Visually impaired tennis programme is a smash hit at Douglas

There was a fabulous afternoon of enjoyable tennis in the sunshine last weekend for children taking part in the visually impaired tennis programme at Douglas Lawn Tennis Club.

The initiative recently celebrated its one year anniversary, having been established in March last year to cater to children who are blind or who are visually impaired, offering them an opportunity to remain involved or become involved in sport.

And the kids just love it!

“Bringing them here is a joy,” said one of the parents looking on. 

Douglas Lawn Tennis Club became involved soon after club president Marc Khalifa attended an Enjoy Tennis webinar on disability in tennis.

“There was a lady who spoke at the webinar, who is visually impaired herself, about how she became involved in the visually impaired adult programme having started to lose her sight as a young adult studying at UCC.

“She spoke about the lack of sporting opportunities for those who are visually impaired, about how they can feel excluded, and it struck a chord with me,” said Marc.

“I always wanted to do something for people with a disability and here was a great opportunity to do so. I brought the idea of the programme to the club committee and they unanimously agreed that we should do it.

“With help from Liz Clifford of Munster Tennis, Vision Sports Ireland, and Cork Sports Partnership, we undertook some training, purchased the special rattle balls which was supported by a grant from Tennis Ireland, and got the programme up-and-running.”

And one of the club’s tennis coaches, Aidan Cotter, stepped up and undertook a training programme that would quality him to be able to coach the children.

Next up was to put a call out for children who wanted to attend, and there were many who took up the opportunity, some coming great distances for their twice-monthly coaching sessions, and fun day.

And with it being outdoors poor weather can be a problem, so there were some weeks when the programme was impacted by the weather, and the kids badly missed it.

So the club approached Douglas Community School about the use of its sports hall on those rainy or windy days, “and they graciously offered the use of their hall whenever we need it”, added Marc.

At last Saturday’s event, one of the mums attending the programme, Louise Wallace, presented a cheque to club president Marc, which had been donated by her employers the ESB after she submitted a request that it consider this programme to be one of its donation programme beneficiaries.

And it was clear looking at the kids playing and having fun at the club last weekend that the programme is a success, and everybody is enjoying it, kids and adults alike.

Coach Aidan says: “It’s the best hour of my week, I love it.

“When I go home to my own kids, they remark that ‘you must have been at the visually impaired tennis today, because you’re in great form’!”

One person missing from the coaching last weekend was Shane Crotty, one of the original gang, who is already now playing with the Irish visually impaired tennis team, and attends weekend training sessions in Dublin and Killaloe in Clare.

Having an indoor court means training can go on all year round, and Shane is quickly advancing.

Maria McClenahan speaks highly of the programme at Douglas Lawn Tennis Club, having brought Shane along every second week to the sessions for close to a year, saying it made a big difference to Shane. Being with the Irish team is making a big difference to Shane also, since Maria started bringing him there a number of months ago.

“All the long journeys are paying off, he just loves it.”

On that same Saturday he had just finished a coaching session, and Maria says “he is like a totally different boy now”.

“He always wanted to play sports for Ireland and it was always going to be hard for him because of his restricted vision,” says Maria.

“There was little or nothing in Cork. He plays with Mike Warren in Fountainstown and we could see he was good, so we started to look for ways that he could advance, and for services. We got on to Vision Ireland and through them we got on to Marc and joined up to the programme in Douglas.

“It was life-changing, it felt like a dream come true. We had been calling for it for so long and never expected it to happen.”

“Shane loves it at Douglas Lawn Tennis Club, this has been huge, and a big thank you to Douglas Lawn Tennis Club and to Douglas Community School. Thanks to all those who supported us, people are taking us seriously now.”

“To all at the club and to all the volunteers, thank you very much.”

Now Shane is playing against the best in Europe, and his coach Wesley O’Brien at Killaloe (himself originally from Rathcormac) is delighted with his progress.

“One thing that impresses me about Shane is that he never gives up. He’s a hell of a fighter. I’ve worked with a lot of players down the years and I can see how much he wants it. And it will come his way. 

“Lovely lad,” adds Wesley.

If you would like to know more about the visually impaired tennis programme at Douglas Lawn Tennis Club you can get details by emailing tennisdouglas@gmail.com.