The Irish Bridge Union (IBU) is a confederation of the Contract Bridge Association of Ireland (CBAI) and the Northern Ireland Bridge Union (NIBU) and is the body responsible for the administration of bridge on an All-Ireland basis, where applicable - for example participation in European Championships (operated by the European Bridge League or EBL) and World Championships under the auspices of the World Bridge Federation (WBF).

The IBU also runs a number of All-Ireland competitions:

• Burke Trophy (Inter-County Open Teams Championship)
• O'Connor Trophy (Inter-County Intermediate A Teams Championship)
• Pat McDevitt Trophy (Senior Pairs)
• Egan Trophy (All-Ireland Teams Championship)
• Moylan Cup (All-Ireland Pairs Championship)
• Senior Teams Championship
• IBU Club Pairs.

IBU also runs the annual Interprovincial Championships, which have sections at Open, Area Master, and Intermediate grades, with teams selected by each province.

There are also several IBU junior events, notably the Limerick Treaty Cup (Pairs), and the All-Ireland Schools Teams Championships.

Finally, there is a week of Simultaneous Pairs events in support of the IBU every November. 

All members of CBAI and NIBU are automatically members of the IBU.