New Courts Officially Opened at Nenagh Tennis Club

By Shane Brophy

Last Friday was another night of celebration at Nenagh Lawn Tennis Club when it officially opened its new artificial clay courts and refurbished children’s courts.

President of Tennis Ireland, John Ryan, along with Robert Cummins, President of Munster Tennis, and other distinguished guests were present to cut the tape of officially open the latest addition to the facilities in Nenagh which now boasts ten full-sized floodlit adult courts, plus two rejuvenated children’s courts, which have been named after former members.

Clay courts are becoming the ‘new norm’ in many Irish tennis clubs and have many advantages over other surfaces, not least of which is that the surface is considered more appropriate for the development of young players and clay is the surface in much of continental Europe. Many of the great modern players including Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal came from a clay court background, which equipped them to also excel on the surfaces of Melbourne, New York, and Wimbledon. Clay courts are slower than concrete or artificial courts and allows players to hone their skills before moving to the faster surfaces.

The two rejuvenated children’s courts are dedicated respectively to the memory of the late Declan Purcell who died aged 4½ in a road accident in 1974, and to the late Gerry McCrudden, a former PRO of Nenagh LTC who died in 1999, aged 46, and whose late mother, Margaret (Peg) McCrudden, latterly of Nenagh, who died in 2016, and in her will left a sum of money to the club in recognition of the enjoyment which Gerry got as a member of the club, and with a wish that it be put towards a special project of the club’s choosing.

Nenagh LTC President Michael Gilmartin said it was a proud occasion for all associated with the club which boasts a membership of over six-hundred people, adult and juvenile.

He outlined the latest developments which have been part of an extensive programme of facilities development over the past number of years, much of it with assistance from the Government Sports Capital Programme. He also thanked Alan Kelly TD, who was also present, for his assistance and advice from a government funding perspective.

“This whole project was brought about with the emphasis on our younger members,” he said.

“Nenagh Lawn Tennis Club is a fantastic place, not just because of the facilities but the success of the club is about its members and the environment that is created every day.

“We are known as a friendly club and that is shown every year in the number of visiting players who come and play in our Opens.”

Michael also complimented the development committee and indeed modern committee and the many committees who over the years have maintained and promoted the club and insured that the grounds on the Limerick road remained as a tennis facility, making it one of the largest clubs in Munster and indeed the country.

He also expressed particular compliments to Honorary Treasurer George McGrath for his work as project manager and for his outstanding fundraising acumen which has considerably helped the club in developing its facilities.

John Ryan, President of Tennis Ireland, in making his first visit to Nenagh Lawn Tennis Club, congratulated all involved for providing the facilities the club now provides.

“It is a testament to a lot of the hard work put in by a cohort of committee members to develop the facilities in the club over a long number of years, but particularly the development of the two clay courts which signifies your dedication to this club,” he said.

President of Munster Tennis Robert Cummins added that Nenagh “is a very active club which contributes a lot to the community and within tennis in Munster. You are one of the clubs that enters the most teams in the leagues and long may it continue.”

Roger Kennedy, Chairperson of Tipperary County Council, said he was blown away with the calibre of the facilities in Nenagh, saying it was as good as you will get in the bigger city clubs.

Also in attendance were local representatives Jackie Cahill TD, Hughie McGrath (Chairperson, Nenagh Municipal District), Joe McGrath (Chief Executive, Tipperary County Council), and a number of the club’s corporate sponsors. A large number of past presidents of Nenagh LTC were also present.