MLTC Club Notices 05/03/2026
MLTC NEWSLETTER 5th March 2026
Message from the new Captains – Bill and Noreen
As we launch into our Captaincies, we are very much looking forward to an energetic, inclusive, fun-filled and competitive year of tennis ahead!
The new courts, when made available to us over the coming months, will launch us into a very exciting period including our Captains Day on 24th May (which is already in the planning) and into the Summer League, with a fresh pep in our step!
We would like to thank Colette and Dermot for the amazing work they put into last year. It was a pleasure working with you both and the knowledge you have shared with us will be invaluable for the year ahead.
We want to thank Rachael and Tim for agreeing to take on the Vice Captain roles. We are beyond thrilled to have you both on board and we are so looking forward to working together this year.
We are also so thankful to Sarah Robson in agreeing to head up the events team. Sarah’s experience makes her the ideal candidate and we are very lucky to have her. She’ll work closely with our events team of Linda Blake, Lisa Blake, Caroline Berwick, Anthea Lydon, Louise Olliver, Niamh Smythe, Miriam McManus and Aoife O’Shea.
Thank you all for joining the team!
To all MLTC members, we look forward to working with you and making 2026 a great success. Between competitive leagues, social tennis and fun events we have lots planned! We hope you all get involved to help ensure the year is successful and enjoyed by all.
Bill and Noreen
JUNIOR COACHING
Junior coaching term is due to finish this week however we will have some rained off ones the following week as advised by your coach.
🚗 Parking in the Neighbourhood
If parking in local estates please be mindful of not parking opposite another parked car so as to leave enough space for vans/ambulances/truck etc to pass.
If driving to the Club can you please allow yourselves extra time to find a safe/legal parking spot and the additional walking time to the Club.
Your cooperation helps us maintain good relationships with our neighbours – thank you.
COURT ALLOCATION DURING COURT WORKS
Please be aware that court works are due to commence Monday 16th March.
There will be more information about how courts can be booked (evenings only) and how they will be allocated closer to that date.
💙💛 BLUE & GOLD 2026
The Blue & Gold tournament continues this week (Round 3) with all to play for.
The matches this week are
• Gold Team: Home vs Shankill @ 6.30pm (early start to allow for the 6 Nations Match!!)
• Blue Team: Away to Glenageary @ 7:30pm
Again best of luck to everyone!
BLUE & GOLD BACKGROUND INFORMATION
I was subbing in for a Blue and Gold match recently when I was asked why were the teams called Blue and Gold. Well, they asked the right person as I was there from the beginning. Kevin Polley and I were the Monkstown Captains in 1994. A school friend of mine was Lady Captain in Sandycove LTC and she approached me to suggest some sort of mixed tennis. We got together and decided on the format that is, more or less, what is still happening today.
The idea was to have 2 equal teams from the same club. One team is called Blue and the other Gold. When the Blue team play away, the Gold team will be at home against the same club. A team is made up of 4 pairs of different levels. The winners from each section play off in a final. The reason for the sections being called Blue and Gold was that these were our school colours in the Sacred Heart Convent, Roscrea.
We invited local clubs to join so that no one had far to travel. It is great to see this league still running so successfully. Best of luck to the current Captains of the teams Karen Geraghty and Gus Legge.
Pat Cowley
LADIES EVENTS
LADIES WINTER LEAGUE
Round 5 of the Winter League was played last Sunday with valiant performances from all of the ladies teams and some very hard fought matches. It was a very challenging league but a huge thanks to every player who went out week after week and did their very best for the club. Many thanks also to our many subs and squad players for their flexibility and willingness to step in.
A massive thank you to our Team Captains- Julie Ryan, Jana Langford, Rachael Mullett, Pat Cowley, Noreen Cleary, Louise Olliver, Deirdre Toner and Nick Ambrose for rallying the teams each week!
A special mention should go to Deirdre Toner’s Class 6 Team who narrowly missed getting through to playoffs. Congratulations to Sinead Egan, Sarah Mitchell, Deirdre Toner, Grace Mullany, Evana Boyle and Elaine O’ Toole and subs Jo Farrelly, Breda Moffit, Genevieve Conway, Emer O’ Sullivan and Katie Legge
WEEKLY DROP-IN COACHING
Will continue on Wednesday at 7pm @ €7 per session. Please let Colette know if you would like to be added to the WhatsApp group.
WEDNESDAY LADIES MORNING
Looking forward to seeing you at tennis next Wednesday 11h March from 10am to 12.
Join us for tennis coffee and cake ☕🍰 which is being hosted by Carole Curtin.
MEN’S EVENTS
MEN’S COACHING
A reminder that men’s coaching is on every Monday at 9pm. Come along and see for yourself- improve your tennis skills and make friends. More info - contact men’s captain Bill Condon (0879669472) or Stephen O’Shea
MEN’S WINTER LEAGUE
The men’s teams did very well overall in this year’s winter league.
Huge Well Done to the 1st team who qualify for playoffs and will play this Sunday in Clontar.
Men’s 2nd team, captained by Harry Crossan, just pipped for 2nd place
Men’s 3rd team, captained by Jack Stokes, also came 3rd place in group
Men’s 4th team, captained by Ciaran Bolger, also 3rd place after a real battle against Sandycove for 2nd place!
EASTER CUP
No match for Easter Cup this week. Final match will be at home to Sandycove on Saturday 14th March.
MEN’S MORNING – Sunday Mornings
Mens morning takes place at the usual time of 10am to 12 this Sunday. Do come along for some tennis followed by a cuppa. All standards welcome!
🌙 CLUB NIGHT
Join us tonight for Club Night!
🕗 Anytime between 8:00pm – 10:00pm
Stephen will kick things off at 8:00pm with fun drills and games.
UPDATE FROM STEPHEN
Conor Gannon is currently in Monastir, Tunisia playing back - to - back tournaments.
Last week he reached his second doubles final in recent weeks and was unlucky to lose out in a match tie breaker.
Such is his commitment to Monkstown that last week, before his Quarter Final match, he lamented that he would not be able to get back to Dublin to play for the First Team in our last Winter League pool match. His good run of form is keeping him on the tournament courts.
This week he won his three qualifying rounds in the singles event in Monastir and yesterday (Wednesday) won his main draw first round.
You can keep track of Conor's progress on Tour by visiting the ITF Men's Tour website. Keep going Conor!
Well done to all teams who participated in the Winter League.
We had a few teams who were just pipped for the playoffs.
Congrats to our Mens 1st Team who reached the playoffs and play Clontarf
1st on Sunday 15th March in Clontarf.....Best of luck lads.
It was a memorable day for young Luke Sadlier last Sunday, winning his first match for the Men's top team to help us qualify for the playoffs!
Robyn Kennedy also made a winning start to her league campaign, playing her first match for the Ladies 1st Team last Sunday.
The Ladies Charity league teams are progressing well with some very tight matches being played....keep it going Ladies!
The Blue & Gold and Easter Cup teams are both progressing well.
Our U/12 Stars & Stripes mixed team were just pipped in the semis last weekend & play for 3rd / 4th place this Saturday.....best of luck!
The Junior league started last weekend with teams entered at U/10 - U/15 & U/18.
Exciting news from Galway where the Junior Tour 1000 2026 event is being played. Mary O'Callaghan has reached the semi final of the U/18 Singles and Daniel Carney the U/12 singles semi final. Very best of luck this weekend to you both ...keep the Monkstown flag flying over in the West!
We also have a group of juniors playing in the Tennis Leinster Events Part 3 Junior Tour 100 & 200... Harry Craig - Holly Hanarahan - Lea Mulsow - Sarah O'Callaghan - & Luke & Zach O'Rourke. You all did us proud!
Sarah McAuley and the Irish Hockey team secured their 2nd win in their qualifying group for the World Cup, against Japan having beaten Malaysia - a match where Sarah scored a goal - and now play in the qualifier semi final.
So proud of you Sarah - 🤞🇮🇪
Slán agus ádh mór! Stephen
Office Hours
Due to annual leave the club office next Wednesday 11th March will be open from 12 – 2pm.