We've learnt the sad news of the passing of Henry (Harry) Higgins.

As a member of Dundrum Chess Club, Harry was the driving force behind the Dundrum International Chess Congress in the 70s, in the Fischer-Spassky boom era, a time when there were very few weekender tournaments in Ireland. The Congress still shapes tournament chess play in Ireland today, being acknowledged as an inspiration for the long-running Kilkenny Congress. One of his big coups was in 1976, when he arranged for a 10-year-old Nigel Short to play, which earned a feature on The Late Late Show - three months earlier, Short had beaten Viktor Korchnoi in a simul in London, and in the same year he would feature in the second series of the BBC's chess programme, The Master Game. Two of Short's games from Dundrum - a draw against JJ Walsh and a win against Kevin James, can be played through here.

Harry continued playing leagues chess for Dundrum (and later St Benildus) until 2014.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.