Start of Irvinestown Lawn Tennis Club
In 1991 John and Michael took stock of the tennis situation in Fermanagh and a look at their own future in the game. They recognised that they had a lot of enjoyment and camaraderie out of playing the game of Tennis over the years. They wanted to share their love of the game with others. While reluctant to leave Enniskillen Tennis Club and the friends they had made there, both realised that they had a game to offer the people of North Fermanagh.
By establishing a club in Irvinestown they felt they could spread the playing of the game in the county and provide two solid bases. They foresaw inter club tennis competitions and friendly nights where those who did not want to play Western League tennis could enjoy themselves.
With the help of Liam McMulkin another Forthill Park resident, Irvinestown Lawn Tennis Club was officially opened on Monday 22nd July 1991 and play started at the tennis courts hired from St. Marys School. Tennis was played well into the Autumn.
Over the winter period new members were drafted into the fledgling club. The first team to represent Irvinestown Lawn Tennis Club in 1992 Western League competition were: John Maguire, Michael Duffy, John Carleton, Michael Devanney, Andrea Maguire, Breege McCusker, Liz McCaldin and Roisin Kelly.
First Irvinestown Team to Play At St Marys Courts
At the AGM in 1992 club secretary John Maguire expressed his delight with the performance of the team in its first year of competitive tennis and was happy to report that the new club had run a successful Open Tournament with over 120 entries. Already the emphasis was on junior coaching with five girls - maeve McCusker, Ydele Steele, Joanna McCaldin, Colleen Rooney and Roberta Hamilton being selected to go forward to the North West Development Squad.
The election of officers was as follows: President-Seamus McCusker, Chairman-Liam McMulkin, Secretary-John Maguire, Treasurer-Michael Duffy, Committee Members-Rosemary Valentine, Dermot McCann, Pete Keogh, Shirley Steele, Kate Heaver, Siobhan Allister, Nola Rooney and Breege McCusker.
With some members already travelling to other venues with junior competitors it was seen that the only way to proceed was for the club to get involved in a coaching strategy. The old way of hitting the ball would no longer suffice. New skills had to be learned to carry youngsters into the next millennium.
Invitations were extended to Roger Geraghty, Tennis Ireland National Development Officer and Jim Watt Ulster Branch Tennis Ireland Development Officer, to visit the club to outline a developmental plan for coaching .
One of our first Coaching Sessions
Junior Club Night
Led by Seamus & Shirley First Irvinestown team to win
a League title
Fermanagh open Championships 1992 -95
1992 First Open Singles Final John Defeated Michael
Open Singles Champions 1993 Michael Defeated Stephen, Maeve over Andrea , also Angela who beat Breege in B Final.
Michael went on to take the 94 title over John
Maeve also won the title in 96 & 2000 Played Inter pro U14 & U18
Paula Johnston 1994 Ciara Gillespie 1995 Conor Carroll 95 / 96
Our first Club House During the open.
Committee of 1996
In 1994 led by Seamus Mc Cusker an ambitious and energetic Management committee applied to the Lottery for Funding to build our own Courts.On a wasteland site at the Bawnacre Centre , with much forward planning and determined work by Seamus the funds were awarded and with full backing from the officers of Fermanagh District Council the courts were layed in 1996 and this became our new Home.
President Shirley Officially opens the Courts in 1996
With a high increase in membership the committee saw the need for better facilities , so it was agreed to go back to the Lottery and apply for extra funding to build our own Club House.This again was granted and by 1998 the Pavillion as we now know it was built.
The Cutting of the First sod of the Club House
Work on the new Club House with the Famous Twin Huts in the Background
Official opening by Seamus of
The Superb Facilities we enjoy today.
Other Highlights in the Past 16 yrs
Stephen O'Shea & Sheila Doyle Champions 1999
Western League Champions
RACE DAY
Twinning with Sligo tennis club
Seven Times Fermanagh Open Champion
Stephen O Shea
Julie Thompson Singles winner 1998
Garrett Barry Champion 2004
Gillian Norris Champion
Junior Club under John's Guidance recieves Gold Club Mark Award
President of Irvinestown , On Behalf of the Club
Ulster & Ireland John & Sinead meet the President
Stephen & Eilis Champions 2005
Winners at Tyrone Chips 2005
Mixed Team 2005 Junior trip to Wimbledon Cueing
Michael Wins Enniskillen John wins Enniskillen triple with Eilis
& Michael
Eimear Achieves Alexis 2006 Champion
Triple Open 2006 Kerry 2007 Champion
Matthew Mc Gann 2006 Singles Champion
Francis & Kerry 2007 Champions 2007
Many more to come
