A new modular clubhouse being lifted into place earlier this month beside new clay courts as part of Athlone Tennis Club's new complex beside Athlone Regional Sports Centre. It is set to open on December 15. Photo: Tennis Ireland.

Athlone Tennis Club's big move to happen in over a week

Deirdre Verney

Published: Wed 6 Dec 2023, 5:19 PM

Last updated: Thu 7 Dec 2023, 10:38 AM

December 15 next is set to a momentous day in the history of Athlone Tennis Club, as it relocates to a new home beside Athlone Regional Sports Centre (RSC), just off the Ballymahon Road roundabout.

While members are only moving around the corner from their current home in the grounds of Athlone GAA club, the complex they are going to is state-of-the-art and they will enjoy facilities which are sure to be the envy of many clubs across the region.

Phase one of club's new facility will introduce clay court tennis to Athlone and comprises of three adult-size tennis courts, three children's courts and a modular new clubhouse.

Pat Conway, who heads up the fundraising group and is also a member of the development team in the club, confirmed the move recently, saying: “Athlone Tennis Club is due to relocate to its new home on Friday, December 15 with the official opening in mid-January”.

He previously said the club, which has over 300 members, is fortunate to only have to move a short distance away from its previous home thanks to a 50-year lease agreed with Westmeath County Council for land beside Athlone RSC.

Investment in phase one is over half a million euro, excluding the cost of the land, and the club's ambitions don't stop there – they want to bring indoor tennis to the area and make Athlone a regional centre for the whole Midlands area in the future.

Mr Conway hopes they will get a big boost in membership as tennis comes out of the shadows and into the spotlight in its new, prominent base.

He is hugely proud that the club was able to pull off a project of such magnitude, attracting grants of more than €330,000 to Athlone from Leader, the department's Sports Capital Programme and Westmeath County Council that might not have come to the town otherwise. Added to this, the club membership raised substantial funds via a bond scheme to pay for the development.

There will more fundraising needed to fully complete phase one, Mr Conway previously indicated. For example, the club will need wind breakers surrounding the entire complex for obvious reasons, and the clubhouse will need additions like decking and a kitchen.

Athlone Tennis Club's strategic plan for the future is even more ambitious as they seek to build further courts under a dome and make the sport a 365-day pursuit irrespective of the weather in the years to come.