Ballinlough Tennis Club
1980
In the summer of 1980 there was much speculation in Ballinlough as to what was being built by the Corporation next to the Community Centre
- "Was it to be a Soccer Pitch ? Was it to be a playground ? ". Nobody however guessed that this work was sowing the seeds of what was to grow into the vibrant Tennis Club that Ballinlough has
become today. This early work was the construction of the very first court in the complex. It was carried out by Cork Corporation as part of an Environmental Scheme. A small group of dedicated
people most notably Mary Healy, Brian O' Connell, Vivienne Ryan, Terrie Buckley, Kay O' Donovan & Betty Preston, worked very hard to get things off the ground.
9th August,1980
Club officially opened by then Lord Mayor, Toddy O' Sullivan
Lady Mayoress presented with a bouquet of
flowers by Angela Buckley (Betty Preston's daughter)
The Blessing of the court including priests of the Parish, Father(s) Lynch and Shorten
The Lord Mayor demonstrates his
serve................
A fancy dress competition was held after the official opening (note the price of the Echo!)
Within a very short time, the Club had 180 members including 90 juniors – and there were just 4 active members on the committee at
the time: Mary Healy, Brian O' Connell, Kay O' Donovan & Betty Preston. There was a lot of work involved: including taking down the net each evening and putting it back up every morning!
Court opened and supervised at 9.30 and net was erected by 10; closed for lunch and back open at 2. Supervision stopped at 6pm. Seniors only played after 6pm and net was again taken down at 10pm
and stored in the annex next to the Community Centre; the late John Preston usually performed this task. The next day the ritual would begin again! Betty Preston, who is still a member, remembers
supervising kids playing tennis throughout the summer. One committee member who was a young mother used to bring her baby together with all necessary nappies, bottles etc. while on supervision
duty. This camaraderie and community spirit is still identifiable amongst the membership today.
Meetings were held in Kay O' Donovan's house in Somerton. Mary & Brian looked after the paperwork while Betty & Kay did court
supervision and delivering info to members by hand or postings to those outside the parish
1981
The committee organised a 24 hour tennis marathon. Lights were borrowed from Gouldings (where John Preston worked) and utilised at night.
The Gardai were present to oversee the event and the oldest competitor was 78 year old Patricia Swanton
1982
Brian O' Connell & Mary Healy married and the club juniors formed a guard of honour outside the church in Ballinlough
1984
Both Mary & Betty had babies that year and due to their commitments at home the committee
dissolved and the club folded - for the time being
Later in 1984
With an ability to save the day which has characterised the Club's achievements both on and off the court since, the club was reactivated in 1984 . The Club was
helmed by the likes of Myles Kerrigan, Vivienne Ryan and Ann O'Shea. A second court was constructed and the Club has never looked back. It is fair to say that he spirit that triumphed over that
initial adversity has been at the heart of Ballinlough Tennis Club.
The club has been very fortunate in a number of respects: there has always been a core group of enthusiastic people always ready to run the club. It is somewhat
unique in that unlike many organisations where the same people are left to run things for years on end, there has been a constant renewal and revitalisation of the club. The introduction of new
people with new ideas, onto the Committee, over the years, ensures that the Club does not become stagnant or complacent.
Looking back through the club's records it is interesting to see that many members were at one time or another very involved in the running of the Club. In the
period up to 1995 alone there were 55 different committee members. It is no coincidence that this coincided with a period of constant renewal. The Club was developing rapidly.
1987 - 1991 (more courts and flood lighting)
As mentioned already, the second court was added in 1984. This was very quick followed by the construction of 2 more courts in 1987 and 1990. In a further move to improve the facilities flood
lighting - overseen by Frank Urell - was provided in 1991. This was a major change for the club as it meant that many more people could play more often in winter time.
Mrs Pauline Daly, President ILTA and Sec' Munster Council, cutting the tape to officially open Court 2
Also present: Mrs Aileen Stringer (mother of Peter) Chairperson BTC, Dan MacCarthey Sec', Senator Denis Cregan,
Cllrs Jim Corr ,Donal Counihan and (the late) Jack Higgins - the then Ass' City Manager.
As in everything there are dark memories too. The sadness and shock at the untimely death in 1991 of our dear friend and tireless worker, John Preston, will never be forgotten. John
singularly maintained the courts (as if they were his own!) for many years. Betty and the family have kindly donated the "John Preston Award", in his honour. This is presented (yearly) to the
person who is judged to have given most, in time and effort, to benefit the Club. It speaks volumes of the spirit prevalent within the Club that this award has granted to many different
people over the years. And, in 2011, there are no shortage of candidates. John would have approved.
John Preston
Award Winners
Kay Guthrie 1993
Nuala Barry 1994
Hannah Kirby 1995
Finbarr Twomey 1996
1993 (courts re-surfacing & planning for a clubhouse)
Again, not content to rest on their laurels, the Club decided to resurface all the courts. This involved major expenditure and the membership had to be confident that it was both desirable
and necessary befor prodeeding. This work was completed in 1993 and no sooner was the contractor pulling out onto the Ballinlough Road than plans were being hatched for the building of " T1
Clubhouse ". Like any happy family, life was incomplete without a home of it's own. The Club considered the matter carefully - it would be the single biggest undertaking yet. Again, financial
foresight and good sense prevailed and it was decided "go for it"!
1995
(onwards)
The club was relative newcomer among many of the clubs against which it competed. Nevertheless, the club does very well on all its outings. At this time it could
boast of three Munster Branch Trophies - the 3rd and 4th Division Winter League titles in 1992 and the 5th Division Summer Competition in 1996.
Division 3 Winter League winners 1992
(Val, Don, Tony, Orla, Babs and Kay)
Individual members of the club flew the flag at the many open competitions: Val O'Grady, Michael McCarthy, Don Maher, Pat Hurley, Peter Finnegan, Ger Finan, Ger
O'Sullivan and Leonard Horgan gracing the list of winners over the years.
The Club also had many individual players who started to blossom: Kay Lynch, Martin Leahy, Orlagh Cassidy, Babs O'Driscoll to name but a few. Clare Cotterell (
nee O'Donovan ), still an active member, was one of the outstanding talents of Irish tennis in the mid to late 60's and early 70's representing Ireland at Junior Wimbledon in 1965 while still
only 14. She went on to win many provincial and Irish titles in her career.
The Club established an excellent development programme and reputation for its junior section, the quality of which being recognised and acknowledged more
widely. Behind this work, many farsighted senior members who were prepared to dedicate themselves to the task. Many players have come through this programme, the most notable being the still very
young Conor O'Callaghan who in 1996 had begun to stamp his authority on Irish Junior Tennis. Conor, still a member, is now a respected coach in the Cork area and regularly takes classes in
Ballinlough. As he is reminded regularly (en passant), in a good humoured way by the Club Elders, ".....we taught him everything he knows...........!"
Many will remember the great matches and friendly rivalries amongst players such as Martin Leahy, Michael McCarthy, Val O'Grady, Eddie Stoker, Don Maher, Jim Brickley, Rosalie Waldron, Coleen
Corbett, Babs O'Driscoll, Dave Bradley. Some are still members, others have moved elsewhere and Dave Bradley (laterly in 2008) has moved to eternal reward. He is sadly missed as a Ballinlough
resident for his tennis and coaching abilities, good humour and, by no means least, his knowledge and guidance as a skilled craftsman and builder. A big man with a big heart.
Dave Bradley
In 1996 another extension to the Clubhouse commenced. The project was overseen by Chairman Eamon MacCarthy and
his hard working committee: Valerie O' Sullivan, Nuala Barry, Geraldine O' Sullivan, Kay Guthrie, Mike Barry, Maeve Scannell, Vincent Murphy, Leonard, Horgan and Angela Buckley. Works were
completed by Murphy Construction Ltd in September and the Clubhouse was formally opened in September 19th
Sub Committee and Builder
The opening was performed by the Minister for Sport, Bernard Allen, in front of the membership and assembled dignitaries including: Lord Mayor, James Corr and President of the Munster
Branch Tennis Ireland, Ger O' Meara.
Over the years, to this time, Ballinlough Tennis Club received sponsorship, advice and help from many individuals, businesses and companies. Many preferred their efforts and contributions to
remain anonymous but a sample of the rest would have to include the following:
Ballinlough Credit Union
(without whose funding many of these developments could not have taken place)
Mahers Sports
Cummins Sports
Murphy Brewery & Beamish and Crawford
Tektron
Mathews
Bord Gais
Tales are still recounted of the escapades at the Annual Club Outing to Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry - much to the delight of some and the profound
embarrassment of others....................
