Tennis Clubs receive generous energy grants funded by Government

Tennis Club treasurers throughout the Republic of Ireland have been smiling over recent weeks as government grants of over €361,000 hit their accounts.

The grants were paid out by Tennis Ireland under the Sports Energy Support Scheme (SESS), a scheme put in place to help clubs cope with the increase in energy costs over the Winter of 2022-2023.

As the funds were dispersed, Kevin Quinn, CEO of Tennis Ireland said:  

‘It’s a long time since Tennis in Ireland has been just a Summer, outdoor sport, so we are delighted to have been able to help our clubs cope with what was a very expensive Winter, energy-wise. We are also grateful to the Government and Sport Ireland, not just for the support, but also for having drawn everyone’s attention to this issue by initiating the scheme. Some of the amounts paid out were very substantial and make a strong case for every club to look at their energy costs and see where they can make savings or become more sustainable.’

The scheme was designed to compensate clubs for the extra cost of energy between September 1st, 2022, and March 31^st, 2023, compared to the same 7-month timeframe between 2019 and 2020, and were paid out on the basis of proven receipts.

In all, 63 Tennis clubs benefitted, with grants ranging from €221 to Kilkenny Tennis Club, to over €31,000 to St Anne’s in Waterford.

Referring to his club’s big pay-day, President of St Anne’s Waterford Tennis Club, Larry O’Brien, said: ‘To say this has made the case for us to do something about our energy infrastructure is putting it mildly. We are very proud of our club and our activity level, but this shows how much it is all costing, compared to other clubs which have managed to modernise. Our heating, glazing and insulation are old, and expensive, and it is time for change. We are already putting together a plan for a more energy efficient, sustainable future, and we are very grateful to Tennis Ireland, both for helping with that, and also for this welcome injection of cash.’

No clubs in Northern Ireland were eligible for funding under the scheme as, although tennis is an All-Ireland sport, government support for clubs there comes through Sport Northern Ireland and the Department of Communities.  

Commenting on how welcome an equivalent scheme would be, William Noteman Chairman of Ulster Branch Tennis Ireland said,  ‘We are of course delighted to see Tennis being supported in this way, and we would love to see similar support here in Northern Ireland’. 

Ends.

Notes to Editors…

The full list of grants is below, with a further provincial break-down underneath.