Operation Grand Slam

Building Ireland's First
High-Performance
Tennis Programme

A multi-phase plan to put Irish tennis back on the world stage — from direct player support, a new high-performance tennis programme and a new National Tennis Centre.

See The Plan Support the Ambition
Irish tennis players in action
Give Talent the Opportunity

Fuel the Ambition

The appetite for tennis in Ireland has never been greater. With 193 affiliated clubs, over 100,000+ members, and 53,000 tournament entries, the foundations are in place. What's missing is a high-performance programme to turn that momentum into world-class results.

Tennis Ireland has an ambitious vision of how to bring Irish tennis to the next level — and a clear plan to make it happen. We need partners who share our ambition to help us get there.

See the Plan
Phase 1 - Lay the Foundations - €3M

Three Areas of Impact

Private investment required to fund Ireland's first high-performance tennis programme.

High Performance Player Support

Direct Player Support

€250K per annum for five years of private funding. Up to €50K per player supporting 5–8 of Ireland's best with coaching, international tournaments, and travel.

National Tennis Centre upgrade

Upgrade National Tennis Centre

€1M investment to resurface indoor courts, re-furbish the clubhouse, add gym equipment, heating and viewing facilities. Plus €0.5M matching from the Irish Government.

High Performance Tennis Programme

World-Class High-Performance Programme

€1.25M over five years to attract and keep world-class coaches and staff — including physiotherapists, S&C trainers, dieticians, and sports psychologists. €250K per annum.

Phase 2 - A new home for high-performance tennis - €10M

Phase 1 builds the programme. Phase 2 builds the infrastructure to sustain it.

The construction of a new National Tennis Centre on the Sport Ireland Campus represents the most significant capital investment in Irish tennis to date — and the foundation upon which a generation of world-class players will be developed.

  • The Sport Ireland Campus is Ireland's centre of sporting excellence, home to the Olympic Council of Ireland and the national bodies of over 60 sports. Locating a dedicated National Tennis Centre there places Irish tennis where it belongs — at the heart of the country's high-performance ecosystem, with access to shared expertise, medical and sports science services, and a culture of elite sport. permanent, professional training environment, purpose-built for high performance.
  • The new facility will give Ireland's top players what their international counterparts take for granted: a It removes one of the most persistent structural barriers to player development and signals, clearly and credibly, that Irish tennis is operating at a new level. For an investor, Phase 2 represents something rare — a single, tangible, legacy asset with your name attached to it. The National Tennis Centre will be a visible, enduring symbol of what private investment in Irish sport can achieve.
Tennis in Ireland

Ready to Explode

193 Affiliated Clubs
100,000+ Tennis Ireland Members
53,000+ Tournament Entries
23,000+ Schools Tennis Programme
83 New Qualified Coaches
5,000+ Davis Cup Tickets in 24hrs
Latest News

From the Current Programme

All News
The Players

Backing Ireland's Best

The athletes at the heart of Operation Grand Slam — representing Ireland on the world stage.

MA

Michael Agwi

Professional Player

Dublin-born, Berlin-based Michael Agwi is Ireland's brightest young tennis talent — a powerful, fast-moving ATP-ranked player who became the first Irish man to win an ITF singles title in five years.

LP

Leah Puk

Professional Player

At just 14, Leah Puk is already turning heads — qualifying for the 2025 Irish Open main draw and taking to Centre Court as one of the most exciting young prospects in Irish women's tennis.

EJ

Eoghan Jennings

Professional Player

Westport's Eoghan Jennings is Ireland's top-ranked junior — a national title winner at every age grade who became the first Irish player to compete at the Junior Australian Open since 2022, all while overcoming a serious back injury.

CS

Celine Simiyu

Professional Player

Ireland's top-ranked female player, Celine Simunyu is a WTA-ranked 21-year-old training in Barcelona who made history in 2024 as the first Irish woman to receive a wildcard entry to a WTA 1000 event — with her sights firmly set on the top 100.

Our Partners & Sponsors

AerCap AIG BearingPoint Nissan Adidas Babolat Sport Ireland Rackets.ie Sport NI
Maximise Your Impact

Tax Exemption Status

  1. 1. Tennis Ireland holds a tax exemption under Section 235 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (TCA).
  2. 2. From 1 January 2025, donations for specific approved projects (including support for elite athletes) qualify for tax relief under the new Section 847AA TCA.
  3. 3. You may claim the relief yourself, or you can allow Tennis Ireland claim it on your behalf — the most impactful option for players.

Example — Higher Rate Taxpayer (40%)

You donate €1,000.

TI claims an additional €667 from Revenue.

Total benefit to players = €1,667.

Total benefit to players = €1,667

Meet the Team

The People Behind the Vision

Delivering Ireland's first high-performance tennis programme requires more than ambition — it requires the right people. Tennis Ireland has assembled a team that combines elite playing experience, commercial acumen, and deep governance expertise to ensure this investment is structured, credible, and built to deliver. From Board level through to fundraising and performance strategy, every element of this programme is being driven by individuals who are genuinely invested in what Irish tennis can become.

👤

Ronan Reid

Chair, Tennis Ireland

Ronan is CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald Ireland and brings extensive financial services and non-executive experience to his role as Chair of the Tennis Ireland Board. His career spans asset management, senior management, and M&A, alongside board roles at the Irish Stock Exchange and a number of venture capital and non-profit organisations. LinkedIn He is a lifelong tennis player and a firm believer in the sport's potential in Ireland.

👤

Greg Lawless

Chair, Fundraising Sub-Committee

Greg is a former CEO of Arena Events Group, one of the largest international events solutions companies, providing services for some of the world's most prestigious sporting and cultural occasions, including Wimbledon and Cheltenham. LinkedIn Now working as a business advisor across private equity and fund management, Greg brings significant commercial and sporting event expertise to the fundraising effort.

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Jerry Sheehan

Chair, Performance Tennis Sub-Committee

Jerry serves as an Independent Tennis Ireland Board Director with specific responsibility for Performance Development. Tennis Ireland He leads the sub-committee overseeing Tennis Ireland's ambitious five-year Performance Development Strategy, ensuring the programme is built on a credible, long-term foundation.

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James McGee

Lead Fundraiser

James is a former Irish Number 1 and ATP World No. 146, having competed at ATP 250, 500, 1000, Davis Cup, and Grand Slam level throughout his professional career. LinkedIn Now working in youth development and sporting partnerships, James brings unmatched credibility to this fundraising effort — he knows first-hand what Irish players are capable of, and what they need to get ther

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Kevin Quinn

CEO, Tennis Ireland

Kevin has led Tennis Ireland through a period of significant growth, overseeing increases in membership, digital reach, and commercial partnerships. Under his leadership, Tennis Ireland has expanded its national programme, strengthened its international presence through Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup, and laid the groundwork for Ireland's first dedicated high-performance tennis programme.