The Republic of Ireland Ladies Snooker Association has had players represent Ireland since 1976 at World, European and International events.
As we gather data on our players participation in events, its clear that a great deal of information has been lost or discarded which is a great shame. Records are so very important in that it recognises those players who gave of their time and at great expense for many to represent their Country with pride.
I have been delving through various books, websites and library newspaper cuttings going back to the 1930’s to try and gather as much information as I can, so as to recognise those players who participated in World events and in doing so, give them the credit they so well deserve.
If anyone has information such as paper cuttings, or records that show Irish women snooker players having played in events in the past, please forward them to rilsasnooker@gmail.com.
To date we have 2 players who have 3 International Caps for Ireland and 1 who has 4 caps, we have 3 players who have 5 caps for Ireland and 3 players who have 7 caps for Ireland and 1 player who has reached 8 caps representing Ireland. I would like to thank each of them for their participation on behalf of our Association and should they forward information if they believe that they have represented Ireland on other occasions so as I can update our records
Michelle French from Kildare represented Ireland at 3 of our International Irish Opens and had great success in the Challenge events, winning the 2018 & 2019 events having been runner up in 2017, a great result for her. Jennifer Earle from Dublin has 3 International Caps for Ireland having reached the semi finals of the 6 Red event in 2018 and runner up in the 6 Red event in 2019. Her quarter final spot in the first ever International Irish Billiards Open completed her International Cap tally to date. We are sure both these players will go on to represent Ireland in many events in the years to come.
Jean McGregor represented Ireland on 4 occasions in the 1990’s. Jean who is married to Professional Fergal O’Brien made great progress in the sport during her time participating. Her first event was the 1991 World Championships In Glasgow in the pre qualifying rounds and reached the semi finals to move into the last 32 of the Championship only to lose out to Kim Shaw 4-1. She returned in 1992 to the World Championship in the UK and reached the last 32 again. In 1993 Jean would go one better this time out at the World Championship in Woking and reach the last 16 of the event. She would partner up with Julie Kelly and Ann McMahon to represent Ireland at the 1994 Home Internationals with the team finishing 3rd overall. Great success for her on the International stage.
Jean – Julie & Ann
Valerie Maloney from Laois has 5 caps for Ireland having played in 4 Irish International Opens with a win in the 2015 6 Red event, she would go on to reach the final again of the 6 Red event in 2016 to take runner up spot, a great result for her indeed. Valerie got to the quarters of the Challenge Cup in 2017 and the semi finals of the 6 Red in 2018. In July 2019 Valerie was one of our 4 players who represented Ireland for the very first time in Billiards when our ladies participated in the Welsh World Open in Cwmbran Wales. Like all the girls at the event, Valerie did us proud.
Paula Judge from Dublin would go on to achieve 5 caps for Ireland having played in the 2017 Irish International Open and went on to win it 4-1 against Annette Newman, making it an all Irish final. Paula returned in 2018 to reach the quarters of the main event and take runner up against England in the Home Nations event. She participated in the 2018 World Championship in Malta and reached the last 32 of the event, a great achievement overall for her.
Emirjeta Doda from Dublin would participate in 5 International Irish Open events reaching the semis of the Challenge Cup in 2015 and the semis of the 6 Red in 2016. Emirjeta reached the semis of the Challenge Cup again in 2017 showing great resilience and keeping with her consistency at these events. In 2018 Emirjeta would go one better and reach the semis of the Challenge Cup event. The 2019 Irish Open would see Emirjeta take her first International win in the 6 Red event, great success for her on the International stage.
The players who have achieved 7 International Caps for Ireland are the late Greta Browne, Tina Keogh and Sandra Bryan.
The late Greta Browne from Dublin would certainly have reached many more caps before her untimely passing some 10 years ago now. Greta was on of our great representatives on the World and International stage, She played in the 1993, 1994 and 1995 World Championships reaching the last 64 on all three occasions. Greta would partner Julie Kelly and Ann McMahon at the 1995 Home Internationals in Wales with the team reaching 3rd place overall, a great result for them. In 1997 she would partner Paula Darby and Ann McMahon at the Home International and again reached 3rd overall in the competition. Greta represented Ireland at the 1998 World Championships in Llanelli Wales and got to the last 48 of the event. Greta’s last event was the 2000 Home Internationals in Wales with Paula Darby and Edel Cosgrave, once more finished 3rd, a very consistent player both on the Irish Ladies tour and International stage.
Tina Keogh from Offaly participated in all 5 Irish International Opens reaching the final of the 6 Red event in 2015 to follow up in 2016 to go on to win the 6 Red event . In the 2017 Irish Open, Tina reached the quarters of the Challenge Cup and in 2018 got back to the final of the 6 Red event to take runner up place. In the 2019 Irish Open she would once again reach the quarters of the Challenge Cup showing great consistency in her overall ability in the sport. In billiards Tina reached the semis of the 2019 International Irish Ladies Billiards open. At the Welsh World Open in Cwmbran Wales, Tina was one of the 4 players who represented Ireland for the first time on the World stage and like Valerie did her country proud.
Sandra Bryan from Wexford would go on to represent Ireland on 7 occasions, starting with the 2015 World Championship in Leeds UK and the last 16 of the senior event. Sandra would reach the last 32 of the event and returned in 2016 again to Leeds Uk reach the last 32 of the main event, however she would go on to reach the last 16 of the senior event again. In the International Irish Open events, Sandra would reach the quarters of the main event in 2015 and go one better in 2016 reaching the semis of the main event. In the 2017 event she would reach the quarters again showing great consistency at International level. Great result for Sandra.
One player has reached 8 International Caps for Ireland and that is Christine Carr from Kildare. On the International Irish Open events, Christine would reach the quarters of the Challenge Cup in 2015 and reach the semis of this event in 2016 making progress each year. At the 2017 Irish Open she would reach the quarters of the main event. In the 2018 Irish Open Christine reached the final of the Challenge Cup taking the runner up spot on this occasion, showing great progress for her. In the 2019 Irish Open she reached the quarters of the main event again. The 2019 Irish Open Billiards Championship saw Christine take a semi final place. Christine participated in the 2016 World Championships in Leeds Uk and reached the last 64. She was one of our representatives at the World Welsh Billiards Open in July 2019 in Cwmbran Wales where she like all the girls did our country proud.
Congratulations to all of those listed on gaining International Caps for their Country over the years, your participation is very much appreciated by the Board and members of the Republic of Ireland Ladies Snooker Association.
We will follow up soon with a list of players who represented Ireland and received International Caps from 9 to 17
