The All Ireland Colleges Tournament
In 2004 it was Dublin’s turn to host Ireland’s most important school’s chess competition, and the private school Gonzaga College was chosen as the venue for the tournament in which Methody was to be represented in the under nineteen section.
The U19 team, short of two regular First Division members, faced two Dublin schools in their section - St. Benildus and the hosts Gonzaga College. The Gonzaga team, aided by substantial financing (for coaching etc.), have dominated the competition in recent years and recently won the British Isles Schools Chess Championships held in Millfield, England. However, particularly impressive performances by the Methody team consisting of Christophe McGlade, Chris Millar, Sini Gye, Ryan Deane, Nicola Hood and Andrew Wright, combined with a near miraculous run of results in the final round (were the team produced five points from a possible six) left Methody as winners of the competiton and All Ireland Colleges’ Champions.
