WCM Úna O Boyle
In 2022 Úna was officially recognised by the Irish government as a CHESS ARTIST
I was born and raised in Duleek, County Meath, Ireland. My father, Enda, my hero, taught me and my siblings chess when we were young. Chess became an integral part of family life, with two older brothers who were only too happy to exploit my tactical weaknesses as a beginner. As a young adult I worked as a product designer in New York, London and Dublin. Chess took a back seat for some years and in the 1990s music was to become my main creative outlet releasing several albums to critical acclaim. I returned to chess a few years later and began participating in competitions throughout the country. I represented Ireland at the Chess Olympiads in Dresden in 2008 (where I won the Women’s Candidate Master title) and Khanty Mansiysk in 2010. At the same time I also started teaching in Irish language schools. It was in these classes that I got the inspiration for the Irish language book, FICHEALL. I have tried to bring an innovative style to teaching and promoting chess, and to date I've run numerous highly successful national events for young players in various schools and notably in Dublin’s Mansion House. For many years I've been at the core of chess in Ireland through working on the executive of the Irish Chess Union. I was proudly central in bringing the legendary grandmaster Garry Kasparov to Ireland in 2014, which led to a fresh upsurge of Irish media interest in chess. I've also tutored in the prison system in Ireland where chess is now flourishing. I continue to work in Irish Chess and in schools motivating further generations to play and be enthralled by this wonderful game.