From this week’s Galway City Tribune – The return of Parks Tennis in the city this year – following the Covid hiatus – saw numbers boosted by an influx of young Ukrainians to sessions.

And the organisers are hoping that passion unlocked for tennis will continue across the year, not just around Wimbledon.

Parks Tennis is an initiative of Tennis Ireland to encourage young people to take up the game by giving them coaching in basic skills in one-hour lessons every day for a month at the reduced price of €50.

Tennis Ireland Regional Officer Olwyn O’Toole decided to secure sponsorship to allow Ukrainians children to take part for free.

The Village Salthill and the Galway City Sports Partnership came on board with funding.

As a result, there were 24 Ukranians out of the 40 people training every day in the newly upgraded tennis courts in the Westside over the past month – the biggest numbers they have ever had for the programme, exclaims tennis coach Mike Geraghty. There were four Ukrainians out of 35 playing in Knocknacarra and one of 16 in Crestwood.

“They were so happy to be there. The language wasn’t much of a barrier because you can show them what you want them to do,” he explains.
This is a shortened preview version of this story. To read the rest of the article, see the July 28 edition of the Galway City Tribune. You can support our journalism and buy a digital edition HERE.