The Early Years (1920s - 1935)

The history of badminton in County Mayo dates back to the early 1920s, when the first clubs began to take shape across the region. By around 1933, reports indicated that the sport was growing in popularity across the western region, with an increase in the number of active clubs. By 1935, local media had documented several established clubs in Mayo, including those in Crossmolina, Ballina, Hollymount, Swinford, Castlebar, Ballinrobe and Westport. The advertisements below are examples of how clubs publicised their dances in the local newspapers at the time, highlighting the role these events played in promoting community engagement and raising funds to support the running of the club.

At that time, there were no formal badminton tournaments or leagues within the county. As a result, clubs commonly organised friendly matches among themselves and with clubs from neighbouring counties such as Sligo, Galway and Roscommon. These fixtures typically followed a home-and-away format.

The usual match structure consisted of three men’s doubles, two ladies’ doubles and four mixed doubles, giving a total of nine games. However, the format often varied, with some matches including singles or additional doubles games to bring the total up to twelve. It was customary for the host club to offer refreshments after the matches and to entertain visiting teams, often with a dance.

The first documented inter-club match involving a Mayo team occurred on Saturday, February 27, 1926, when Hollymount hosted the Galway Bankers Badminton Club and emerged victorious with a score of 7–3.