Donal Garvey and Nicky Fitzgibbon, third place in the Gala Pairs Competition, pictured with CBAI President John Phelan at the Tralee International Bridge Congress.THE Tralee International Bridge Congress 2026 was a hugely successful weekend at The Rose Hotel, Tralee, with three days of bridge, friendship, competition and community spirit.
Hosted last weekend under the BridgeIreland.com banner, this year’s Congress brought players to Tralee across a wide range of grades, with events for Congress, Intermediate, Intermediate B, Novice and Open players.
The weekend programme included the Gala Pairs, Congress Pairs for the Marie Fleming Cup, Intermediate Pairs, Open Pairs, Novice Pairs, Teams competitions and a closing charity event in aid of Meals on Wheels Kerry.
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The Congress opened on Friday evening with a warm welcome to players and guests at The Rose Hotel.
Cllr Mikey Sheehy attended on behalf of Kerry County Council and spoke at the opening, acknowledging the importance of community events such as the Tralee International Bridge Congress and the value they bring to the town.
Maura Foley and Kelan O’Connor, 2nd place in the Gala Pairs Competition, pictured with CBAI President John Phelan.The Congress Committee is especially grateful for the support received through Kerry County Council’s Community Support Fund 2026, which has been greatly appreciated by the organisers and the wider bridge community.
CBAI National President John Phelan also addressed the gathering on Friday evening and later presented prizes to the opening night winners.
The Congress was also supported throughout the weekend by North Munster President Kay Cussen and Tralee Congress President Pat Fitzgibbon.
A special word of thanks went to T1 Healthcare, the main sponsor of the Tralee International Bridge Congress 2026.
Thanks were also extended to Kerry County Council through the Community Support Fund 2026, The Rose Hotel, Bridge With Trish, Harbour House Bed and Breakfast, Tralee Community Bridge Club and all other supporters of the Congress.
Phyllis O’Regan and Eugene Gath, Winners of the Gala Pairs Competition, pictured with CBAI President John Phelan.The weekend opened on Friday night with the Gala Pairs and Intermediate B & Novice competition.
There was a lively atmosphere in the room, with a great sense of friendship and competition as players settled into the first session of the Congress.
In the Gala Pairs, first place went to Eugene Gath & Phyllis O’Regan, followed by Maura Foley & Kelan O’Connor in second, Donal Garvey & Nicky Fitzgibbon in third, William Enright & Dympna Smyth in fourth, and John Phelan & Lucy Phelan in fifth.
Friday night also saw strong performances across the grades, with Anne Looney & Marie Moloney taking Best Intermediate A, Ger Crowley & Kieron O’Connor taking second Intermediate A, and Joanne Macken & Niamh Feeney winning Best Area Master.
Saturday was the flagship day of the Congress and began with a very well-received hand analysis session from Grand Master Donal Garvey.
Donal reviewed a selection of Friday night’s hands, including boards 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 14, 16, 17 and 18, and gave a generous mention to his opponents for their bidding on Board 16.
The main Saturday event was the Congress Pairs Overall, where Donal Garvey & Pat Quinn took first place. Derek O’Gorman & Rory Boland finished second, with John Phelan & Lucy Phelan third, Nicky Fitzgibbon & Trish Stack fourth, and Cian Holland & John Russell fifth.
The Intermediate Pairs Overall was won by Ger Crowley & Kieron O’Connor. Anne Looney & Marie Moloney finished second, Paddy Macken & Margaret Duffy third, Joan Meagher & Anne Cronin fourth, and Margaret Jackman & Margaret Murphy fifth.
In the Saturday Afternoon Open Pairs, William Enright & Dympna Smyth claimed first place, followed by Rita Leahy & Garry Leahy in second and Maria O’Gorman & Carmel Pierse in third.
The Saturday Evening Novice Pairs was won by Laetitia Mac Mahon & Fiona Kelly, with Ena Harty & Nora Flynn second and Megs McHenry & Karen O’Driscoll third.
Sunday brings the Congress to a fitting close, with team and pairs competitions continuing the strong atmosphere of the weekend.
The Congress Teams Overall was won by John Phelan & Lucy Phelan with Gordon Lessells & Mark Burke. Joe Higgins & Tom McCarthy with Cian Holland & John Russell finished second, while John O’Connor & Kelan O’Connor with Denis Sheehan & Kay Cussen finished third.
The Sunday Intermediate B & Novice Pairs was won by Helen O’Connor & Jim O’Connor. Liam Lynch & Elizabeth Lynch finished second, with Michael Horgan & Joni Murphy in third.
The Congress concluded on Sunday evening with the Open Pairs Charity Event in aid of Meals on Wheels Kerry, won by Nicky Fitzgibbon & Trish Stack.
