It's with great regret that the Organising Committee of the Bunratty International Chess Festival have taken the difficult decision not to stage the tournament in 2025.

We are conscious that this decision will cause disappointment to our many loyal players and supporters and wish to briefly explain our decision.

Ireland is hosting more than 90,000 people displaced by the terrible war in Ukraine. The Irish Government are using hotels, as one of their options, to provide accommodation for the Ukrainian People across the country, Bunratty Castle Hotel is one of them. In consequence the hotel is not available.

We feel that the unique atmosphere of Bunratty Village is central to the success of our tournament and do not wish to relocate it elsewhere. We fervently hope that the war will end soon and that we will be able to invite the chess world back to Bunratty again in 2026.