Players Upgraded 1/1/2025 & A New Grand Master

We are pleased to announce that the following players have been upgraded as of 1 January 2025 on the basis of the masterpoints won in national competitions up to Christmas this season:

New membership cards will be issued to these players shortly, and their clubs will be informed of their promotion. The grade changes are effective immediately, so, for example, the players promoted to National Master are NOT eligible to enter the Confined Regional Masters competitions in February, nor are the new Regional Masters eligible to enter the Confined Area Masters competitions in April. They may, however, complete any competition (e.g. a league series or a qualification event) that they had already begun at their old grade.

Many congratulations to them all, particularly to John Noonan, who has reached the highest rank in Irish bridge, that of Grand Master, becoming the 36th member of that most exclusive group. Originally from Limerick City, John moved first to Dublin, and then to Bray, with his job with P&T. He had played a lot of cards within his family, and decided in the mid-1980s that he would take a look at bridge. He learned the game in an unusual fashion. During the season, he approached the local club enquiring about lessons, but was told that there would be none until September. Sensing his disappointment, the teacher gave him a set of notes and told him to go home and read them and come back. The following week, John reappeared, having read the notes, and was deemed of an acceptable standard to start playing straightaway in the club. He is very grateful to all the more experienced members of Bray Bridge Club who gave him advice and guidance along the way, particularly to Enda Boland who took John under his wing in the early days.

John didn’t start to play very seriously until the mid-1990s, when he established his very successful partnership with Carol-Ann Cummins. John has won more than 20 national titles, including virtually all the “majors”, the vast majority of them in partnership with Carol-Ann. He also has one national title with Brendan Martin, and one online one (which doesn’t count towards the official tally) with Alan O’Sullivan. He has been capped for Ireland twice in Mixed Pairs championships with Carol-Ann. John has also been very involved in the administrative side of bridge, serving for many years on the Eastern Region Committee, including as President and (currently) as Treasurer, and, just like his own mentors, John would be widely recognised as being very helpful and generous with his time to up-and-coming players. Away from the bridge table, his passions are Munster rugby and Limerick hurling.

We will mark John’s achievement by presenting him with the special Grand Master’s silver salver at the Holmes Wilson in February. Many congratulations John!