The Bodley Cup is the sixth division of the Leinster Leagues, run by the Leinster Chess Union. It was named after Dermot P. Bodley (1922-99), nicknamed the Butler and brother of a leading Irish composer Seoirse Bodley. He was secretary of the Rathmines chess club 1971-72 and President 1994-95 and at some stage prior to 1976 he donated a cup for the sixth division of the Leinster Leagues[1].

Bodley Cup, pic: St. Benildus website.

As below it was split into sections A and B in 2012/13 and 2013/14 then reamalgamated into one section. Since 2017/18 the Bodley has been regionalized into North and South sections with a Central section added in 2023/24. The winners and runners-up of each section enter playoffs to determine which teams gain promotion to division 5, the BEA Cup. The number of teams promoted depends on the number of sections in the BEA. Originally 2 teams were promoted, then 4 when each division had two sections and in 2024 6 teams went up, 2 from each section. Since the O'Sullivan Cup, division 7, was discontinued in 2017 there has been no relegation from the Bodley. Players have to be registered with the Irish Chess Union and all matches are rated by the ICU.

Below are the winners since 2007. Records of winners before this would be appreciated.

John Loughran.

Please send corrections and updates to John Loughran on skerrieschess.com/contact.