Did You Know?

1609  "Real Tennis" was first played in Thomas St in Dublin.  Until lawn tennis arrived it was simply known as tennis, one source credited an Irish player as first using "Real" (in 1890s) to distinguish the difference between the two sports.

1694  A "Fives" court was built at Trinity College, Dublin.

1862  A "Rackets" court was built at Trinity College, Dublin.

1877  The first lawn tennis clubs were established in Ireland.  These were Lansdowne, Trinity College, Limerick, Monkstown (Dublin) and Fitzwilliam.  The first 'open' lawn tennis tournament was played at County Limerick Cricket Club.

1879  The first Lawn Tennis Championships of Ireland commenced, organised by Fitzwilliam LTC, Dublin.

1890  The "Real Tennis" World Championships were held at Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin.

1896  At the first modern Olympics in Athens, John Pius Boland from Dublin won the lawn tennis gold medals, singles and doubles.

1899  The Badminton Union of Ireland was founded.

1900  The Croquet Association of Ireland founded.  It might be noted that when lawn tennis first arrived in Ireland it was played on croquet lawns.

1902  The Dublin Lawn Tennis Council founded.  This organisation would eventually run probably the biggest tennis leagues anywhere.

1908  The Irish Lawn Tennis Association was founded.

1922  Belfast Lawn Tennis Council established.

1927  Provincial branches were formed in Leinster, Munster and Ulster.

1932  The first Squash Rackets Championships of Ireland were held.

1933  Connacht branch established.  Connacht's interests were dealt with under the Leinster branch umbrella from 1927.

1937  Irish Table Tennis Association formed.

1939  The Earl of Iveagh leaves the world famous black marble real tennis court at Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin to the nation.

1979  Founding of the Racquetball Association of Ireland.

1990  Tennis Ireland becomes the new name for the Irish Lawn Tennis Association.

1993  Irish Squash founded.

1998  The Irish Real Tennis Association founded.