On 10 June 2023, Dublin City Council unveiled a plaque commemorating the world’s first national tennis championship for women, which took place in Dublin on 9 and 10 June 1879.
The Dublin tournament was held on the courts of Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club, on Upper Pembroke Street, and preceded the Wimbledon Ladies’ Championship by five years. It wasn’t until 1884 that the Wimbledon Ladies’ Singles were first held.
The first Irish tennis clubs were founded in 1877 with tennis quickly becoming a popular sport. Writing about the 1879 Irish championships, the Freeman’s Journal called tennis the “monarch of amusements”, noting that “no properly brought up young lady or gentleman … would dare to express herself or himself unacquainted with … the fashionable game”.
The @LordMayorDublin unveiling our plaque for the world's first national tennis championships for women which took place on Upper Pembroke St in Dublin in 1879, five years before Wimbledon! pic.twitter.com/KbnGRLqPUY
— Dublin City Council (@DubCityCouncil) June 10, 2023
The championships were organised by the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club, which was founded in 1877, and another plaque, commemorating the founding of the club, was also unveiled.
The club’s first home was at 24-25 Upper Pembroke Street. Although the men’s competition took place in public on the courts in nearby Fitzwilliam Square, the ladies’ matches were held in the grounds of the club, to keep them “as private as possible”, and entry was restricted to club members.
In the final Miss May Langrishe, from County Kilkenny, defeated Miss D. Meldon in three sets, becoming the first Irish national ladies’ champion.
Speaking at the unveiling Lord Mayor Caroline Conroy congratulated the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club for putting a spotlight on the history of women’s sport in the City, saying, “It’s wonderful to think that over 145 years ago women tennis players were blazing a trail here on Upper Pembroke Street. The fact that the third set in one match went to twenty-two games, twice as many as was usual, is testament to the skill of those early female players. I’m delighted to unveil a plaque in honour of these trailblazers, and also in honour of the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club, founded here in 1877.”
Also speaking at the unveilings was Mike Kemp, President of the Fitzwilliam club, who said, “These commemorative plaques bear witness to the determination and forward-thinking of our Club’s founders, who not only established one of Ireland’s first tennis clubs, but led the world in organising the first national ladies’ championship to be played anywhere. As we plan for our Club’s 150th anniversary in 2027 this is a chance to reflect on how far we have come and honour those who founded tennis in Ireland.”
The decision to erect the plaque was made by the Dublin City Council Commemorations & Naming Committee, whose chair, Councillor Micheál Mac Donncha, said, “The Commemorative Plaques Scheme allows the City to formally commemorate people who have made a significant contribution to the life of Dublin. We welcome suggestions from the public for people and events to be commemorated, and full details are on the Council website.”
