Mullingar Badminton Club celebrates its centenary year

This year marks 100 years of cup and league wins, flying shuttlecocks and unwavering commitment, as Mullingar Badminton Club celebrates its centenary.

St Mary’s Hall in Mullingar has been a home for many local clubs and organisations over the years, from starting as a school to the snooker club; however, one of its lengthier tenants was Mullingar Badminton Club, who called the building home for 55 years. Much of Mullingar’s modern history stems from its time as an important garrison town, and that meant that the town was exposed to much more of the world, and the rise in badminton could be attributed to that.

The development of badminton took place in what was then British India; by 1875 the first club in England was formed, and by 1893 the sport was officially launched.

By 1924 the ‘Uisneach Badminton Club’, as it was known then, was playing regularly and by 1925 it had found a home in St Mary’s Hall.

Since then, Mullingar Badminton Club has become a staple in the town.

The 1930s was a busy period, but it was also a successful decade. The Irish Times noted that Mullingar had significantly contributed to Irish Junior Badminton during that time.

One of the club’s most impressive feats during that period was winning the Provincial Towns Cup in 1935. That was well documented at the time, and many people noted the impressive performance by Mullingar’s Joseph Shaw.

Joseph would continue to play well and would go on to win the Irish Junior Men’s Singles in 1937. He was also runner-up in the Men’s Seniors.

In 1939, members of the club helped inaugurate the new ‘Mullingar Town Tennis Club’, which would find its home on Austin Friars Street, where it still is today.

Official signatories on the Land Registry Transfer Deed were, Bernard Carty, the local garda superintendent, and William Curran, a local publican and grocer. Both of them were heavily involved in the badminton club.

The club continued to play in St Mary’s Hall up until 1980, when the Mullingar Town Tennis Club and Mullingar Badminton Club amalgamated to become the Mullingar Tennis and Badminton Club.

Over the 100 years, Mullingar Badminton Club has produced many important players. One was Rose Cotter. Rose sadly passed away in February and is remembered fondly throughout the town and at Mullingar Badminton Club in particular.

Taking up badminton in the 1960s, Rose featured on many different teams, before joining Tony Cotter in 1969 to play in the Division 1 team, where the pair made a wonderful partnership.

Rose would continue her playing career up until relatively recently, achieving success in Westmeath, Midlands, Meath, Kells and District and South West Leinster leagues and All Ireland in 2012 at the age of 70, and a South West Leinster win at Grade 5 in March 2020, with her grandson, Thomas.

Besides her impressive playing career, Rose worked tirelessly for her club, and she held many senior roles over the years, including chair, club trustee, membership officer, treasurer and PRO.

Along with that, Rose was a passionate supporter of the juniors, and was keenly aware of how vital taking care of younger players is.

She would spend every Friday night training young members, and helping them get to grips with the game, continuing up until last October.

The junior teams are now competing in league and county tournaments, and that is a testament to Rose’s dedication over the years.

Valerie Molloy, current chair of Mullingar Badminton Club, said: “Rose was the epitome of a one-woman show, from getting the best price for feather shuttles to dropping down to the hall to cheer on home games, to advising and encouraging on the shots.

“We all enjoyed having the chats, the craic and the laughs with Rose. She gave a lifetime of sterling service to the club and was a mammy to us when we needed it, with a heart of gold.

“We have all been very lucky to have known Rose, she was a dear friend to many and a mentor to all. From that first welcoming smile to being an encouraging voice to all who stepped through the hall door. She would make these dainty net shots that we will forever be in awe of, she always played these with a smile while many of us scrambled up the court to attempt a return.

“We will miss her greatly and while we may strive to match her on-court shots and style, we will continue to play as she showed us, with true sportsmanship and positive attitude, being proud to represent our club, her club, Mullingar.”

Mullingar Badminton Club continues to be an important sports club in the town, with facilities to match. The club has a dedicated two-court hall, built after the amalgamation with the tennis club in the 1980s. It has more than 100 active members, at senior, junior and social levels.

The club caters towards all levels, and members can choose whether to play competitively or casually.

The badminton season is between October and May, and the seniors compete in the likes of the Dublin, Meath and Midland leagues. Valerie Molloy added: “The ethos past chair Rose Cotter had of looking after the juniors was hugely important, and as a result we are seeing second and third generations playing.

“There is huge interest in the sport at present, this is due to players such as Maurice Looby, a club member who had an amazing year last year, winning six masters titles, and Olympians Rachel Darragh and Nhat Nguyen.

“Currently, we are approaching 100 adult members, from every age group, 20s through to 70 plus, and due to the nature of the sport, it really is one that can be played for a lifetime.”