Taoiseach serves up a memorable opening for Cork tennis club's new courts

Taoiseach Micheál Martin joined Bishopstown Lawn Tennis Club (BLTC) to celebrate the opening of six new tennis courts at the finals day of their 2025 Senior Open.

The six courts were completed thanks to grant funding from the Government’s sports capital grant. The club received €150,000 in 2020 and €162,000 in 2023, as well as €14,000 from Cork City Council in 2024 and 2025.

The volunteer-run club has seen a boom in membership as more people opted to take up tennis over the last few years.

On Saturday, the Taoiseach cut the ribbon on the new courts and presented prizes to the winners of some of the competitions in the Open tournament, a major competition held at the club where members from clubs all over Cork compete in competitions throughout the grades.

This year, the Open saw hundreds of players compete in 260 matches. It was sponsored by Inspire Credit Union with additional support from Citygate Dental, Firgrove Pharmacy, Dan Horan physio, Laser Medical, Healy Communications, D&B Electrical, Callanan Surveyors, Midleton Dental Care, and O’Grady Civils.

Mr Martin said it was an honour to officially open the courts “on such a momentous day for the club”.

“It is clear that the club is continuing to thrive with a growing membership and these new courts, brought about with the help of the Government’s Sports Capital Grant, will ensure that all players will have access to top-class facilities in the Bishopstown area,” said Mr Martin.

Club chairman Barry Nagle said they were delighted to welcome the Taoiseach and were “thrilled with the funding we have received from the Government’s Sports Capital and Equipment Programme”.