About

WHO WE ARE

Parks Tennis Ireland is a non-profit making company in operation for 44 years, run by 28 volunteers co-ordinators  and supported by various organizations, such as the National Governing body, Tennis Ireland, Sport Ireland, and various Local Authorities. The aim is to provide tennis at a very low cost to children not exposed to the game from all social and ethnic backgrounds, during the long Summer holidays. The total audience is over 250,000 through the distribution of application forms with over 15,600 children taking part in the programme annually. The organization also provides employment to 330 coaches and assistants in 140 venues nationwide – 32 counties.

WHAT WE DO

Provide tennis coaching at grass roots level nationwide in 140 locations during the summer holidays for girls and boys between 5 and 17 years. The major cities; Dublin and Cork  operate all year round.

OUR OBJECTIVES

To provide cost effective fun filled tennis coaching to as many children as possible from all social backgrounds especially those not exposed to the game and including those in the lower income bracket. In addition:

  • To provide a low cost fun filled activity for children during their summer holidays.
  • To remove the elitism that once was attached to tennis, making it available to all.
  • Provide beneficial inter-action between children from different backgrounds
  • Provide opportunities for children and adults to enjoy, participate & recreate through tennis.
  • Provide seasonal employment during the summer months for over 330 coaches many of which are full time qualified tennis coaches and assistants who are high standard players/students.
  • Improve the social fabric of communities by fostering Community Tennis Clubs on local authority facilities thus making it a family sport.
  • Improve the usage of tennis facilities which otherwise would be under utilized
  • Encourage established private Clubs to operate a Parks programme on their premises thus opening their facilities to the wider community including entire families, adults and children.
  • Provide full time employment outlets as tennis coaches through training young people on our City of Dublin Education & Training Board Tennis coaches’ courses.