100 years of tennis in Abbeyleix 2009 will see the club celebrate 100 years in existence. A separate committee has been formed with a view to mark the year.. A number of events have been discussed including a Grand Ball, a re-enactment of the first match played with original dress & code, and a proposal to erect a special feature using the original street lamps of Abbeyleix. A proposal for a book or booklet is now being assessed and the club would like help in getting together some history particularly pre 1980. This can be in the form of pictures, memories, paper articles, ref books, memorabilia, or passing on the word to anyone who might be interested. The committee would be delighted if you could contact Club chairperson Emily McDonald @ 085 7085153 or any committee member and share these with us. You can e-mail us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you have any information or would like to contributeThe following is the initial Committee and will be added to as we progress towards 2009Emily McDonaldKevin HutchinsonAngela PhelanBilly WhiteJJ FennellyCatherine HutchinsonGerry o HaraDonal DunneIrene BonhamBreda BroderickLiam FitzgeraldGarry Luttrell
Brief History
Abbeyleix tennis club was established in 1909 and is situated in Fr Breen Memorial Park. Below are some of the Club Milestones over those 100 years
| 1909 | Formation of Abbeyleix Lawn Tennis club with 2 grass courts on edge of Town Park what was known as Jelly's Pit A small green galvanised hut served as changing rooms |
| 1924 | 91 year lease under Trusteeship to the Community of Abbeyleix. |
| 1935 | Tennis club move into main Park area and erect a pavilion on the site of present clubhouse. |
| 1950's | One of the best known clubs in Midlands with players coming from Carlow, Kilkenny , Naas & Tipperary fro August Bank Holiday Tournaments. |
| 1960's | Decline in membership with previously well supported Open Tournaments reverting to an u-18 competition. By end of decade clubhouse became derelict and ceased to function. |
| 1973 | An attempt to re-vitalise club was made with the laying of a hard court beside the pavilion and the renovation of the pavilion. |
| 1970's. | Again by end of decade the club was again in decline with falling interest resulting in no tennis club in Abbeyleix. |
| 1981 | Creation of Fr Breen Development Committee in Park. |
| 1982 | Abbeyleix tennis club re-established with firm foundations for future development. |
| 1982/1983 | Formation of Laois league |
| 1983 | Two Hard Courts laid (no. 1 & 3) with perimeter fencing at a cost of over £7,000, Creation of gate & fence at Vicarage end of park |
| 1984 | Completion of Park Hall to facilitate needs of Clubs using Park. |
| 1985 | Resurface Court no 2 and renovate kitchen in hall. |
| 1986 | Court no. 4 laid at cost of almost £7,5000. |
| 1988 | Install Floodlighting on Court 1 & 2 |
| 1989 | Subdivision of current Clubhouse between GAA, Soccer Club & Tennis at a cost of over £5,500. |
| Tennis Clubhouse officially opened by the Late Kathleen McCoy. | |
| 1991 | Fence & develop new entrance to Park off Mountrath Rd. |
| ???? | Resurface Courts 1, 2 & 3.Install lights on Court 3. |
| ???? | Paint courts - first move from traditional grey Tarmacadam. |
| 1995 | Install heating in Clubhouse & re-decorate |
| 1997 | Re-align court 4 with new painted surface. Erect Floodlighting. |
| 1998 | Erect new Practice area with 9 ft Ball-stop wall. |
| 1998 | First major Lotto application for funding. No money allocated. |
| 1999 | Celebrating 90th Anniversary on 21st August. |
| 2000 | First success with Lotto Application with granting of £20,000 |
| 2001 | Installation of 3 new Edel Grass Courts. |
| Official opening by Sports Minister Jim McDaid | |
| 2002 | Further lotto success through Park Development sees court 4 also laid with synthetic Grass Court. |
| 2003 | Fencing off of play area at end of Court 4 & replacing perimeter fencing on Court 4. |
| 2004 | Already this year we have replaced lighting on Court 3 & 4. |
| 2004 | Replace wire along by Court 3 & 4 at soccer side |
| . | |
| 2005 | Construction of a perimeter stone wall at rectory entrance to Park along by Court 3 & 4. |
| 2006 | Construct a block wall along by Court 1 & 2 & 3 at Vesey Close side and stone face same |
| 2006 | Replace wiring along by Court 1 & 2 by soccer club side |
| 2007 | Refurbish & extend existing Clubhouse in conjunction with other clubs to include upstairs area & veranda. |
| 2007 | Replace lighting on Court 3 & 4 to bring into line with standard of Court 1 & 2. |
