Chess Coaching
The club offers a wide range of educational activities throughout the year, including classroom-based sessions and one-on-one coaching. We have a dedicated coach available in the main hall during our regular club nights for informal guidance and support.
All of our coaches are not only experienced instructors but also active tournament players, consistently ranking among the top 100 players in Ireland. This ensures that members receive high-quality coaching grounded in practical, competitive experience.
Coaching Open for Bookings
Now open for booking for a first come first served basis.
Structured chess coaching at Knights of Éanna using the internationally established Chess Steps programme.
Our 2026/27 programme consists of 15 classroom-based lessons, divided into three blocks of five lessons across the playing season.
🚨LIMITED PLACES remaining on term 1 of our 2026/2027 coaching sessions
Our Coaches
WGM Shrook Wafa
FIDE: 2183
Shrook began playing tournament chess at the age of 11 and went on to represent Egypt at international youth championships.
She earned the Woman Grandmaster (WGM) title at just 16 years of age and has won the African Individual Women’s Chess Championship five times.
Her peak classical FIDE rating is 2203. Shrook brings extensive international competitive experience to her coaching, having competed at a high level from a young age and achieved one of the highest titles in women’s chess.
Oisín Ó Cuilleanáin
FIDE: 2115
Oisín has been playing chess since 2019 and has represented Ireland at junior level on several occasions, including captaining the Irish team at the Chessmates tournaments in 2022 and 2023.
He won the Irish Under-19 Championship in 2021 and the Leinster Under-19 Championship in 2023.
Oisín has been coaching since 2022 and has experience working with private students, group classes and school chess programmes.
Stephen Moran
FIDE: 2157
Stephen began playing chess at the age of 11 and represented Ireland throughout the junior age groups in both team and individual competitions.
He has won two Irish national titles — the All-Ireland Under-14 Championship in 2003 and the Irish Blitz Championship in 2019 — and has also been part of three Armstrong Cup-winning teams.
His FIDE rating peaked at 2211. Stephen’s coaching focuses on helping players think independently, calculate carefully and develop the skills to work out the best move for themselves over the board.
Conor O'Reilly
FIDE: 2012
Conor has been playing competitive chess since the age of 13 and has represented Ireland at several international junior events, including Chessmates International 2025, the World Youth Championship 2025 and the Glorney Cup 2026.
He has achieved a peak FIDE rating of 2074 and has recorded strong results against high-level opposition.
He captained the club’s BEA team in the 2022/23 season and has played on the Armstrong team for the past three years.
Sarah Scott
FIDE: 1907
Sarah has been playing chess since the age of 12 and represented Ireland numerous times as a junior, including at the European and World Youth Championships.
She was part of Ireland’s winning Glorney Cup team in 2016 and has been coaching since 2017.
Sarah joined Knights of Éanna soon after the club opened to the public. She is also Vice-Chairperson of the club and was part of Knights of Éanna’s historic double-winning Armstrong team in the 2024/25 season.
Dylan McBrien
FIDE: 1800
Dylan began playing chess at the age of 13 and has enjoyed success at both national and international level. He represented Ireland in the 2019 Northern Quadrangular and has also represented his school and college.
A long-standing member of Knights of Éanna, Dylan has captained club league teams for the past four years. He captained our Ennis Shield team to victory in the 2025–26 season and is currently captain of our Heidenfeld Trophy team.
Dylan has been coaching chess for three years and has experience working with both groups and individual students.
Coaching at KoÉ
We offer a structured coaching program throughout the year. Our Elite Coaching class is designed for up-and-coming players seeking advanced training and is available by selection only. For members looking to improve their skills and work toward joining the Elite group, our Development Class is open to all and focuses on building core techniques and strategies.
In addition, we provide informal coaching sessions in the main hall for all members, creating a relaxed environment where players of any level can receive guidance, ask questions, and develop their game. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, there are opportunities to grow and improve at every level.
Informal Coaching
While our club night is also a social event designed for everyone to enjoy chess, we aim to provide opportunities for those who wish to improve their skills. We encourage friendly competition and ambition among our members and are committed to fostering talent whenever possible.
We believe that every player, regardless of level, should have access to guidance and instruction. Effective coaching, however, works best when it is tailored to an individual’s needs, often in small groups. Since there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach, we offer informal coaching in the main hall alongside our scheduled classroom sessions.
To take advantage of this informal coaching, simply speak to the coach on duty about what you’d like to focus on. This could include reviewing a recent tournament game, seeking advice on an opening or strategic idea, or even discussing which tournament to play next. Our goal is to equip members with the knowledge and confidence to approach their next game with clarity and assurance.
In addition to coaching, our club boasts many strong players who are happy to challenge members of all levels. Playing against stronger opponents, and reviewing the game together afterward, is an excellent way to accelerate your improvement. We want every member to feel empowered, supported, and inspired to reach their chess potential.