Tennis club is ace minister tells members

Minister for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring, dropped in to test the newly resurfaced courts at Mullingar Tennis Club last Thursday afternoon.

In receipt of a €37,000 grant from his department, the club matched that amount to put the facilities there on a par with some of the top performing clubs around the country.

“I know this club is a famous club and I know many people over the years have given great commitment, including founding members Michael Creighton and Fr Willie Cleary, who put a lot of work into this club,” said the minister, who thanked the current club president, John Murphy, and his committee for all the work, commitment and effort they put into sport in Mullingar.

“The chances you give the young boys and young girls here – a lot of work and commitment goes into putting these facilities in place,” he said.

“I was delighted that my department was able to give part of the funding here for this, but the other part had to be raised here locally. When I look out here today I can go back to the department and say that the money has been very well spent.”

With the next round of Sports Capital Grants to the tune of €40m due in September, Minister Ring could not give anything away as to whether the tennis club would be successful again in their current application: “But all I’ll say is I do wish you the very best of luck.”

“Small clubs, and particularly minority sports, are trying to get the opportunity to get the facilities they need. Tennis is a minority sport, but it deserves the same support as the GAA, the soccer and the athletics,” he said. Minister Ring was full of praise for his right hand man Paul McGrath, who was there on the day, as he was for Westmeath County Council, which he said played their part in supporting the clubs in the county.

“Any scheme that we had, they matched it, they did the work and they completed the projects. The work and effort put into sport in this county, I want to thank them for it.”

He said he was also hopeful to see the club’s rising stars, including Simon Carr and Ammar Elamin, in Wimbledon some day and warned them not to forget his invitation.

The sponsorship has meant a great deal to Mullingar Tennis Club as its president John Murphy points out.

“We have eight courts here and four of them were in very bad condition. That cut 50% of our playing capacity. It also meant for our junior players who are competing nationally, when they went they went to other clubs in Dublin, they’re playing on perfect surfaces that they’re not used to.

“So now that we have an immaculate surface here again they’ll be able to practise on the same standard of facility as the people they are playing against.”

It also benefits senior players who play recreationally.

Raising the profile

Committee member Patricia Sheridan told the Westmeath Examiner how she hoped the minister’s visit would help raise the profile of the club in Mullingar.

“With the minister here today I think it will highlight our club because I think a lot people don’t know we’re here. And we’re always welcoming new members,” explained Patricia.

“We celebrated our 75th anniversary last year. I love the game of tennis, I haven’t played for a number of years but I’m very involved with the club and it’s great to see such a great number of children playing.

“Once they’re playing a sport, any sport, they’re not going to come much harm. It’s a very good discipline for them.”

“And there’s a range of disciplines for juniors and seniors to become involved in including badminton. There are regular tournaments held, summer camps run, and Tennis Express for beginners and those returning to the game after a number of years.”

To join, check out mullingartennisandbadminton.ie or drop into the club, on Austin Friars Street.