 | |
| Formation | 1877 |
|---|---|
| Type | Private Members Club |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 53°19′40″N 06°14′56″W / 53.32778°N 6.24889°W |
Region served | Dublin |
Official language | English |
| Website | Official website |
Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club is a tennis and squash club in south Dublin, Ireland. Established in 1877, Fitzwilliam is one of the oldest tennis clubs in the world.[1] It has held the Irish Open annually since the late 19th century.
In November 1877 ten men met to found the Dublin Lawn Tennis Club.[2] This club was to initially consist of 30 members each paying an annual subscription of three pounds.[3] They next met on 23 November 1877 and discussed leasing grounds in Upper Pembroke Street near to Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin, Ireland owned by Sir Francis Brady a judge on a lease of ten years for a rent of twenty five pounds per year.[4] On 6 December 1877 another meeting was convened and the committee assembled and agreed to adopt the name Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club as recommended by one of its members.[5] In 1879 the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club staged its first Irish Lawn Tennis Championships at Wilton Square which remained the host location of that event until 1903.[6]
In 1880 the club had reached the point where there was not enough room for expansion at its current location.[7] The club therefore purchased available land at Wilton Place and a building No. 6 Wilton Place that was converted to serve as the club's premises, in addition tennis courts were also constructed.[8] In 1902 the club decided to build a pavilion at the club grounds which was financed through the sale of No 6 Wilton Place.[9]
In 1903 the Irish Championships venue was moved from Fitzwilliam Square to Wilton Place.[10]
In 1969 the members of Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club met to discuss a move to a site at Appian Way, Dublin which was concluded that year.[11] During the move the club replaced a Victorian building named Epworth Hall (previously Winton House), which was sold by Wesley College Dublin.[12][13][14][15] The Irish Open Tennis Championships continued to be played at Wilton Place until 1972,[16] when they moved to the new venue at Appian Way, Dublin 6.[17]
Famous visitors to the club have included Princess Grace of Monaco in 1965.[18]
The Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club has organised many notable tournaments throughout the years.
