Despite our desire for local recreational facilities, the construction of tennis courts in Meadow Vale without local consultation in 1984, led to protracted battles between the residents and Dublin County Council. The first intimation we had that something was afoot, was when bulldozers stripped the sod from Clonkeen Park, heavy lorries replaced the sod with stone chippings and macadam began to be laid on top. It took a few days to find out exactly what was happening and to get organised. To force negotiations the women of the area occupied critical points on the site and stopped the work. Then the talking could begin.
We had no objection to tennis courts per se, but they were being laid directly along the roadside opposite the houses and without any car parking facilities at all. Meetings were organised with county councillors and officials, culminating with a special Dublin County Council meeting in Council Chambers in O’Connell St where it was agreed that the courts should be moved back to the river and the existing proposed court site should be used as a car park. It was also agreed that the basketball court proposed for the back should be brought forward and placed, unfenced, on the car park. Planting between the houses and the car park was also proposed to improve the environment and to help insulate the houses from the activities.
It was also agreed that the dressing rooms should be moved back accordingly towards the river. Barry Desmond, then Labour TD and Councillor for the area, circulated plans showing the revised location. It was very important for us that the buildings should be as far back as the tennis courts because they would be a congregational focal point and the consequent noise would be a problem for the nearest residents. However when work commenced on the club house they were back up where they were originally planned and the walls were shoulder high before we succeeded in stopping it. After protracted negotiations, culminating with a special Co. Council meeting on site it was agreed that one dressing room only should be lopped off the end nearest the houses. We lost out on the compromise
In 1986 when the development was completed the county council approached the secretary of the residents association, Margaret O’Kane. 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 has had its ups and downs. A Co. Council imposed restriction on membership catchment area caused major problems. But 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.
While we fought many battles with the county council, their 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.
