The Irish Open was a hard court tennis tournament founded in 1879 as the Irish Championships, a major tennis tournament of the late 19th to early 20th centuries. It was played at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin, Ireland. Also known as the Irish Lawn Tennis Championships it remained a major tennis tournament alongside Wimbledon and the Northern Championships until the early 20th century. It was the first tennis tournament to feature a Ladies' singles event. The tournament continued to be played under its original brand name until 1972, when it was rebranded as the Irish Open or the Carroll's Irish Open Championships (for sponsorship reasons).

Before the creation of the International Lawn Tennis Federation and the establishment of its world championship events in 1913, it was considered by players and historians one of the four most important major tennis tournaments to win, the others being Wimbledon, the U.S. National championships and the Northern Championships. The combined event was part of the ILTF World Circuit from 1913 until 1969. From 1970 to 1974 the men's event was an affiliated event on the ITF Grand Prix Circuit. The women's event continued as part of the ILTF World Circuit until 1972. In 1973 became part of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour for one season only before reverting back to the former tour. The men's edition was played until 1979, and the women's ended in 1983 when they both ceased to part of the top level world tennis circuit.

History The Irish Championships were first held in June 1879, two years after Wimbledon started. It was first staged at Pembroke Place, Dublin until 1880 when it transferred to Wilton Place where it remained until 1902. In 1903 the tournament moved again this time to Fitzwilliam Square. The championships began 2 June 1879 and had the distinction of being the first event to feature men's and women's singles and doubles tournaments as well as a mixed doubles competition. Prior to the creation of the International Lawn Tennis Federation and the establishment of its world championship events in 1913 it was considered by players and historians one of the four most important tennis tournaments to win, the others being Wimbledon, the U.S. National championships and the Northern Championships.

George Whiteside Hillyard writing his book Forty Years of First-class Lawn Tennis emphasising the importance of this tournament:

The tournament changed its name to the Irish Open in 1972 and again it moved location to Appian Way, Dublin where it remained for the duration of its run. The tournament has been played on multiple surfaces throughout its history. The first two years, (1879–1880) were competed on hard courts. It was played on grass courts, (1881–1939). From 1946 to 1965, it was played on clay courts, and it returned to being played on grass again from 1966 until the tournament ended. The Irish Open is currently a tournament on the ITF World Tennis Tour, the lowest tier of professional tennis.

Finals Results include:

Men's singles YearChampionsRunners-upScore1879 Vere St. Leger Goold Charles David Barry 8–6, 8–61880 William Renshaw Vere St. Leger Goold 6–1, 6–4, 6–31881 William Renshaw (2) Herbert Lawford 1–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–11882 William Renshaw (3) Ernest Renshaw w/o1883 Ernest Renshaw Herbert Lawford 3–6, 6–3, 7–5, 1–6, 6–31884 Herbert Lawford Ernest Renshaw 6–1, 6–4, 6–21885 Herbert Lawford (2) Ernest Renshaw 4–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3, 6–41886 Herbert Lawford (3) Willoughby Hamilton 5–7, 6–4, 6–4, 7–51887 Ernest Renshaw (2) Herbert Lawford 7–5, 6–2, 9–71888 Ernest Renshaw (3) Willoughby Hamilton 6–4, 5–7, 6–4, 3–6, 6–2 1889 Willoughby Hamilton Ernest Renshaw 12–10, 6–1, 6–31890 Ernest Lewis Willoughby Hamilton 3–6, 3–6, 9–7, 6–4, 7–51891 Ernest Lewis (2) Joshua Pim 6–2, 6–3, 8–61892 Ernest Renshaw (4) Ernest Lewis 1–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–31893 Joshua Pim Ernest Renshaw 6–1, 6–4, 6–11894 Joshua Pim (2) Thomas Chaytor 3–6, 1–6, 6–2, 6–2, 9–71895 Joshua Pim (3) Wilberforce Eaves 6–1, 6–1, 6–31896 Wilfred Baddeley Harold Mahony 6–1, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3All-Comers final, last year's champion didn't defend his title1897 Wilberforce Eaves Wilfred Baddeley 1–6, 2–6, 8–6, 6–2, 6–31898 Harold Mahony Wilberforce Eaves 6–1, 5–7, 9–7, 8–61899 Reginald Doherty Harold Mahony 6–3, 6–4, 5–7, 6–41900 Reginald Doherty (2) Arthur Gore 6–4, 7–5, 7–9, 7–9, 6–31901 Reginald Doherty (3) Laurence Doherty 6–4, 4–6, r1902 Laurence Doherty Sydney Howard Smith 6–1, 6–4, 6–11903 William Drapes James Cecil Parke 6–0, 3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–4In 1903, the "challenge round" system was abandoned and the modern tournament system has since been used. 1904 James Cecil Parke Thomas Douglas Good 6–1, 6–2, 6–41905 James Cecil Parke (2) Alexander H. Porter 6–3, 6–3, 1–6, 6–31906 Frank Riseley S. Douglas 6–2, 6–1, 7–51907 Josiah Ritchie Thomas Douglas Good 0–6, 6–3, 6–4, 7–51908 James Cecil Parke (3) Wylie Grant 4–6, 6–1, 4–6, 6–3, 6–01909 James Cecil Parke (4) Alfred Beamish 6–3, 6–4, 3–6, 2–6, 6–31910 James Cecil Parke (5) Alfred Beamish 6–1, 6–3, 8–61911 James Cecil Parke (6) Simon Frederick Scroope 6–3, 6–1, 6–11912 James Cecil Parke (7) George Alan Thomas 6–2, 6–1, 6–01913 James Cecil Parke (8) George Alan Thomas 6–2, 6–4, 6–31914 Cecil John Tindell Green George Alan Thomas 7–5, 3–6, 6–3, 6–8, 6–31915–18 Not held1919 Cecil J. Campbell Valentine Miley 6–1, 6–3, 6–31920 Valentine Miley George Alan Thomas 2–6, 5–7, 6–3, 6–1, 8–61921 Cecil J. Campbell (2) 1922 Not held1923 George Eric Mackay F. Crosbie 7–5, 6–0, 6–11924 Louis Meldon Edward McGuire 6–1, 6–0, 6–21925 Charles Frederick Scroope Maurice V. Summerson 6–3, 6–3, 6–0 1926 Pierre Henri Landry Maurice V. Summerson 6–2, 6–1, 6–31927 Gordon Crole-Rees Pat Hughes 6–2, 7–5, 3–6, 6–41928 George Lyttleton-Rogers Dudley Pitt 5–7, 6–1, 6–8, 6–4, 6–21929 John Olliff George Lyttleton-Rogers 4–6, 6–3, 1–6, 6–2, 6–41930 Harry Lee Pat Hughes 3–6, 1–6, 6–4, 7–5, 6–01931 Edward McGuire Harry F. Cronin 6–2, 6–2, 6–31932 Sidney. B. Wood Gregory Mangin 3–6, 6–3, 9–11, 6–3, 6–01933 David Jones Clayton Burwell 6–3, 4–6, 6–2, 7–51934 Camille Malfroy George Lyttleton-Rogers 6–2, 6–3, 1–6, 1–6, 6–11935 Alan Stedman Camille Malfroy 7–5, 6–2, 6–11936 George Lyttleton-Rogers (2) Robert Mulliken 6–3, 6–2, 6–11937 George Lyttleton-Rogers (3) Trevor G. McVeagh 6–1, 8–6, 7–51938 Owen Anderson George Lyttleton-Rogers 6–3, 7–5, 4–6, 6–31939 Murray Deloford Ghaus Mohammed Khan 6–2, 5–7, 6–4, 6–21940–45 Not held1946 Dinny Pails Cyril A. Kemp 6–1, 6–2, 6–31947 Tony Mottram Cyril A. Kemp 6–2, 6–4, 6–21948 Eric Sturgess Sumant Misra 6–1, 6–2, 3–6, 6–2 1949 Nigel Cockburn Syd Levy 3–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–1, 6–3 1950 Cyril A. Kemp Bryan Rooke 6–1, 6–3, 6–31951 Abe Segal Guy Jackson 6–3, 6–4, 6–01952 Naresh Kumar Steve Potts 6–1, 6–4, 6–8, 3–6, 6–21953 Naresh Kumar (2) Joe D. Hackett 6–1, 3–6, 6–2, 6–01954 Hugh Stewart Mervyn Rose 2–6, 6–4, 6–4, 11–13, 6–41955 Hugh Stewart (2) Bob Howe 6–4, 3–6, 6–1, 13–111956 Budge Patty Hugh Stewart 3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–31957 Ashley Cooper Jaroslav Drobný 6–4, 6–2, 6–31958 Neale Fraser / Mike Davies Title shared1959 Jack Frost Jon Douglas 8–6, 11–91960 Dennis Ralston Martin Mulligan 6–3, 6–4, 7–51961 William E. Bond Frank Froehling 6–4, 6–4, 5–7, 11–91962 Rod Laver Bobby Wilson w/o1963 Bobby Wilson Billy Knight 6–3, 6–0, 6–31964 Bobby Wilson (2) Roger Werksman 6–2, 6–2, 4–6, 6–21965 Tony Roche Mike Sangster 11–9, 13–111966 Jerry Cromwell Graham Stilwell 7–9, 6–4, 6–41967 Keith Wooldridge Peter Mockler 6–3, 3–6, 6–01968 Tom Okker Lew Hoad 6–1, 6–2 ↓  Open era  ↓1969 Bob Hewitt Nikola Pilić 6–3, 6–21970 Tony Roche (2) Rod Laver 6–3, 6–11971 Cliff Drysdale Clark Graebner 10–8, 6–31972 Bob Hewitt (2) Frew McMillan 6–1, 6–21973 Mark Cox John Yuill 7–5, 3–6, 11–91974 Sherwood Stewart Colin Dowdeswell 6–3, 9–81975 Alvin Gardiner Anthony Fawcett 9–7, 6–31976–77 Not held1978 Robert Carmichael Sean Sorensen 6–3, 6–21979 Paul Kronk Sean Sorensen 7–6, 6–4

Women's singles