Boyle Community Tennis Resurfacing Appeal

Please help us to get over the line!!

Boyle Community Tennis Club has 2 tarmacadam courts which were last resurfaced over 20 years ago. We have been awarded a Sports Capital Grant but we need to fundraise to make up the shortfall. Almost all of our planned fundraising events are not possible this year due to Covid-19 related restrictions. We are appealing for your help to get us over the line and ensure the community courts are resurfaced with a synthetic grass surface. This all weather surface will greatly enhance the facility and extend the playing season. As a token of our appreciation if €10 or more is donated you will be entered in a draw for 1 year free family membership. Thank you and please read on for more information about our club. 

Background

The History of Irish Tennis states that tennis has been played continuously in Boyle since 1887 with the first Boyle Lawn Tennis Club, (located in what is now the pleasure grounds), boasting 4 grass courts and 1 hard court!! Boyle Community Tennis Club in its current location was founded in 1934 and has been an integral part of Boyle Community life ever since, with 2 hard courts built in 1930s and a pavilion building constructed in 1937.  Boyle Tennis has had many players over the years with some recognisable names including the First President of Ireland Douglas Hyde, Minister Frank Feighan, Hollywood actor Chris O’Dowd, Cartoon Saloon’s Paul Young and many more local celebrities in between!!  Off the courts people look back with fond memories of dances, hops and live bands playing at regular social events held in the tennis club.  The club has gone through many ups and downs throughout the years, spells of both thriving and also decline. However, through a recent reinvigoration program, we are happy to say that membership numbers have grown from just a handful in 2017 to currently 166, ranging in age from 5 to retirees.


 

The club’s objective has always been to promote, encourage & facilitate the playing of tennis by the community in Boyle and the surrounding areas. It is accessible to all age ranges, has a full spectrum of benefits, (physical and mental health, developmental, social), with low level annual membership fees to encourage participation by all (Adult - €25 Junior - €20 Family - €60 Low Income Family - €50 Low Income Adult / Student - €20).  It offers social, healthy and affordable outdoor fun! The running of a very successful open day, promotion of the tennis club facilities and local national school’s tennis taster sessions resulted in increased awareness and access to the facilities for junior players. We are also happy to provide access to our facilities to local schools by arrangement.



Juniors – Our future Stars

We are extremely lucky to have Tim Clarke as our qualified tennis coach who comes to the club on a weekly basis.  The numbers attending junior tennis coaching continues to grow with over 60 juniors participating in last year’s pre-Covid19 sessions. There are successful Parks junior tennis camps run by Tim during the year, along with tournaments against other local clubs.  Tim runs a series of adult lessons for all abilities and these too are proving very popular.  A term of tennis lessons was also organised for the local Brothers of Charity which was thoroughly enjoyed by all participants.



The clubhouse building has seen huge investment through both Roscommon County Council grant aid and significant Boyle Community Tennis club funds in recent years to ensure that both the building and its facilities are now insulated, damp free, heated and wheelchair accessible. The clubhouse building and facilities are available for wider community use by interested groups, with Boyle Girl Guides (Guides, Brownies and Ladybirds) and music lessons regular weekly users (pre-Covid19).


                             
But we need help with to reach our goal……we’d “love” to hear from you

The current tarmacadam surfaces shown below are over 20 years old, worn and in need of resurfacing. It is hard on player’s joints and becomes slippery after rain, which unfortunately we have lots of!  As a result, it is unsafe to play when the courts are wet so the season is short and the facility can be idle for many weeks.  Boyle Community Tennis Association plan to resurface both courts with a synthetic grass court surface. This will be softer and safer for juniors and adults to play on and as an all-weather surface it will extend the much-needed playing hours. The resurfacing will secure the courts for future generations and enable safer year round use of the facility by the community.
                                             
…. Big news came in late November 2019 that we were successful in our Sports Capital 2018 Grant Application which will cover a large percentage of the costs of resurfacing the courts with a synthetic grass surface. Images below of the synthetic grass surface which we hope to playing on in Boyle in the near future.
                                                      
 Current Courts                                                                                          

The Future Vision!!

However, we have to bridge a gap between the grant allocation and actual costs of carrying out this work – approximately €10,000. 2020 was due to be a very important year of fundraising to enable the installation of the new synthetic court surfaces at Boyle Community Tennis Club. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, four of our planned major fundraising drives are not possible with the current government restrictions. We have already undertaken fundraising through club tournaments, new membership & ladder games and we are very grateful for the enthusiastic member participation and support. However, we cannot raise the required funds on our own and are appealing for help!!  The deadline to draw down the funds is tight and in view of the limitations of winter approaching and the current Covid restrictions, we are appealing for your support to get this vital upgrade for our community facility over the line.  Any contribution will be greatly appreciated and as an expression of our gratitude for donations we will hold a draw for all contributions over €10 with a prize of family membership for the year.  Hopefully this will mean playing tennis on pristine synthetic grass courts in Boyle for free for one lucky family next year!! And the benefits of your contributions to this cause will be enjoyed and appreciated by the members and community for many years to come.