The History of the Ennis Lawn Tennis &Badminton Club
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The History of the Ennis Lawn Tennis &Badminton Club The Ennis Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club was established in 1982. It was the culmination of talks that led to the amalgamation between the run down Tennis Club and the thriving Badminton Club. The cost for the work needed to develop the entire site was estimated at £98,000, an enormous sum at the time. The developments included: Buying the stone from the mill next door which was about to be knocked down. This stone was used to elevate the site which flooded every winter, and create a new car park. Building a new clubhouse with 2 badminton courts, dressing rooms, showers, toilets and a gallery overlooking the courts. Constructing 2 new hard tennis courts with new fencing and floodlights. Building perimeter fencing with a gate for security. This work was completed in Nov. 1983, and another hard court was installed in 1984. The club flourished in both tennis and badminton. In junior badminton it produced many internationals with Donie O’Halloran going on to become a Senior International. There were and are still many social events, competitions and tournaments. In the early 90’s the landscaping was completed and floodlights were installed on court 3. In Jan. 1994 there was severe flooding in Ennis. All 3 tennis courts were submerged and water lapped up to the clubhouse door. A storm also damaged the west wall of the hall It was decided to build two state of the art artificial grass courts (4 & 5), with floodlights and drainage, twenty eight inches above the existing car park, at a cost of £66,000 Euro. These were completed in 1995. In 1997 the original courts 1, 2 & 3 were elevated to the same level as the new ncourts 4 & 5, with a green acrylic surface, and by 2002 these were also covered with artificial grass. The entire cost of developing the 5 courts was 250,000 Euro. There have been many improvements since and the club has currently 400 members. 1982 Fergus LTC Committee President Rev Sean Moriarty, Vice President Oliver Moylan, Roger Fox, Kieran Tuohy, Michael White Mens Champion Gerry Bredin Ladies Champion Mimi Conroy Major events Oliver Moylan and the Chamber of Commerce raise approx £1,000 for the Tennis Club. This provided funds to repair the nets and fencing, cut the grass regularly on the P & P course, and provide a caravan to be used as a changing room. The 2 hard tennis courts along with the 9 hole course were renovated. Subs £6 Adult membership, £10 Family and £3 Junior. Oliver Moylan hands over the keys of the caravan to the President Rev Sean Moriarty. The cost of repairing the old Pavilion would have been £2,000. Trustees of the Tennis Club met with the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary members , on how to revitalize the Club. A special committee was set up to build a new clubhouse and sports complex (including squash), but only one badminton court. A possible link to the Ennis Badminton Club was proposed. Meetings were held with Tom Eade, Gerry Bredin and Mick Molloy of the Ennis Badminton Club. In September Rev Sean Moriarty told the Badminton Club that the Tennis Club does not wish to amalgamate. However in October the Tennis Club asks the Badminton Club to join them on an equal basis. Rev Sean Moriarty bites the bullet and goes for the merger. He was concerned that the Badminton would take over and that the tennis would disappear. He need not have worried. In 1982 he was transferred to Co. Offaly after being in Clarecastle fo 18 years. He became an Honorary Life member of the Club in 1982 and used to regularly visit the Club. In 1995 he blessed the new omnicourts. He returned again in 2000 for the Fergus LTC reunion. He passed away in 2005. He was the Mens Singles Tennis Champion in 1948, 1956, 1965, 1973 and 1975. The Club will be eternally grateful to this amazing man. A £9,000 grant was approved by Clare County Council. Planning Permission approved for new clubhouse Tennis Club Championships and tournaments back again. The last Pitch and Putt competition is held. Ennis Badminton Club 1981/82 Committee Chairperson Mick Molloy, Vice Chairman Con Kearney, Secretary Maura Hanrahan, Treasurer Mary Burke, Social Sec Brid Doohan, Fixtures Sec Kay Murphy Badminton Club Championships Mens Singles Con Kearney def Michael Moroney Ladies Singles Anne Keogh def Mary Burke Mixed Doubles Finalists: Con Kearney, Madeline McCarthy, Con Kearney, Mary Halpin. Ladies Doubles Kay Murphy & Madeline McCarthy def Mary Burke & Teresa Fitzgibbon Major Events AGM Oct 1981 Turnover for 81/82 £8657 26p A joint committee was set up to organize an EGM in April 1982, to seal the amalgamation and write a new Constitution. This was headed by Tom Eade and Gerry Bredin. They were asked to design the new clubhouse with 2 badminton courts, dressing rooms and showers, and a viewing gallery, 3 new tennis courts, floodlights, security fencing and a gate (to curb vandalism), and an elevated car park (that would not flood every Winter) . Planning permission, grants, bank loans, new Trustees , tennis and badminton committees, a Management Committee, all had to be organized. The costing came in at £98,000 (approx 500,000 Euro) The clubhouse, tennis courts, and grounds, funding etc were completed by Nov 1983. An amazing achievement. While the clubhouse was being built the badminton players continued to play at Our Lady’s with the tennis players at the Mill Road. Ennis Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club holds its first AGM in October 1982. A new Constitution is passed, and a new Committees and Trustees are elected. The Ennis Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club 1982/83 Combined Committee President Oliver Moylan, Vice President Frank McInerney, Chairperson Tom Eade, Vice Chairman Con Kearney Secretary Phil Molony, Treasurer Mary Burke, PRO John Flanagan, Fran Feighery, Brid Doohan, Mary Craddock, Mick Moroney, Marie Grene, and Kay Murphy. Major Events First AGM of the Ennis Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club held in Oct 1982. 26 attended A new Constitution is adopted 5 new Trustees from the Tennis and Badminton Clubs are elected. These are Kevin Vaughan, Joe Molony, Joe Williams, Niall McMahon, Oliver Moylan. Fr Sean Moriarty is elected an Hon Life Member of the Club A 300 Club Draw raises £6,600 The Socials continue at the West County. They raise £650 Turnover £9647 Savings £22,432 £46,000 spent on the new clubhouse . Another £36,000 needed approximately. 260 members £100 family scheme introduced Tennis 82/83 Mens Tennis Champion Michael Whyte def Stewart Daly 7-5, 4-6, 6-0. Ladies Tennis Champion Mimi Conroy def Joanne Lewis 6-3, 6-4. Mixed Tennis J Flynn & J Lewis def G Bredin & P Molony 1983/84 Committee President Oliver Moylan, Vice President Frank McInerney, Chairperson Tom Eade, Vice Chairman Johnny Flynn, Secretary Phil Molony, Treasurer Mary Burke, PRO John Flanagan, Tennis Captain Johnny Flynn, Badminton Captain Con Kearney & Mick Molloy, Gerry Bredin, Roger Fox, Fran Feighery, Kay Murphy, Kieran Tuohy, Brid Doohan, Brid McInerney. Major Events AGM Sept 23rd. Family Membership available Nov 1983 New Clubhouse opens with 2 badminton courts, dressing rooms, viewing gallery, 2 new tennis courts with floodlights, elevated car park, new gate and perimeter fencing, 100 badminton members and 120 tennis members. Joint memberships became available for the following season. Tennis Court 2 is resurfaced and the new Court 3 is laid. Floodlighting installed on courts 1 & 2 Security fencing is put around the club perimeter. Turnover £15, 588 Amount spent on Clubhouse and grounds £81,364. Creditors owed £11,056 Tennis: Mens Tennis Champion: Michael Whyte def Johnny Flynn 5-7, 6-4, 7-5. Ladies Tennis Champion: Geraldine Fogarty def Jacintha Kearney Mens Tennis Doubles Johnny Flynn & Adrian McNeill def Gerry Bredin & Stuart Daly Ladies Tennis Doubles Geraldine Fogarty & Jackie Malone def Phil Molony & Kathleen Lenihan Mixed Tennis Doubles Adrian McNeill & Edel O’Halloran def Eileen & Tom Holly Ladies Tennis Plate Ann Killeen def Eileen Williams Mens Tennis Plate Seamus Hayes def Martin White. Ennis win the Tennis Munster Community Games. Team: Michael Kitson, Kenneth Parks, Edel O’Halloran, Maura Ni Mhurchu, Robert Daly, Aidan Parks, Helene Shinners. They were Bronze medal winners in the National Championships. Junior Tennis Finals: Boys U/16 Eoin Collins def Fergal O’Keefe,Boys U/14 Donie O’Halloran def David Browne. Girls U/16 Lara Lewis def Ann Marie Lucas Tennis American Tournaments held every Tuesday throughout the Summer Badminton Mens Badminton Champion: Gerry Bredin def Con Kearney 2-1 Ladies Badminton Champion: Evelyn Lyons def Phil Molony Mens Badminton Doubles: Kevin Hynes & Eugene Morrisroe def. Val Bredin & Michael Moroney 2-1 Ladies Badminton Doubles A :Anne Moloney & Teresa Fitzgibbon def Anne Keogh & Chantel Riordan Ladies Badminton Doubles B: Brid Keane & Alice Cullen def Elizabeth Guthrie & Cora Kerins Mixed Badminton Doubles Mick Molloy & Evelyn Lyons def Gerry Bredin & Phil Moloney Ennis win the Clare Badminton Div 3 League. Team: Michael Molloy, Don Hamilton,Tom Woulfe, Eugene Morrisroe, Anne Moloney, Kathleen Lenihan, Maura Hanrahan, Fran Feighery. Ennis win the Clare Badminton Div 5 League. Team: Johnny Flynn, Val Bredin, Liam O’Halloran, Roger Fox, Maurice Buckley, Mary Farrell, Jo St Leger, Evelyn Lyons, May Feeney, Chantel Riordan, Ann McInerney. Ennis win the Clare U/15 Badminton Community Games. Team: James Quinn, Al Bredin, Adrian Kearney, Donie O’Halloran, Hilary Meere, Joyce McInerney, Lara Lewis, Mary Naughton and Anne Marie Lucas. 1984/85 Committee President Oliver Moylan, Vice President Frank McInerney, Chairperson Tom Eade, Vice Chairman Johnny Flynn, Secretary Phil Molony, Treasurer Caroline Guthrie, PRO john Flanagan, Tennis Captain Johnny Flynn, Badminton Captain M Molloy, G Bredin, B McInerney, F Feighery, A McNeill, Roger Fox, K Tuohy, C Kearney.