Padel Courts for Nenagh Eire Og
Nenagh Éire Óg GAA Club are set to enhance their new sporting facilities at Stereame with the introduction of three modular and portable Padel Tennis courts, which will be located alongside their new training field.
By Thomas Conway
The development is still awaiting planning permission, but if approved it will further augment the club’s rapidly developing complex.
The Padel courts - which will be located near the new dressing-room facility (currently under construction) - will feature artificial grass surfaces, 4-metre-high perimeter fencing, and 6-metre integrated LED lighting.
The project is being undertaken in conjunction with limited company Padel100, which has launched an initiative aimed at developing 100 Padel courts across Ireland, with courts in Borris-Ileigh GAA, Moneygall FC and Colaiste Dun Iascaigh in Cahir also set to come on stream
Padel Tennis is a racquet sport which has shot to worldwide popularity in recent years. Combining elements of tennis, squash and handball, it is played on an enclosed court which is slightly smaller in size than a traditional tennis doubles court. Players use perforated padels as racquets and are allowed to play the ball off the court walls. The scoring system is identical to tennis.
The announcement of this new development follows months of consultations between Nenagh Éire-Óg and Padel100.
However, club chairperson Tom Gleeson says that the club recognised the potential of such an initiative almost immediately and realised the benefits it would yield.
“You could quickly see that it was a winner,” he said.
“The club executive didn’t have to look at it very long to know that it was something we wanted to do.”
Tom says that Éire Óg’s ultimate aim is to create an inclusive, community environment that caters to young and old people alike. The GAA component is a central part of it, but the club is fostering a number of different strands, all of which promote health and wellbeing.
“With all these developments you’re building more and more facilities for people to engage with the club,” Gleeson added.
“For us, it’s all about the community, it’s all about inclusion. Even if we forget about the club, it’s good for young people and people of any age to come and use these facilities. It’s good for mental health, good for physical health, and it’s good for the community.”
The new Padel facilities will add to the variety of sports on offer in the Nenagh area. Other clubs and sporting organisations have welcomed news of the development.
In a statement, Nenagh Lawn Tennis Club, which has successfully incorporated pickleball into its offering, wished Éire-Óg the best of luck and emphasised the connection between both clubs.
“NLTC values our strong relationship with other sports clubs in Nenagh and we have many members who are also members of Éire-Óg. NLTC offers tennis and pickleball currently and want to wish Éire-Óg every success with their new Padel courts,” they said.
While the project is still subject to planning approval, Nenagh Éire Óg are confident the new facility will be accepted, given its community-focused nature and the overall benefit it will bring to the town.