The Sligo Chess & Culture Festival 2026 proudly hosted the inaugural North Connacht Post-Primary Schools Chess Championship during festival week. Eight schools from across County Sligo took part, with a total of 104 students competing in the excellent surroundings of the Diamond Coast Hotel, Enniscrone. Players battled for both team and individual honours in a professional tournament setting. The event featured four rounds with a time control of 5 minutes plus a 5-second increment. Students benefited greatly from the use of DGT smartboards, which enhanced the playing experience and allowed games to be recorded in full. Thanks to the support of Smartboard Co-ordinators FA James Forde and FA Colm Ó Muireagáin, participants were able to take home the PGNs of their games for further study and analysis. While the competition was under way, accompanying teachers attended a dedicated workshop delivered by Kieran Barry. The session covered a wide range of topics, including chess terminology, the correct use of scoresheets and notation, clock handling, and elements of chess psychology—providing valuable tools to support chess development in their schools. Overall, the championship proved to be a highly successful and enjoyable occasion. The enthusiasm and commitment shown by the students were evident throughout the day, and it was wonderful to see so many young players engaging with chess and socialising with their peers in such a positive environment.