Culture nights chess offering

Derry City Chess Club meets weekly in the Verbal Arts Centre and has around 24 regular members with many more of all ages and stages of learning taking part in classes and tournaments.

Alan Turnbull of Derry City Chess Club explained that the club has had its ups and downs over the years since it was originally founded some 60 years ago back in 1951.

“At one point there were upwards of 70 and 80 regular members in the club until satellite TV and game consoles took over. But we have kept at it, kept the club going and things are on the up again,” he said.

Indeed, there is a growing chess community in the city. Magee University has hosted the Irish Chess Championships three times to date and Alan teaches the game to children and young people in schools throughout the city every week.

“We meet every Tuesday evening and also have a regular Friday night club for beginners. There’s a keen interest from the children and young people in the schools and I’ve been surprised by the numbers with 300 girls and boys from primary school right through to 18 years of age learning Chess each week,” he said.

For further information about Culture Night full listings and information on events is available at http://www.derrycity.gov.uk/culturenights or by contacting Derry City Council Development Department on 02871 365151.