Fergal Browne
While tennis in Ireland has roots stretching back to medieval times, the modern boom came in the late 19th century, when lawn tennis swept across Ireland’s ‘gentry’ class leading to the establishment of the Irish Championships at Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in 1879—just two years after Wimbledon.
Elizabeth Meade, of Ballymartle House, was active in Kinsale society, and in her diary for the year 1884, she mentions playing tennis regularly, starting in May of that year. Each of the ‘Big Houses’ had their own tennis court, and Elizabeth mentions playing at Ballymartle with the family of the Rector of Ballymartle – Llewellyan Nash, and with Captain and Mrs London. They played most days during the summer apart from on Sundays, which were strictly reserved for church going. The tennis courts were grass, Elizabeth describes mowing the Ballymartle House ‘tennis ground’ herself, with help from her mother.
Kinsale Tennis Club Hut (1899) from a photo taken by Captain Thomas Walker R.N.
Tennis parties were also held at different houses, Elizabeth mentions attending events at Ballinaboy House near Ballinhassig – from which her brother didn’t return until 2am and at Timoleague Castle – an event she described as ‘a very stupid affair’. Occasionally visits were further afield, including to Glenbrook Lawn Tennis Club or to Innishannon. She describes a two-day tennis tournament played at Innishannon, starting on 31st July 1884 where ‘Hattie and Addie Nash were beaten in the Ladies and Gentlemen’s handicap doubles.’
Elizabeth also refers to the Kinsale Tennis Club, of which the family were members, although the biggest issue with attending was getting to Kinsale from Ballymartle. Her brothers Dick (later known as Major Meade), and Adam sometimes walked to Kinsale and if they were lucky, hitched a lift home from a neighbour such as the Nashes. The military garrisoned in Kinsale were leading members of the club, on 18th August she records being at the club and that ‘the Ramsays were there bidding farewell to everyone as the 23rd Regiment leave for Dublin on Saturday’. The club was as much about socialising as well as playing – on August 25th Elizabeth wrote ‘The Nash’s took me to the Tennis Club this afternoon, a good many people there, Mrs Pratt gave the tea, I was not home until a quarter to nine’. On every Tuesday, it fell to a different lady member to provide the tea.
The most vivid reference comes from Lennox Robinson’s memoir Three Homes, which recalls attending Kinsale Tennis Club in the 1890s, as a child. Membership of Kinsale Tennis Club was strictly restricted at the time to the gentry.
‘We had four excellent courts absolutely at our disposal unimpeded by the claims of adults…till about three o’clock, when the grown-ups began to appear and gradually elbowed us off. Thereafter for two or three hours we did not get much play, but from half-past six onwards our elders began to move homewards for their dinners and we came into our own again and played till daylight failed’.
Robinson also described the presence of Rev. Llewellyn Nash, Rector of Ballymartle, as a regular player. While Nash was “by no means a bad player,” his age made him a little slow, and he became famous for wearing a peculiar black straw hat during matches. Hitting that hat with the ball became a playful challenge among players, often overshadowing the actual game.
Robinson described the different type of players, including one lady ‘who was dead keen on winning and, providing things were going well, even her most cutting comments [to her partners] did not really touch the quick. If, however, things began to go seriously wrong she lost her temper, her hair began to come down, and her tongue seared like hot iron!’
Following Irish Independence in 1922, the departure of the British Garrison and the burning of many public buildings during the Civil War, the gentry of the town declined. A new tennis club was founded in the 1920’s and new grounds were opened in June 1927 by the President of the new club – Eamon O’Neill. They stood close to the site of the ruins of Kinsale Military Barracks, which had been burned in 1922. The new tennis courts begun by hosting an exhibition double by members of the Sundays Well Club. The courts were open daily, and visitors to the town were welcome to play, something that would have been unthinkable in the days of the old Kinsale Tennis Club.
Prominent members of the club included Rosa Acton, J.P. Murphy, Rev Bryan Gilliland and Dorothy Jagoe. Kinsale members were often winners at other tournaments including Bandon and Cork City. The club also employed a full time groundsman, and held an annual social each year in the Municipal Hall. It was said during the 1940’s that Kinsale Tennis Club was one of the most active and popular in the County, with sometimes more than 100 entrants appearing at its open tournaments. Down the road from the club Mrs Deasy gave open house to tennis players while Katie O’Sullivan made industrial quantities of tea in gallon size teapots in her farmhouse kitchen.
After the ‘Emergency Years’, the club began to decline – and in 1959 a meeting was held to decide whether it should continue to operate. Many responses had been received from a circular issued asking for new members and wider patronage so it was agreed to continue. Harry Acton was elected as a new Vice President to replace Mr. Delany of the Munster & Leinster Bank, who was leaving the town. The courts were also in poor condition, and one of the proposals put to the West Cork Development Committee in 1960 was their revival. However, they later became part of the Kire Industrial complex. The club seems to have expired soon after this as in 1968 a meeting was held to form a new lawn tennis club with Frank Hurley as its chair. The club was able to avail of the newly laid out ‘hard’ courts at the Convent of Mercy. Fees were agreed at £2 per individual and £3 per family. It is unclear how long the club lasted in this iteration as in 1976 the Southern Star was referring to the ‘recently formed Kinsale Tennis Club‘ being formally opened at the hard courts at Winters Hill which were being leased from the Convent.
Lawn tennis at a country house near Kinsale, 1930’s. Photo courtesy of the late Eithne Robertson
The present-day Kinsale Tennis Club (KTC) was formally established in 1985 as a community-based, not-for-profit organization. Its founding was driven by Jim Good and Bill Taylor, who recognized growing demand for tennis facilities in the area.
Its founding was driven by Jim Good and Bill Taylor, who recognized growing demand for tennis facilities in the area. A joint effort between the new Tennis Club and Kinsale Rugby club lead to the development of a new sports complex at Snugmore with £27,000 being raised through voluntary contributions. The Rugby club provided the land for the new courts, with construction being carried out by Michael Murphy Plant hire. Elanco (now Eli Lilly), Dunderrow provided funding for a third court. The 1990’s saw the development of a substantial junior club, largely thanks to the efforts of the late Nora-May Wycherley. The author has at this point to acknowledge her patience and that of the other members of the junior tennis club at that time, for his terrible tennis skills whilst briefly a member there!
In 1996 the clubhouse was destroyed by fire and was rebuilt as a modern facility. In 2000 the courts were expanded to 5 floodlit Savannah all weather courts. Following the sad passing of Nora-May Wycherley, a dedicated junior court and practice wall were donated in her memory. The club continues to expand, with major refurbishment projects carried out in 2020-2021. Far from being an exclusive sport solely for the town and country gentry, Kinsale Tennis Club is now an invaluable asset to the wider community.