Gina and Conor Niland at Mount Anville Senior Girls’ 1925 Ladies’ International v Australia Limerick in 1983 (both later Champions in 2001 at Fitzwilliam LTC became Irish number 1s) It will be read, enjoyed and admired for many years to come. (Conor Niland, current Irish Number 1)

Fascinating history that was almost lost forever “(The Sunday Times) Brilliant and, for anyone Tom Higgins Sligo Club interested in Irish tennis, quite unputdownable. (Geraldine Barniville, Celebrating 120th Anniversary of former Irish Number 1) Quite fantastic and a masterpiece. the Golden Era of Irish Tennis (Alan Little, Wimbledon librarian and writer)

A very impressive body of research and expertly published (Anne Couglan, County Librarian, County Offaly).

If there was ever a book that was a labour of love this is PRICE it... extraordinary. (George Hook, radio & €60/ television presenter) £50 (Sterling) DID YOU KNOW? IRISH That tennis has been played at over 700 TENNIS FACTS clubs in Ireland BOOK: • 3 VOLUMES • 1887 PAGES • 1877: First Irish Clubs: Lansdowne, Fitzwilliam. That the Irish championships were the TCD, Monkstown and Limerick Lawn. first to hold ladies’ events • OVER 3000 PHOTOGRAPHS AND SKETCHES • 1879: First Irish Championships held THAT THE FOLLOWING HAVE ALL • 1890: All titles (3) at Wimbledon won by Irish players PLAYED TENNIS: • LIM ITED PRINT RUN • 1891: Kilkenny’s Mabel Cahill wins all 3 US titles • Rugby: Tony O’Reilly and Declan • 1896: John Pius Boland wins tennis gold medals in Olympics Kidney ” • OVER 1000 PEOPLE IN WHO’S WHO CHAPTERS • 1908: Foundation of Irish • Athletics: Kathriona McKiernan (46 club affiliated) and Ronnie • Delaney • 1912: Jim Parke wins Australasian singles and doubles titles • GAA: Nicky English and Enda Colleran • 1922: Over 100 clubs affiliated to the ILTA • Badminton: Jim Fitzgibbon and Order from your local bookshop • 1923: Ireland best India 3/2 our first ever match Frank Peard • 1930: George Lyttleton Rogers wins 9 international • Squash: Willie Hosey and Ben tournaments Cranwell • 1964: Ireland play in the Federation Cup for first time • Soccer: Willie Browne and Kevin or Sligo Tennis Club (071 9162580) • 1989: Ivar Boden becomes President of the Queen’s O’Flanagan Club in London for first time. • Politics: Douglas Hyde and John • 1990: Tennis Ireland established Bruton See www.sligotennisclub.ie or • 2006: Tennis Academy launched at • Entertainment: Terry Wogan and Mark www.historyofirishtennis.ie Dublin City University Feehily

Harold Mahony Joshua Pim Helena Rice Percy French (extreme right) Willoughby Hamilton Mabel Cahill Wimbledon Singles Wimbledon Singles Wimbledon Singles at County Cavan LTC in 1890s Wimbledon Singles US Singles Champion in Champion in 1896 Champion in 1893 and 1894 Champion in 1890 Champion in 1890 1891 and 1892