Philip Hogarty, 19, died on Tuesday 1st January 2008, after been knocked down in a tragic accident early that morning. He was struck by a Garda patrol car around 2.30am.
We send our sincere condolences to Philip’s family at this very difficult time. May he rest in peace.
The service for Philip takes place at 11am on Saturday, 5th January, at St. Thomas Church in Jobstown, followed by Newlands Cross crematorium.
St. Thomas Church, Kiltalown Way, Jobstown, Tallaght, Dublin 24
Rathmines Chess club has lost a cherished member and a treasured friend. Philip was an extremely good chess player, having recently achieved expert status with a rating of 2069, and had started this season playing for the Rathmines ‘A’ team in the Armstrong Cup (our strongest team) on board 3, with a very impressive 4/6.
Philip was Chairperson of the Irish Chess Union and did tremendous work for Irish chess over the last 18 months or so. He will be terribly badly missed by all members of Rathmines chess club, all the very many other chess players he knew, and Irish chess in general. We are all in shock at this terrible tragedy.
Here are some personal comments from Michael Kennedy and John Burns, both colleagues of Philip in the club, who have kindly added them to this posting. They reflect accurately the high esteem in which Philip was held, both as a chess-playing colleague and as a friend. He was mature beyond his years and his warmth shone out to everyone.
Micheal:
“Philip slotted into top board of the Division 2 (Heidenfeld) team of which I was captain for the 06/07 season…He scythed through opponent after opponent to win one of only three board prizes awarded in the division by scoring a breathtaking 9/11 against the finest the Heidenfeld could offer. This was the highest score achieved by any one of the 150+ players who played in Division 2 in the 06/07 season. Philip won the league for us almost single handed.”
Michael’s full comments can be read below. Here is a picture of Philip holding the Heidenfeld trophy that he won with the Rathmines team last year.
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Philip Hogarty with the Heidenfeld Trophy, 2007.
John talks about Philip’s selflessness and maturity: “Never in all my years captaining chess teams have I come across somebody so enthusiastic and helpful about lending his services.” And he says of him: “Not just that, but he was a pleasant and humorous guy, and a very fine chess player. ”
Please keep sending all your personal messages.
Rathmines Chess Club 
Phil will be greatly missed, not only in Ireland, but in Scotland, he was a great guy, a true chess player and a good friend.
I didn’t know the man but by all accounts a great guy and a tireless promoter of chess in Ireland.
Condolences to family & friends.
Last year I was captaining one of the Armstrong teams in Rathmines and, as is the nature of these things, I was constantly looking for subs to stand in for players who were missing. Eventually someone in the club mentioned that there was a new player, Philip Hogarty, who would be worth a call. I gave Philip a ring and was pleasantly surprised at how readily he agreed to stand in, even though he’d have to get public transport to Bray to play in the match. A few weeks later I was back on the scrounge for a sub again, this time for a Saturday game in Drogheda, and once more and to my pleasant surprise Philip readily agreed to step in. And he did so on a couple more occasions that season. Never in all my years captaining chess teams have I come across somebody so enthusiastic and helpful about lending his services.
Not just that, but he was a pleasant and humorous guy, and a very fine chess player. His record on the Rathmines B Armstrong team last year was superb, including draws against Tim Harding and Tim McCarthy. I never had the pleasure of playing against him myself – though there would only have been one outcome – and it saddens me now that I never will. Irish chess has lost one of its brightest talents. My sincerest condolences to Philip’s family and friends.
John Burns
My sincere condolences to Philip’s family and to everyone who knew him. This is also a sad, sad day for Irish chess and for Rathmines Chess Club.
I’d just like to say something about his chess: Philip slotted into top board of the Division 2 (Heidenfeld) team of which I was captain for the 06/07 season. At 1721 he was one of the lower rated board 1 players in the Division. This being the case, although his star was clearly rising you’d think that he’d be in for a tough season. Little did we know that this would be Philip’s annus mirabilis. He scythed through opponent after opponent to win one of only three board prizes awarded in the division by scoring a breathtaking 9/11 against the finest the Heidenfeld could offer. This was the highest score achieved by any one of the 150+ players who played in Division 2 in the 06/07 season. Philip won the league for us almost single handed.
Thanks to this and other successes his rating rocketed up to 2069, 32nd on the Sep-07 ICU list. This placed him amongst the top 5 or so juniors in the country, below the likes of Karl McPhillips and David Fitzsimons.
He was a top bloke too. On quiet evenings in the club he showed patience and kindness in sharing his ample knowledge and understanding of the game with beginners. In many ways he was an old head on young shoulders, as he took on the responsibility of chess adminstration and did a great job.
The club won’t be the same place without Philip. He’ll be missed as a chess player but more importantly as an all-round good guy.
Hi everyone,the service for philip,will be held at St thomas church in jobstown at 11am saturday,folluwed by newlands crosss crematorium.thanks for all the kind words and messages.
His Family.
Hi everyone,the service for philip,will be held at St thomas church in jobstown at 11am saturday,folluwed by newlands crosss crematorium.thanks for all the kind words and messages.
His Family.
I was shocked when reading this news.
I will remember him as a very good player but in the first place as a very nice person.
Sincere condolences to his family and friends.
Don’t know what to say today, unlike when I was teaching you Philip. You have made me very proud in what you’ve done since leaving St. Thomas’s S.N.S. as a chess player but also as a man. Til the next time. Aidan.
hi its maia we are very sorry we hope he rest in peice and again my family wil all pray we are very sorry for this and wat hapend sorry to famly
love maia and family