Tennis_AR_2018.qxp_Layout 1 02/07/2019 14:03 Page a Tennis Ireland ANNUAL REPORT 2018 www.tennisireland.ie Tennis_AR_2018.qxp_Layout 1 02/07/2019 14:03 Page b Published by Tennis Ireland, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9 BOARD OF DiRECTORS Clifford Carroll President David Barber Chairman Stephen Reid Company Secretary Richard Fahey Chief Executive Louise Byrne Director, Communications Portfolio David Mullins Director, Performance Portfolio David O'Beirne Director, Safeguarding / Legal Portfolio Paul O'Connor Director, Finance Portfolio Leo O'Leary Director, Commercial Portfolio Nickie Coffey Leinster Branch Representative Liam O'Donohoe Leinster Branch Representative Shane Cooke Munster Branch Representative Robert Cummins Munster Branch Representative Ciara Jennings Connacht Branch Representative Rosamund Thompson Ulster Branch Representative PROviNCiAL BRANCh PRESiDENTS Liam O’Donohoe Leinster Greg O’Rawe Ulster Eddie Ronayne Munster Gerry Smyth Connacht DiRECTOR NUMBER OF BOARD MEETiNGS ATTENDED David Barber (Chairman) 11 Clifford Carroll (President) 12 Richard Fahey (Chief Executive) 12 Jimmy Cahill Resigned 5th March 2019 7 Shane Cooke 12 Billy Meehan Resigned 16th June 2018 4 Joe Power Resigned 20th March 2019 10 Kieran Tobin Resigned 16th June 2018 2 Stephen Reid 12 George Stevenson Resigned 16th June 2018 4 John Delaney Resigned 16th June 2018 1 David O’Beirne 8 Nickie Coffey 7 Rosamund Thompson 7 Paul O’Connor 8 David Mullins 7 Liam O’Donohoe * Appointed 23rd March 2019 1 Robert Cummins* Appointed 27th April 2019 1 Ciara Jennings* Appointed 13th April 2019 1 Louise Byrne ** Appointed 16th June 2018 7 Leo O’Leary ** Appointed 16th June 2018 5 Board meetings held in 2018 and up to 30th April 2019: 12 * appointed in 2019. ** appointed in 2018. Tennis_AR_2018.qxp_Layout 1 02/07/2019 14:04 Page 2 2 Message from President Clifford Carroll elcome to the Tennis Ireland Nations Junior and Veterans W Annual General Meeting which tournaments also showed our game in a this year is being held in Munster most positive way. following the acceptance of a proposal This, of course, brings me to what I at the 2018 AGM. It is our hope as a consider one of the most important Board and with the support of our aspects of Irish Tennis which is our members, to move future AGM’s around volunteer workforce. We simply cannot the country in line with our national do without them and we must leave no ethos and to showcase the great work stone unturned in sourcing and that takes place in the regions. supporting them. It has been an honour and a privilege to I want to take this opportunity to thank have represented Tennis Ireland at home those people throughout the tennis and abroad for the past two years. community for their personal support. I It has been a very busy year with many would also like to wish my successor highlights which are outlined in this Shane Cooke well as he commences his report. role as President. I am sure having worked with him for the past ten years Most recently, I was delighted to have that he will be an excellent President attended the Fed Cup this year where I and will leave a positive legacy for our witnessed a great performance by our sport. team before being edged out by the eventual group winners, Egypt, by 2 While we are a relatively small rubbers to 1. Efforts have and are being Governing Body, the teams in the made to raise the profile of the event by Branches and Head Office are working both Tennis Ireland and the ITF and very hard to support our activities and I although stepping down as President, I thank them for their dedication. remain committed to the task of Finally, I would like to thank my family promoting women's tennis. for their unwavering support in helping In terms of club development, the past me to achieve more than I ever thought two years have seen many in tennis. improvements. More and more clubs Clifford Carroll are benefitting from sports capital President funding and are subsequently improving Tennis Ireland their facilities. There is an ever- increasing number of Clubs participating in the clubmark project and achieving the Gold Standard and in today’s world where conformance to standards is so important this is to be welcomed. Competition is the lifeblood of our sport and there have been a lot of great national, regional and local tournaments over the last year. The Irish Open, held in Carrickmines LTC and won by our own Peter Bothwell was a particular highlight for me. The Junior I.T.F. events as well as hosting the 4 TENNIS IRELAND Tennis_AR_2018.qxp_Layout 1 02/07/2019 14:04 Page 3 3 Chief Executives Foreword t the core of Irish Tennis are our We are also thankful to Minister for A clubs and the thousands of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross volunteers who have spent so much TD and Minister of State at the of their time over the past 12 months Department of Sport, Brendan Griffin TD growing our sport throughout the for their support and assistance. country. Sadly, the past 12 months has seen the The work of these volunteers provides loss of some influential members of the us with the foundations to grow our game Irish Tennis community. Eugene Bergin and as I travel to clubs whether they are was a long serving member of the Leinster based in urban or rural areas or are big or Council and made a great contribution to small, I am always amazed by the work our sport as did Anne Taylor, a former that is put in by them to make sure players Ulster Branch and Tennis Ireland of all ages are given the best opportunities President, and member of Queens to play the game they love. University Staff LTC who passed away As the governing body for Irish Tennis, earlier this year. Our sport will remember we strive to serve every member, across all them with great affection. corners of the country. The year just passed has been one of As part of the implementation of our growth and development the detail of strategy, we will continue to grow and which is outlined in this report. However, develop the game in all four provinces it has not been without its challenges. over the next 3 years. Our sport needs more investment and This year’s Annual General Meeting in funding if it is to achieve its potential and Cork will mark the end of Clifford Carroll’s this will be a key objective in the coming tenure as President. It’s fitting that his years. Additional funding has been final week in the role will be in his home secured from Government in 2019 and we county of Cork, and I would like to thank have appointed a Commercial and Clifford on behalf of the tennis Partnership Manager to tap into community for his work not only for the commercial funding and sponsorship. last two years but the many more years he For any sport to succeed it will require all has given to improving the sport. sectors of the sport to be aligned. I would also like to congratulate Shane Unfortunately, this year has seen that not Cook who will become the new President everyone is aligned within our sport at the of Tennis Ireland at this year’s AGM. I have moment, but the Board will utilise its skill, got to know Shane well over the last two experience and authority to ensure that all years and look forward to working with of our stakeholders come together for the him in his new role. benefit of the game I am delighted to have such committed The importance of good governance in Board members to assist me in the sport has never been as evident as it has development of our sport. There have been over the last number of months. As been 9 changes to the composition of the a Federation, the Board and we will never Board this year and I would like to thank waiver in trying to make the required them and their predecessors for their hard improvements. work and counsel. Together we will create I would also like to thank the staff in and leave behind a better organisation. head office and the Branches for their Government support is vital for all continued dedication to our sport. They sports in Ireland, and we are extremely are a crucial resource to our game and grateful for the ongoing assistance from should be commended for their hard work Sport Ireland and Sport Northern Ireland this year. in particular John Treacy, Kieran Mulvey and George Lucas for their support of Richard Fahey projects that are delivered at all levels CEO throughout the country. Tennis Ireland ANNUAL REPORT 2018 Tennis_AR_2018.qxp_Layout 1 02/07/2019 14:04 Page 4 4 Operational Review Relationships Ireland to support their operations. One of the key areas of focus for Tennis The Minister’s also demonstrated their Ireland in 2018 and will continue to be support for Capital Projects with the so is the development and management launch of a new Large Scale Sports of relationships with our key Infrastructure fund, which aims to stakeholders. support the development of regional Significant efforts have been made in and national sporting infrastructure as the last year in this regard and outlined well as the traditional Sports Capital are some of the key engagements and Programme where €40 million was benefits that have accrued from made available to clubs to apply for. successfully managing these Tennis Ireland organised 5 workshops This allocation was on top of an relationships throughout the country for clubs to earlier announcement of €45,000 in attend and get advice on how to Dormant Accounts funding to Government complete the application process in support the delivery of the Enjoy The Government are playing an ever- order to ensure that a valid application Tennis Programme and an additional increasing role in the development of was submitted.