Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club

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Coordinates: 53°19′40″N 06°14′56″W / 53.32778°N 6.24889°W / 53.32778; -6.24889
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Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club
Formation1877 (1877)
TypePrivate Members Club
Location
Coordinates53°19′40″N 06°14′56″W / 53.32778°N 6.24889°W / 53.32778; -6.24889
Region served
Dublin
Official language
English
WebsiteOfficial website

Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club is a tennis and squash club in south Dublin, Ireland. Established in 1877, Fitzwilliam is one of the oldest tennis clubs in the world.[1] It has held the Irish Open annually since the late 19th century.

History[edit]

Tennis at Fitzwilliam Square in 1903.

In November 1877 ten men met to found the Dublin Lawn Tennis Club.[2] This club was to initially consist of 30 members each paying an annual subscription of three pounds.[3] They next met on 23 November 1877 and discussed leasing grounds in Upper Pembroke Street near to Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin, Ireland owned by Sir Francis Brady a judge on a lease of ten years for a rent of twenty five pounds per year.[4] On 6 December 1877 another meeting was convened and the committee assembled and agreed to adopt the name Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club as recommended by one of its members.[5] In 1879 the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club staged its first Irish Lawn Tennis Championships at Wilton Square which remained the host location of that event until 1903.[6]

In 1880 the club had reached the point where there was not enough room for expansion at its current location.[7] The club therefore purchased available land at Wilton Place and a building No. 6 Wilton Place that was converted to serve as the club's premises, in addition tennis courts were also constructed.[8] In 1902 the club decided to build a pavilion at the club grounds which was financed through the sale of No 6 Wilton Place.[9]

In 1903 the Irish Championships venue was moved from Fitzwilliam Square to Wilton Place.[10]

Appian Way[edit]

In 1969 the members of Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club met to discuss a move to a site at Appian Way, Dublin which was concluded that year.[11] During the move the club replaced a Victorian building named Epworth Hall (previously Winton House), which was sold by Wesley College Dublin.[12][13][14][15] The Irish Open Tennis Championships continued to be played at Wilton Place until 1972,[16] when they moved to the new venue at Appian Way, Dublin 6.[17]

Famous visitors to the club have included Princess Grace of Monaco in 1965.[18]

Current tournaments[edit]

  • AIG Irish Open Championships (2017–present).[19][20]

Former tournaments[edit]

The Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club has organised many notable tournaments throughout the years.

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Fitzwilliam tennis club elects first woman president in 140 years". irishtimes.com. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  2. ^ "About". www.fltc.ie. Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club. 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  3. ^ Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club
  4. ^ Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club
  5. ^ Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club
  6. ^ Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club
  7. ^ Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club
  8. ^ "6 Wilton Place, Dublin 2, DUBLIN". Buildings of Ireland. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  9. ^ Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club
  10. ^ Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club
  11. ^ Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club
  12. ^ Curtis, Maurice (7 August 2017). The Little Book of Ranelagh. History Press. ISBN 9780750985123. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  13. ^ "Wesley College Dublin - History". www.wesleycollege.ie. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  14. ^ "CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, WINTON ROAD, EPWORTH HALL (FORMERLY TULLAMAINE) Dictionary of Irish Architects -". www.dia.ie. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  15. ^ "1870s – Epworth Hall, Winton Rd., Ballsbridge, Dublin". Archiseek - Irish Architecture. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  16. ^ Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club
  17. ^ Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club
  18. ^ "Princess Grace of Monaco at 1965 the Irish Open Tennis Championship | Irish Photo Archive". www.irishphotoarchive.ie. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  19. ^ "M25 Dublin: AIG Irish Open". www.itftennis.com. International Tennis Federation. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  20. ^ "AIG To Sponsor Irish Tennis Open". sportforbusiness.com. Sport for Business. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  21. ^ "Dublin University Review". Dublin University Review. 1 (1–6). Dublin: Dublin University: 181. December 1885. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  22. ^ Dublin University Review
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