With our desire for local recreational facilities, the construction of tennis courts in Meadow Vale began in 1984.  In 1986 when the development was completed the county council approached the secretary of the residents association, Margaret O’Kane and asked if we would we set up a tennis club to run the courts? A public meeting was held to discuss the establishment of the club. Ray Purcell was elected chairperson, Margaret O’Kane secretary, Muriel Day treasurer and Sheila Keane membership secretary. The club was opened without fanfare; only one politician, Eamon Gilmore, turned up. But at first several hundred members joined and on occasions there was a great carnival atmosphere and immense community involvement. It was a superb achievement to have young people from different schools interacting and enjoying themselves. Margaret O’Kane was the driving force in setting up the club and her work in it’s early development will always be remembered. The club night on Thursdays soon proved a great success, with huge numbers in attendance; the coaching programme involving Joan Moloney gave a great start to younger people; in-club competitions as well as inter-club events led to continuing interest. Our ‘affordable tennis’ policy has encouraged members to join, who might otherwise have been unable to do so.

The Council staff on the ground, like Willy O’Connor and his successors worked very closely with us. With lottery and other funding, the club, located as it is in a lovely Park environment, now has flood lighting and synthetic covering on the courts and excellent car parking facilities.

The club has come a long way in twenty years. Hundreds of members, both adult and children have benefited from the courts and it is great to see so many people, young and old, continue to enjoy themselves and you can sense a special ‘buzz’ there on fine summer evenings.