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GONZAGA AT SIXTY: A WORK IN PROGRESS
acknowledgement they deserved. On paper one could argue that Gerry’s greatest legacy to Irish
chess was that under his guidance, the school won countless junior and senior, Leinster and All-
Ireland Championships. One could also point to the successes in Marlwood in 1992 and then
As to what I am with a later generaion of chess players led by Sam Collins in Millield (as Marlwood become
up to in life that known ater a venue change in the mid nineies). It is also noteworthy that two of the players
is always a good Gerry should have taken such a keen interest in should go on to become Internaional Masters
question. For what and compete for Ireland in numerous chess Olympiads. That Sam Collins would go on to win a
it is worth I just gold medal at the Bled Olympiad in 2002 is also hardly coincidental and a testament to Gerry’s
inished a PhD in coninued dedicaion to chess long ater I let the school.
English in UCD Gerry’s real contribuion for me however was the way in which he consciously went about
focusing on Thomas creaing a chess culture in Gonzaga. He quite literally inspired hundreds of kids down the years to
take up the game whether it be for a few weeks, a season or a year or two. Not everyone would
Pynchon’s Gravity’s get hooked on the game, or be good enough to play for the school. But many, regardless of their
Rainbow and am level, did learn something of the magic of chess, what it feels like to catch an opponent unawares
currently working on and, most importantly, how in order to improve one has to learn from one’s mistakes. I am only
a couple of writing too aware of the debt I owe both Gonzaga and Gerry for helping to provide an atmosphere
projects. The book conducive to enabling me to pursue my chess ambiions. And to that end, I am delighted that the
I wrote a couple of ICU have taken the step of honouring Gerry by issuing him with honorary life membership. He is
years ago was The one of a few individuals who really has made a diference to Irish chess and the lives of countless
King of Spring: The junior chess players who passed in and out of the doors of Gonzaga.
I have so many memories from those years, that it is diicult to pick one out, but I will never
Life and Times of forget the irst ime I played for Gonzaga in an away match against Straford, who thanks to the
Peter O’Connor. eforts of April Cronin, had a number of very strong players in the school at the ime. I don’t
Not a bestseller but remember the result of the match, but I remember Gerry arriving half way through the game and
a tome of sorts all noicing that I was not annotaing my game. Without saying anything to me, he began to right
the same. I wonder down the moves, and once the game was over, he paiently explained to me what notaion was
has anyone ever and also how important it is to record one’s games so as to play over them aterwards. I seem to
opened it. Irish recall suggesing that in future he could watch and annotate all of my games if he liked, which
American Athletics received a smile of no uncertain incredulity! Now looking back, I think this occasion marked the
very irst point when I began to study chess and not just play it for fun. So thanks Gerry for the
isn’t everyone’s cup way in which you went out of your way to explain to a somewhat stubborn and reluctant nine
of tea. If O’Connor’s year old the secret to improving one’s chess!
story inspires even Ater taking the advice on board, a whole new world of chess magazines and books suddenly
one student to opened up and became comprehensible to me. Only a few weeks later my dad bought me my
take up athletics I’ll irst chess book, Bobby’s Fischer’s My Sixty Memorable Games, and I was well and truly hooked.
consider myself to
have done a good Mark Quinn
job.’ Class of 1994
Mark Quinn is an Internaional Master
Mark Quinn
GONZAGA AT SIXTY: A WORK IN PROGRESS
acknowledgement they deserved. On paper one could argue that Gerry’s greatest legacy to Irish
chess was that under his guidance, the school won countless junior and senior, Leinster and All-
Ireland Championships. One could also point to the successes in Marlwood in 1992 and then
As to what I am with a later generaion of chess players led by Sam Collins in Millield (as Marlwood become
up to in life that known ater a venue change in the mid nineies). It is also noteworthy that two of the players
is always a good Gerry should have taken such a keen interest in should go on to become Internaional Masters
question. For what and compete for Ireland in numerous chess Olympiads. That Sam Collins would go on to win a
it is worth I just gold medal at the Bled Olympiad in 2002 is also hardly coincidental and a testament to Gerry’s
inished a PhD in coninued dedicaion to chess long ater I let the school.
English in UCD Gerry’s real contribuion for me however was the way in which he consciously went about
focusing on Thomas creaing a chess culture in Gonzaga. He quite literally inspired hundreds of kids down the years to
take up the game whether it be for a few weeks, a season or a year or two. Not everyone would
Pynchon’s Gravity’s get hooked on the game, or be good enough to play for the school. But many, regardless of their
Rainbow and am level, did learn something of the magic of chess, what it feels like to catch an opponent unawares
currently working on and, most importantly, how in order to improve one has to learn from one’s mistakes. I am only
a couple of writing too aware of the debt I owe both Gonzaga and Gerry for helping to provide an atmosphere
projects. The book conducive to enabling me to pursue my chess ambiions. And to that end, I am delighted that the
I wrote a couple of ICU have taken the step of honouring Gerry by issuing him with honorary life membership. He is
years ago was The one of a few individuals who really has made a diference to Irish chess and the lives of countless
King of Spring: The junior chess players who passed in and out of the doors of Gonzaga.
I have so many memories from those years, that it is diicult to pick one out, but I will never
Life and Times of forget the irst ime I played for Gonzaga in an away match against Straford, who thanks to the
Peter O’Connor. eforts of April Cronin, had a number of very strong players in the school at the ime. I don’t
Not a bestseller but remember the result of the match, but I remember Gerry arriving half way through the game and
a tome of sorts all noicing that I was not annotaing my game. Without saying anything to me, he began to right
the same. I wonder down the moves, and once the game was over, he paiently explained to me what notaion was
has anyone ever and also how important it is to record one’s games so as to play over them aterwards. I seem to
opened it. Irish recall suggesing that in future he could watch and annotate all of my games if he liked, which
American Athletics received a smile of no uncertain incredulity! Now looking back, I think this occasion marked the
very irst point when I began to study chess and not just play it for fun. So thanks Gerry for the
isn’t everyone’s cup way in which you went out of your way to explain to a somewhat stubborn and reluctant nine
of tea. If O’Connor’s year old the secret to improving one’s chess!
story inspires even Ater taking the advice on board, a whole new world of chess magazines and books suddenly
one student to opened up and became comprehensible to me. Only a few weeks later my dad bought me my
take up athletics I’ll irst chess book, Bobby’s Fischer’s My Sixty Memorable Games, and I was well and truly hooked.
consider myself to
have done a good Mark Quinn
job.’ Class of 1994
Mark Quinn is an Internaional Master
Mark Quinn
