27/08/2026
As progress continues swiftly on the refurbishment of the Pavillion/clubhouse we thought we would share a small bit of history of the Pavillion with you all.
We would love to hear your stories and memories of the Pavillion from years gone by in the comments.
Boyle Community Tennis Club [Founded 1934]
A Brief History of the Pavilion
Boyle Tennis Club had its origins in the local Boyle Catholic Club which had been founded in 1914. At a meeting of this club in December 1934, it was decided that constructing tennis courts would attract more members. J.P.Dodd had been a founding member of the club twenty years earlier. He was at this meeting, as were Rev. P.J. Hannon, C.C., Mr. C. E. Callan, Mr. H. J. Feely, Mr. H. Keaney, Mr. P. J. Hobin and Mr. J. Sheahen. Within a year, two tennis hard courts were built, financed by a church loan.
Fundraising for a pavilion was immediate. Activities to raise money included a Jumble sale (£9- 12-6), Cinematic performances (£19), a Sweep on Derby Day (£33-16-0) (repeated in later years) aswell a dance in the Princess Hotel. A tender of £163 received from Mr. J. Downes was accepted and the pavilion was built in 1937. The cost of the building had been raised before it was built, such was the determination of the committee at the time. Later, an attractive veranda was added to the river side of the pavilion.
Dances, or hops as they were later called (in the 1950s and 1960s), were a regular source of income. These were held in the Pavilion. Entry was by invitation only and everybody knew everybody. Bands such as the Crystal Dance Band, the Blue Rockets, the Rockingham Trio (obviously a local group with that name) and the Jivenaires played at the Pavilion. An annual Tennis Dance was held in St. Patrick’s Hall and later in St. Joseph's Hall. Back in 1942 a £25 piano was bought and placed in the Pavilion; players Austin Ahern and Roger Gray were more than capable at tickling the ivory on organised or impromptu occasions.
The 1961 storm 'Debbie' destroyed much of the Pavilion. Valiant efforts were made to repair it but eventually a new Pavilion was completed in 1970, funded by a loan from the Diocesan Trust. Whist drives and a weekly draw enabled the debt to be paid off in a few years. The main building of the Catholic Club was used less and less and membership declined. In 1979, the premises, including the tennis courts and pavilion, were sold to the Boyle GAA club. It became known as the GAA Social Centre.
For the next twenty years, the club was in a state of flux, fund raising to improve facilities, a change of agreement with the new owners, a manufacturing company occupying the Pavilion, a successful Streets League (1993) and eventually the purchase of the tennis club facilities by the members. In 1997 the club was renamed to what we know it as today “Boyle Community Tennis Association”
Further upgrades to the Pavilion have since been carried out over the past number of years, including new bathroom facilities, structural repair works and a new kitchen to name but a few.
It has recently been the venue of our Club Christmas Party nights, Club BBQs for on our Competition Finals days, “Tennis Birthday Parties” for some of our junior members, cinema nights, Boyle Arts Festival Events and is always a much-loved meeting spot for a chat between matches on our Social Tennis evenings/mornings and competition days. It is safe to say this building is still very much “alive” and has stood the test of time.
It was very important to the committee that this Iconic building continue its legacy to serve, not just Boyle Community Tennis Club, but Boyle as a whole, with various other clubs and organisations using the building down through the years.
We are thrilled that the works currently being carried out will not only add to the history of the Pavilion but will ensure that future generations will make new memories in this building and add to its rich history in our town.
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