Annual Report and Operational Review 2019 We’re in this together! www.tennisireland.ie www.tennisireland.ie BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT Board meetings held in 2019 Shane Cooke and up to 20th May 2020: 12 Director Appointment or Resignation Number of CHAIRMAN during year Board Meetings David O’Beirne attended David O’Beirne (Chairman) 12 COMPANY SECRETARY Shane Cooke (President) 12 Rosamund Thompson Richard Fahey (Chief Executive) 12 Ciara Jennings 7 Louise Byrne Cliff ord Carroll 11 Clifford Carroll David Mullins 7 Robert Cummins Leo O’Leary Resigned 18th June 2020 5 Ciara Jennings David Spillane Appointed 27 May 2020 Letty Lucas David Mullins Letty Lucas Appointed 14th September 2019 5 Paul O’Connor Liam O’Donohoe 8 Liam O’Donohoe Louise Byrne 10 David Spillane Nickie Coff ey Resigned 11th May 2020 11 Tom Shelly Paul O’Connor 11 Robert Cummins 9 CHIEF EECUTIVE Rosamund Thompson 10 Richard Fahey Tom Shelly Appointed 17th August 2019 6 David Barber Resigned 31st August 2019 3 PROVINCIAL BRANCH PRESIDENTS Jimmy Cahill Resigned 5th March 2019 1 Joe Power Resigned 20th March 2019 1 David Spillane Leinster Stephen Reid Resigned 14th December 2019 Eddie Ronayne Munster Greg O’Rawe Ulster Gerry Smyth Connacht b 1 Tennis Ireland | Annual Report 2018 Tennis Ireland | Annual Report 2018 Tennis Ireland | Annual Report and Operational Review 2019 Message from Chief President Executives Shane Cooke Foreword Welcome to the 2020 Tennis Ireland I am pleased to be able to report a AGM. As you know it has been an successful year in 2019 for the sport of unprecedented year globally from a social, tennis and for Tennis Ireland. economic and tennis point of view on account of Covid-19. We have seen our sport impacted in many ways and Other great performances came in the AIG Irish Open We have recently faced an uncertain period but it Nickie Coffey, and Leo O’Leary who stepped down our clubs, players, coaches and staff have all been where Georgia Drummy took the Ladies Singles title. is important to remember that in the lead up to the from the Board since our last AGM. significantly affected by this virus. Covid-19 pandemic we have built a strong, vibrant and There were many other great events including We also continue to work with our government and resilient sport and organisation that is now coming Thankfully, we have seen the resumption of play in the Men’s and Women’s Inter Provincials held in funding partners, North and South. A good example through the very challenging first half of 2020. our clubs. Being one of the first sports to return was Monkstown where our best players lined out to play of this has been our engagement with former a blessing, but also a great responsibility. I am glad to for their respective provinces. Likewise, the Junior Inter During 2019, we continued with the delivery of our Minister Shane Ross and the Minister of State at the see that our clubs are adhering to the excellent Tennis Provincials in Irvinestown was a great event and the Strategic Plan and have made significant strides in Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Brendan Ireland guidelines that demonstrate to us how we can hospitality shown was amazing. The Young Seniors meeting our objectives under the plan. This strategy Griffin and their officials in relation to both the safely play the sport that we love. and Super-Senior events were held in Sundays Well puts players and clubs at the heart of our strategic allocation of Sports Capital Programme funding to our Boating and Tennis Club and Galway Lawn Tennis Club intent. We believe that a strong club and playing sport and for their assistance in the reopening of our We all remember the days where we couldn’t play, respectively. community will enable us to build the competition, Sport post the Covid-19 lockdown. and we don’t want to go back, therefore it is vital that coaching, tournament official, volunteer and athlete all clubs and members continue to adhere to the The enforced closure of our sport prevented me from In conjunction with the Ulster Branch, we also work supports that are required for our sport. We are in this protocols and keep our members and community attending other events but with the reopening of our closely with Sport Northern Ireland to ensure that together and we will get through this together. safe from transmission of the virus. Open Tournaments via the Tennis Ireland Tour, I now we meet their objectives. However, while the Irish look forward to being able to visit you at events and Once again, the tennis community delivered a Government are committed to increasing investment I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone clubs once more. fantastic year of competition and fun during 2019 in sport, Sport Northern Ireland budgets are reducing, in Tennis Ireland, the four provincial branches, the and hopefully we can salvage what remains of 2020 and this presents real challenges to the development clubs and their volunteers for the resilience they have Until then, take care and stay safe. to end the year on a positive note. I would like to of sport and tennis in Northern Ireland. shown throughout these challenging times. thank our members, volunteers, sponsors, funding Shane Cooke We are very happy that our sport was one of the first Having succeeded Clifford Carroll as President in partners, staff and board for their hard work and President to reopen after the enforced lock down. Our team at mid-July 2019 I have had the opportunity and honour dedication in making this such a successful year and, Tennis Ireland Head Office and in the Branches worked tirelessly to to attend a number events and clubs as part of my despite the current challenges, look forward to seeing ensure we were prepared to open safely through the role. One of the first events I attended was the Davis you enjoy our great sport in 2020. development and dissemination of our guidelines. It Cup held in San Marino where I had the pleasure Our board and executive continue to contribute to is incumbent on everyone to ensure they follow these of supporting the Irish team and witnessing their international and provincial committees to ensure guidelines in order to ensure the safety and well being promotion. that our influence remains strong. I would like to of our members and the local community. thank them for their tireless work and their support of both me and our staff. In particular, I would like to Richard Fahey thank former Chairman, David Barber, Stephen Reid, Chief Executive 2 3 Tennis Ireland | Annual Report and Operational Review 2019 Operational Review Relationships €6.5m increase in funding to Sport This was a significant achievement Ireland in 2019 which was disbursed for our sport. In the lead up to the One of the ongoing main areas of focus by Sport Ireland amongst the various allocations a series of workshops were for Tennis Ireland is the development National Governing Bodies including delivered by us on how to apply and and management of relationships with Tennis Ireland to support their secure support for applications. There our key stakeholders. operations. was also significant engagement with Significant efforts have been made in various Government Minister’s and TD’s The Minister’s also demonstrated their the last year in this regard and outlined at National level which ensured a great support for Capital Projects via the in this report are some of the key result for our sport. Sports Capital Programme. engagements and benefits that have Our sport received further funding of accrued for our sport from successfully The Sports Capital Programme €562,554 to develop detailed plans for managing these relationships. Local and Regional Allocations were the development of a Regional Sports announced in November 2019 with The Governments of both the Republic Campus in Thurles part of which will see 42 tennis projects receiving a total and Northern Ireland are playing a the development of an indoor Tennis of €1,805,089. The breakdown of greater role in the development and Centre at the site. The project which allocations per province was: - funding of sport on the island of Ireland is a partnership between Limerick and there is an ever increasing focus Leinster €1,056,711 Institute of Technology, Tipperary on the importance of good governance Munster €548,069 County Council, Tennis Ireland, Thurles and the targeting of those that may Tennis Club and Tipperary GAA County have difficulties participating due to Connacht €200,309 Board was one of just seven projects out their gender, ability, sexual orientation of 38 applications to receive funding an additional application to the fund to Women in Sport funding and €23,000 fully funded internship programme Tennis received the 4th highest support its construction will be made. in Aspire funding. This is a total of to run over 11 months through the or indeed their social or economic allocation of all sports in the allocation from the Regional Sports, Stream 1, €768,000 and means that Sport Ireland Dormant Accounts Funded Aspire status. This focus represents a challenge of funding for local projects, only Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund. This brings the total allocation for Tennis is the largest single provider of funding Graduate Programme. Tennis Ireland for sport at national and local level but bettered by Gaelic Games, Football and The funding is allocated to assist with projects from the Department of Sport to our sport. was one of ten Governing Bodies that it is a challenge that Tennis Ireland is Golf.