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Well, it's all over for another year. What a couple of weeks! This year we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the inaugural Inter Firms Tournament and to celebrate the event the Tournaments Committee went all out to make it the best tournament ever.
Over the course of the two weeks there were 164 teams entered into 5 divisions from premier to beginner, a total of 656 players, not including subs, that played. This was up substantially on previous years and presented the organisers with a mammoth logistical task of ensuring that all games took place as scheduled. Special mention is due to Michelle Kirby, Phyllis Furlong, Thomas Walsh, Daniel Laura, Denis O'Shea and Tony Whelan who put in a mammoth effort over the two weeks to make sure everything ran like clockwork....and to be fair to them, it did!
One of the highlights this year was the quality of the food that Margaret McGrath of The Pantry prepared for us. Not only was the food delicious and very reasonably priced, it was always prepared with a big smile! No request was too big so to Margaret and her team, "Well Done" on a job very well done. Behind the scenes organising it all was Carmel Jacob - where would we be without Carmel? - we don't know how lucky we are to have someone like her. In addition to organising all the helpers for the kitchen Carmel herself must have worked at least 7 of the 14 days....and for anyone who has done it, that is no mean feat! Thank you Carmel for your dedication to the cause!
As this year was the 25th anniversary of the Inter Firms to celebrate the occasion the committee decided a few months ago to purchase new silver perpetual cups and plates for the winners of each of the competitions. They also decided that each of the cups should be named after members of the club who have contributed great service to the development of the club over the last sixty years.
The people to be honoured very kindly agreed to come along to present the trophies to the inaugural winners of the events. The trophies presented for the first time were:
The McCarthy Cup in honour of David McCarthy
The Boyle Cup in honour of Noel & Beryl Boyle
The Foley Cup in honour of Kay Foley
The Murphy Cup in honour of Paddy & Patsy Murphy
The Shalloe Cup in honour of Jack Shalloe
At this point I would like to recognize and thank our premier sponsor Mr. Pat Cullinane and the Bank of Ireland. Pat and the Bank have been the backbone of the event for a long number of years now and I am, as always, extremely grateful to him and the bank for the great financial support that they extend to us that allows us to make the event the success that it is. Pat, On behalf of the club Thank You.
This year we have had some fantastic entertainment organised by Fidelma Connors, Richie Grant and David Dawson. We had Dylan Bible and his band, Cool Hand Luke, and the ever popular table quiz and Texas Hold 'em poker. To all our entertainment sponsors who assisted with funding this:
Ardkeen Stores
DHB Architects
Financial Engineering
Focus Visual Communications
Guildhall Construction
Heffernan Insurances
Nolan Farrell & Goff Solicitors
Tritschler, Tritschler & Associates
WLR FM
Tom Murphy Car Sales
On behalf on the club I would like to thank you all. Your support is highly valued and greatly appreciated.
Without the support of the members of the club who man the reception desk downstairs and help out in the kitchen things just wouldn't work. Their commitment this year was exceptional and is much appreciated. This is without doubt the largest tennis event in Ireland and I think everyone who helped out deserves to give themselves a big pat on the back for a job really well done because everything has been managed so well.
Finally, to the club committee - Tournaments Committee of Thomas Walsh, Daniel Laura, Dennis O'Shea and most ably led by Club Captain Phyllis Furlong, to our Entertainments Committee of Fidelma Connors, Richie Grant, David Dawson and Carmel Jacob, to the Catering Committee Phyllis Furlong and Carmel Jacob to Paddy Murphy who makes sure our facilities, courts and lights are always in tip-top condition and to the rest of club committee, Gillian Finnegan, Padraic Walsh and James Borland for doing all the jobs that need doing and to Michelle who silently marshalls everything so expertly "Well done on a job very well done". It was tough going at times but you got there in the end.
In a few weeks it will be Open Week so get those strings changed and we hope to see you back competing for further glory! |
"Don't mess with us!"
The Engine Room
Fidelma Connors, Gillian Finnegan, Phyllis Furlong & Michelle Kirby
Paddy Murphy, Beryl Boyle, David McCarthy, Kay Foley & Matt Cassin celebrating 25 Years of Inter Firms Tennis
The 25th Year Anniversay Cake
Carmel Jacob, Fidelma Connors, Phyllis Furlong, David Dawson celebrating after the presentation of prizes
New Perpetual Trophies
A Plate Winners
Sinead Foran, Thomas Walsh, Stan Leslie, Susan Murphy, Dick McCarthy, Pat Cullinane |
