Navan Tennis Club celebrates 50 years

The story of the racquet sport in the area

KIERAN FANNING

Tennis originated in France in the 12th century and arrived in Ireland in the 14th century. It officially came to Navan around 1899 with the building of the Exhibition Centre at the Showgrounds where Pairc Tailteann stands today. By 1907, the County Meath Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club had 200 members and six courts. Sometime in the 1920s/'30s the club moved up to Beechmount on the Trim Road, where the filling station is now located.

By 1935, the club had three grass courts and two hard courts. There were clubs all around Meath by this stage. Navan Lawn Tennis Club regularly competed in tournaments in clubs like Skryne and Kilberry. Unfortunately, many of these small clubs are gone now but plans to restore the club in Kilberry are underway. The star of the club in those days was Michael Buchanan, who joined the club with his friend, Niall Darcy. Niall, who is in his 80s and still an active tennis player in Stackallen Lawn Tennis Club, remembers travelling all over Ireland on the back of Michael’s Honda motorbike to compete in tournaments. The club had a lease of the grounds and when it wasn’t renewed in the 1970s, the club folded, with many members like Niall moving to Stackallen Lawn Tennis Club.

Around this time, Navan Rugby Club was securing a loan from John Spicer, who had been a tennis enthusiast. One of the conditions of the loan was that tennis courts would be set up on the rugby grounds. They were set up on the car park of the club. Long standing member of Navan Tennis Club, Frankie Finnegan, remembers playing on these courts in 1973/74 and having to vacate them mid game if cars came in to park!

When the rugby club rented land next door, the tennis club decided to buy their own plot. A major fundraising draw was spearheaded by Jacksie Kiernan. Tickets for a car were sold at £20 each. The money was raised, the land bought and Navan Tennis Club, as it is now, officially began in 1975. This year it is celebrating 50 years in existence.

Originally, the club only had a bench as a clubhouse but then they purchased a Portacabin. Tuesday night social tennis began in those early days as a fun way to introduce new players and 50 years later, this social night continues. Players of mixed abilities compete each Tuesday in games of doubles for a bottle of wine.

Another big event which began in the early days and still continues today is the Club Championships, an internal tournament, run over two weeks with singles and doubles matches taking place over two weeks in front of a packed balcony.

Over the years, the club has enjoyed great success in Dublin, Leinster and other leagues. Today, it continues to hold its own with teams competing at a high level.

Coaching is also a big part of what the club does. In the 1980s, Mary Hardiman coached children in the club. Today the main coach is Margaret Drew, a level four professional tennis coach who has represented Ireland on the world stage at junior level. She is ably assisted by Sally Nevin, a level two professional coach. The pair run private coaching sessions for individuals as well as group lessons and summer camps for juniors.

Originally there were only three courts but two more were added in the early 2000s. In 2012 the clubhouse was built. It includes top class ladies and gentlemen’s shower rooms, kitchen, viewing balcony and social room.

Navan Tennis Club is affiliated to Tennis Ireland, Dublin Lawn Tennis Council, Leinster Provincial Towns Tennis Council and Meath Sports Partnership, a Meath County Council initiative. Navan Tennis Club is the only organisation in Navan providing tennis facilities, and is also part of the Schools Tennis Initiative.

A key activity which facilitates new members joining the club is the weekly Saturday Social for beginners from 12 noon -1.30pm and our Tuesday Social night for intermediate and more advanced players ever Tuesday from 7.30pm-9.00pm. These run from February to November (weather permitting) and is open to members and non-members.

The club provides tennis amenities to enable tennis be played all year round, night or day, in all weather conditions. It caters for adults and children of all ages, standards, and fitness levels at both competitive, recreational and social levels. A mix of veterans (Over 45), seniors (Over 35), adults, students and schoolchildren participate in tennis initiatives on a daily basis at the club. There is a similar ratio of females/males who participate in the sport at a competitive, recreational and social levels. One hundred per cent of the club membership plays the sport – in the sport of tennis you rarely have any dormant members!

A book is to be published to mark the club’s 50th birthday, to be released next summer. The club welcomes articles or photos from current or past members about anything related to tennis in Navan - email kieranfanning@hotmail.com for more details.

See Dusk Till Dawn Pages 64-65