anjema | 11–9, 7–11, 11–7, 11–4 |
| 2003 | Not Held | ||
| 2002 | |||
| 2001 | Peter Nicol | David Palmer | 15–11, 15–5, 15–9 |
| 2000 | Peter Nicol | Jonathon Power | 15–12, 15–12, 15–9 |
Jonah Barrington won the Irish Open in 1966, 1967, 1969, and 1979, and was runner-up (to his rival, Geoff Hunt) in 1972. In 1976, Geoff Hunt beat Mohibullah Khan in the (then) new Squash Ireland Centre in Dublin. Earlier, from the mid-1950s onwards Donald Pratt, an all-round sportsman who also excelled at cricket, won the Irish Open for ten years in succession.
In 2005 the Pakistani squash team were unable to play in the Irish Open due to their visas for Ireland not being granted in time following qualification. [1] [ dead link ]
| Year | Winner | Opponent in final | Score in final |
| 2007 | Madeline Perry | Jaclyn Hawkes | 9–3. 9–3, 9–5 |
| 2006 | Madeline Perry | Laura Lengthorn | 9–7. 9–3, 9–4 |
| 2005 | Madeline Perry | Annelize Naudé | 9–4, 2–9, 7–9, 9–4, 9–6 |
| 2004 | Vanessa Atkinson | Jenny Tranfield | 10–8, 9–1, 9–3 |
| 2003 | Vanessa Atkinson | Cassie Jackman | 3–9, 9–4, 9–5, 4–9, 9–7 |
2003 marked the first Women's Irish Open since 1991, where Cassie Jackman - the 2003 losing finalist - reached the semi-finals.
Squash is a racket and ball sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball. The players alternate in striking the ball with their rackets onto the playable surfaces of the four walls of the court. The objective of the game is to hit the ball in such a way that the opponent is not able to play a valid return. There are about 20 million people who play squash regularly world-wide in over 185 countries. The governing body of Squash, the World Squash Federation (WSF), is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), but the sport is not part of the Olympic Games, despite a number of applications. Supporters continue to lobby for its incorporation in a future Olympic program.
Jahangir Khan is a former World No. 1 professional Pakistani squash player. He won the World Open six times, and the British Open ten times. Jahangir Khan is widely regarded as the greatest squash player of all time.
Jonah Barrington is a retired Irish/English squash player, originally from Morwenstow, Cornwall, England.
Mohibullah Khan is a former world squash champion from Pakistan. He was one of the game's leading players in the 1970s, reaching a career-high ranking of World No. 2. He was runner-up at the inaugural World Open in 1976, and at the British Open in 1976, losing on both occasions to Australia's Geoff Hunt.
Qamar Zaman is a former squash player from Pakistan. He was one of the leading players in the game of Squash during the 1970s and 1980s. His biggest triumph was winning the British Open Squash Championships in 1975. He lives in Peshawar.
Sport in Pakistan is a significant part of Pakistani culture. Cricket is the most popular sport in Pakistan, while field hockey, polo, and squash are also popular. Traditional sports like kabaddi and other well-known games are also played. The Pakistan Sports Board was created in 1962 by the Ministry of Education as a corporate body for the purposes of promoting and developing uniform standards of competition in sports in Pakistan comparable to the standards prevailing internationally, and regulating and controlling sports in Pakistan on a national basis. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, now has control over the Pakistan Sports Board. The PSB controls all 39 sporting federations. The Pakistan Sports Board is supported by the Pakistan Sports Trust, which assists hard up players and associations so they can continue participating in sports.
Angela Smith is a retired professional English squash player: she was one of the world's top ranked squash players from 1979 to 1990. She was also the first female squash player to turn professional and was widely recognized for changing the face of women's squash by doing so.
Nasrullah Khan was a Pakistani squash player. In 1966, he became coach to Ireland's Jonah Barrington, along with Azam Khan as Barrington's tactical advisor, helping Barrington to win his first of six British Open titles between 1967 and 1973. He also coached Angela Smith, the GB and England world star who became a legend herself in the ladies game ensuring that the sport was professional for women.
The 1976 Lucas Industries Men's World Open Squash Championship was the inaugural men's edition of the 1976 World Open, which serves as the individual world championship for squash players. The event took place in London in England from 31 January to 7 February 1976. Geoff Hunt won his first World Open title, defeating Mohibullah Khan in the final.
The championship of 1976 also served as the British Open for that year.
The 1977 PSA Men's Uniroyal World Open Squash Championship is the men's edition of the 1977 World Open, which serves as the individual world championship for squash players. The event took place at Brahma Lodge in Adelaide, Australia from 11 October to 21 October 1977. Geoff Hunt won his second World Open title, defeating Qamar Zaman in the final.
The 1976 Lucas Industries British Open Squash Championship was unique in that it doubled as the men's edition of the 1976 World Open, which serves as the individual world championship for squash players. The event took place in London in England from 31 January to 7 February 1976. Geoff Hunt won his third British Open title, defeating Mohibullah Khan in the final.
Held at Wembley a record prize fund of £10,000 was put forward for this first professional World Open and 38th British Open.
The 1969 British Open Championship was held at the Abbeydale Park in Sheffield from 21–29 January 1969.
Geoff Hunt won the title defeating Cameron Nancarrow in the final. This was the first time that the event took place outside London. Returning after a seven-year absence the 1962 semi-finalist Dardir El Bakary represented New Zealand instead of Egypt.
The 1970 British Open Championship was held at the Edgbaston Priory Club in Birmingham from 8–13 December 1969.
Jonah Barrington won his third title defeating Geoff Hunt in the final.
The 1972 Benson and Hedges British Open Championship was held at the Abbeydale Park Squash Club]] in
Sheffield from 28 January - 5 February 1972.
Jonah Barrington won his fifth title defeating Geoff Hunt in the final. The event was sponsored for the first time by Benson and Hedges.
The 1978 Avis Rent-a-Car British Open Championships was held at the Wembley Squash Centre in London from 31 March - 8 April 1978.
Geoff Hunt won his fifth title defeating Qamar Zaman in the final.
The 1973 Benson & Hedges British Open Championships was held at Abbeydale Park in Sheffield from 27 January - 2 February 1973.
Jonah Barrington won his sixth title defeating Gogi Alauddin in the final. This sixth success took him to just one behind the record set by Hashim Khan, but it was also to be the last title victory for Barrington.
The 1974 Benson & Hedges British Open Championships was held at Abbeydale Park in Sheffield from 31 January - 8 February 1974.
Geoff Hunt won his second title defeating Mo Yasin in the final with a walkover. Mohammed Yasin had to concede the final because of a badly sprained ankle and therefore did not compete, this was the first time a final could not be held since 1934. As a consolation the crowd was treated to Hunt against Barrington in an exhibition match.
The 1977 Lucas Industries British Open Championships was held at Wembley Squash Centre in London from 26 March - 4 April 1977.
Geoff Hunt won his fourth title defeating Cameron Nancarrow in the final. The Pakistan government did not allow their leading players to compete because South African players lined up in the field.
The 1980 Avis British Open Championships was held at the Wembley Squash Centre and the Wembley Conference Centre in London from 4–13 March 1980.
Geoff Hunt won his seventh title defeating Qamar Zaman in the final. This seventh win equalled the record previously set by Hashim Khan of Pakistan. The squash world was still recovering from the sudden deaths of Torsam Khan and Kim Bruce-Lockhart who both died from heart attacks whilst playing squash. Torsam Khan died during November 1979 and Kim Bruce-Lockhart died in January 1980.
The 1981 Audi British Open Championships was held at the Bromley Town Squash Club with the later stages being held at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley, Greater London from 30 March - 9 April 1981.
Geoff Hunt won his eighth title defeating Jahangir Khan in the final. This eighth win set a new record surpassing the seven wins set by Hashim Khan of Pakistan.