Programme lets all 'Enjoy Tennis' at Cork's Carrigaline club

Enjoy Tennis is Tennis Ireland’s dedicated programme for players with a disability. It was established in 2015, with the aim of providing fun, safe and supportive environments to learn and play tennis.

The initiative collaborates with players, clubs, coaches, service providers and advocacy groups to provide an accessible and inclusive environment for people of all abilities to play the sport.

There are now more than 85 Enjoy Tennis locations across the island of Ireland with more than 1,300 players.

Enjoy Tennis caters for a wide cohort of people including those with an intellectual disability, autistic and neurodivergent people, wheelchair users, blind and/or visually impaired people, and deaf and/or hard of hearing people.

Founded in 2022 the Carrigaline Enjoy Tennis initiative has been going from strength to strength at Carrigaline Tennis Club.

The club has achieved Tennis Ireland Clubmark accreditation at Gold Level, meaning it meets essential standards across various areas including facilities, organisation, management, safety, child welfare, player development and outreach programmes.

Spokesperson Alan Kelly said the inspiration behind the Carrigaline Enjoy Tennis classes was provided by one of their most popular supporters, Robert Mc Dermott

“When he told us he wanted to play tennis himself, with his own friends, we knew we had to do something. Since starting the classes he is delighted that his backhand is now better than his mum’s,” said Mr Kelly.

“Our programme coordinator, Maria O’Reilly, reached out to Liz Clifford in Munster Tennis, and together with unwavering support from our club, the programme has been a huge success.

“Funding has been provided from Tennis Ireland’s Sport for all Disability Fund, which has allowed us provide coaching and fun equipment for the classes, and we have also gratefully received community grants from local companies ThermoFisher and Viatris.

The Enjoy Tennis classes kicked off in September 2022, when coach Paul Fitzgerald (Fitzy) took on a group from Cope on Wednesday mornings. That class is ongoing, and there is also a Saturday morning group, pictured above, first run by Karen Holmes, and then handed over to Alan Kelly and his many volunteers.

“Karen, mum of Liam who plays on Saturday mornings, has told us that Liam looks forward to playing every week and to the banter with the coaches and his friends,” said Mr Kelly.

“She is delighted that he is learning a skill that is beneficial to his overall fitness, coordination and concentration, and is appreciative of the lengths Carrigaline Tennis Club has gone to in setting up the classes.”

For information about the initiative and how to get involved, visit the Tennis Ireland website or contact Carrigaline Tennis club.