125th anniversary of Galway Lawn Tennis : Join us for a special celebration! On Monday, 19th May 2025, from 12–3pm, we’re marking a major milestone — the 125th anniversary of Galway Lawn Tennis & Sports Club!
To celebrate, Galway Lawn Tennis Club has teamed up with two incredible local charities — Croí, the West of Ireland Cardiac Foundation, and the RNLI — for an afternoon of tea, chats, and great music.
We are delighted to support these two great causes, join Ronan Lardner on The Live Wire, broadcasting live from the club on Monday 19th 12 -3pm
Whether you're a long-time member or just passing by, pop in and be part of the celebrations. We'd love to see you there!
History of Galway Lawn Tennis Club - “Together, we can do it better.”
As the 125th Year of the Galway Lawn Tennis Club and Sports Club is celebrated, it's time tp reflect on the last one and a quarter centuries.
The location is Threadneedle Road, on the city’s west side, looking out over Galway Bay. The club gathering was on the 19th May 1900, where a meeting of minds at the Royal Hotel, Eyre Square, a new and rather exclusive club of was formed called the “ The Galway Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club” was formed, where William Perrse was the acting chairperson and membership was by invitation only.
This club's members were the landed gentry of the day, with family names of Waithman, Paler, Redington, Hempill, Blake and Lynch. A founder member, Sir Noel Galway-Holmes, went on to become a major General in the British army and play in the Davis Cup tennis for Ireland in 1929. It is understood that tennis was played in Eyre Square in 1900. The subcommittee was forced to find a new home for the tennis club in 1901, and so located to Treadneedle Road, where it still is today.
Through it's history, one can not ignore the “3rd July 1920. On this day “The tennis pavilion burned to the ground and the courts were “dug up”, (Connaught Tribune)- and its facilities destroyed. The 1920's also brought a rebirth with a club starting working on a well-structured legal basis and a developed plans for a new pavillion.
The 1970's development at the club saw the clubhouse extended to include badminton and squash courts and the opening of a new lounge bar in 1976. In the 70s and 80s, the club had a very active disco scene in Galway with lots of love stories from meeting at the tennis club disco.
The current year 2024–2025 at Galway Lawn Tennis & Sports Club see vibrant activity across every section and a fantastic term under Club President Hazel Hendy.
The club continues to offer top-class facilities, with:
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9 tennis courts, including 4 indoor courts housed in our impressive air-rated dome
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7 badminton courts
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6 state-of-the-art, heated squash courts — the best in Connacht
The energy on court has never been stronger, with players of all ages and abilities representing Galway and Connacht across tennis, badminton, and squash — from juniors to seniors, and from casual players to top-tier competitors.
In recent years, we’ve also seen a surge in pickleball, adding to the dynamic and inclusive sporting culture of the club.
With a thriving membership of around 1,500, GLTSC is more than just a place to play — it's a vibrant community. For many, the club ritual ends not just with a match, but with a refreshing dip in the sea, now a beloved tradition for plenty of our members.
If you’re around on the 19th May, 12 to 3, drop in for a tea at the club and support these two local charities: Croi and RNLI. We will also have Galway Gay FM's lunchtime show, "The Live Wire with Ronan Lardner," a lively, music-driven show from 12 to 3.
Galway Lawn Tennis & Sports Club - “Together, we can do it better.”
