This article is from page 2 of the 2008-02-26 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
can confirm that Ennis Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club, which occupies a prestigious and valuable site overlooking the River Fergus, has been approached by a developer, with a view to buy.
Niall Kelly, Chairman of Ennis Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club, which is located off the Mill Road, Stressed, ““We don’t have a ‘for sale’ sign on our club, but we are open to approaches and will listen.”
However, while confirming the ap- proach and subsequent meetings with an unnamed developer he added, ‘No decision has been made. We had a conversation and we listened and reported back to the club’s manage- ment and trustees.”
At the club’s 2007 AGM, a decision was taken to establish a development sub-committee.
According to Niall Kelly, “We see ourselves as wanting to provide qual- ity facilities for our members and as such we have developed a programme of phased improvements.”
Asked if those improvements could
involve the sale of the club in favour of a green field site elsewhere in town, plus a cash deal, much like that struck by the GAA with Cusack Park, Niall said, “We haven’t ruled any- thing out, or anything in, at present. We are happy where we are. We have a very contented membership and a great level of volunteerism.
“Our main objective is to ensure an environment that is as comfort- able as possible for our membership. We have given ourselves a year to progress the options that are there, and we intend to explore all op- aloe
He re-iterated, ““We are not closed to listening to people, we are open to suggestions, but as said we don’t have a ‘for sale’ sign on our club.”
Ennis Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club currently has over 400 mem- bers and facilities include five state- of-the-art, all-weather, floodlit tennis courts with full-length international size run-back, plus two sprung cham- pionship badminton courts, a bar and lounge area, ladies and gents chang- ing rooms with full shower facilities and ample car parking spaces.
The club, which sits on a scenic riv- erside site, was established in 1893.