"The 1997 Irish champion is 28 year old Dubliner Joe Ryan who finally prevailed after an amazing nine round dogfight with former two times (91/92) champion Stephen Brady.
After drawing their individual game in round 2, Ryan and Brady each beat second seed Colm Daly in consecutive rounds before setting about the rest of the challengers. Up to the last day, both players had still dropped only a half point.
In the final round on Sunday, Ryan beat Danny Roberts leaving Stephen Brady needing to match him for a share of the title. When, after six and a half hours of trying to convert a Q and opposite colour bishop ending a pawn up, Stephen let Tony Fox in for a perpetual check, the title went outright to Joe.
18 players took part in this year's championship. Notable absentees included Ireland's only IM Mark Orr, and norm holders Brian Kelly (ELO 2390) - concurrently representing Ireland at the World Juniors in Poland - Mark Quinn (ELO 2375) who returned from a year's studies in Italy during the event, and Conor O'Shaughnessy.
FINAL RESULTS:
Morris Insulations 1997 Irish Championship,
July 12-20, Teachers Club, Dublin
lst Joe Ryan 2245 8.5/9
2nd Stephen Brady 2325 8
3rd Colm Daly 2310 7
4th Daire McMahon 2215 5.5
5th Gerry O'Connell 2170 5
18 played"
—John Hurley, TWIC 141