On Sunday, May 11th, at Castleknock Lawn Tennis Club, Tennis Ireland proudly launched our new Para-Standing Tennis Programme, marking an exciting step forward for the sport.
The event brought together players, coaches, and advocates from across Ireland and the UK to celebrate this important milestone. UK para-standing athletes Georgia Routledge and Ross Cudmore joined Irish players David Murphy and Michael Beglan for a day of inspiring play, powerful words, and community connection.
There was a real buzz courtside, with Ross Cudmore leading a coaching session and all four players showcasing the sport through a fast-paced demonstration match. “It’s all about giving people a pathway to compete,” Ross said. “This is just the beginning.”
The event also featured short speeches from key figures driving inclusion in Irish tennis. Kevin Quinn, CEO of Tennis Ireland, spoke of “creating lasting change through action.” President Letty Lucas highlighted the importance of visibility: “When players see themselves reflected, they believe they belong.” Aoife O’Sullivan, Diversity & Inclusion Officer, added: “Sport should adapt to people—not the other way around.” And Liam O’Donohue, founder of Enjoy Tennis, shared his delight in seeing the game open up further: “It’s amazing what can happen when we say yes.”
The energy, skill, and camaraderie on show made it clear: para-standing tennis has found its place in Ireland—and it’s only going to grow from here.
Many thanks to John Foley, Sport Ireland Chairperson, Cllr Brian McDonagh, Mayor of Fingal, Gwen O’Looney and her team at DLR, Lisa Halpenny and the team at Castleknock Lawn Tennis Club, Sport Narrative, local LSPs and of course our fantastic team led by Aileen Rogan & Aoife O’Sullivan.
📸 Scroll through the gallery below to relive some of the standout moments from a very special day on court.
