Michael Howard

Michael Howard was the founder of the One Mile Inn Squash Club in 1974. He saw before others the explosion in popularity of this sport throughout the 70's and 80's in the county. The club enjoyed success on and off the courts. The membership peaked at 220 in 1982, and its socials catered normally for over 300 people.  

  

Michael was born on the 19th Sept 1933 in Ballinalacken in North Clare. He was an only child born to Thomas and Bridget Howard. He was a relatively young man when his father Thomas passed away and so it was his mother who was to have a huge influence on his political life. She was the former Bridget Murphy from Ballymacraven in Ennistymon a cousin of Bill Murphy the former Fine Gael T.D. for North Clare. She encouraged Michael buying him books on Great Political Leaders throughout the World, so that he developed an interest in politics especially Fine Gael.

He came to Ennis in 1958 when he took up an appointment as the first Manager of Clare Marts. Ennis had the first cattle mart in Co. Clare and under Michael’s direction the mart thrived. He spearheaded the expansion of Clare Marts and saw the establishment of similar establishments in Kilrush, Ennistymon and Scariff. During this period, he also became active with the IFA and was appointed to the National Executive.

In 1963 he and his wife Breda purchased Claureen House and lands which he ran in conjunction with his home farm in Lisdoonvarna. They had eight children. Tom, Michael, Mary, Seamus, Elizabeth, Gearoid, Louise and Brid.

1970 saw the commencement of his career as a builder and publican. It was in that year that he built and established The One Mile Inn, a complex including bar, dancing facilities, squash courts and pitch and putt. He also reconstructed Claureen House as a tourist facility.



The opening of the pitch and putt club in 1975.
Michael on the far right

The One Mile Inn Squash Club ( 1974- 1991) was an enormous success. Throughout the 70's it was the club in Clare. Its teams were prominent in Munster and it ran and hosted the Clare Championships until 1982. This was then taken over by the newly formed and well organised Clare Squash Racquets Association.
 

 

At its peak in 1982 the One Mile had 220 members. It was so successful that it lead to the formation of 13 other clubs in Clare which subsequently led to its demise. In 1986 when I was Chairman the membership had dropped dramatically to 70. Michael had told us that at least 75 were needed for the club to be viable.   

To his eternal credit Michael then made a major investment in the Club. The pitch and putt course was reopened adjacent to the club, with all the revenue going to the squash club. A new glass wall and gallery for 50 people was built behind Court 2, so that the One Mile could run a very successful annual open tournament. 

 A new entrance and bar was built for the club with a trophy cabinet and piano included. He even sponsored competitions with holidays abroad as prizes.The 12 very competitive teams and players responded with unprecedented success. Everyone was determined that the club would not go under, However despite all our efforts including Michael's the club closed in 1991. Squash was on the decline, and no one could understand how its popularity dropped as sudddenly as it rose in the 70's.

I can only say it was a pleasure to have worked with Michael over those 4 great years. He had given Ennis a fantastic club that was enjoyed by many over its 17 years.
 



 

In 1987 Michael established his own building firm and commenced development of the housing project known as Brookville, which consisted of detached and semi-detached bungalows.



 

He was also Chairman of the Eire Og GAA Club, President of the Hermitage Soccer Club, a member of the Clare Agricultural Show Society and the Ennis Chamber of Commerce.

He was unsuccessful in obtaining a seat to the Dail in 1969, 1973 and 1981. However in 1974 he was elected as a Fine Gael member of Clare County Council which he held with distinction until 1991. In 1977 he won a seat in the Seaned on the Industrial and Commercial panel. His nomination came through the Licensed Vintners, having served as President of that organisation. He was Senator in the 15th, 16th, 17th, 19th and 20th Seanad's. He was also an associate member of the British-Irish Inter-Parlimentary Body in 1997. He lost his seat at the 1997 Seanad election and then retired from politics.

Michael Howard passed away on the 17th Februaury 2009. At his Graveside Oration, Deputy Breen stated " He loved life, he loved his family, he loved Fine Gael to which he devoted all his adult life, and he loved his native County Clare. A true patriot who was proud of his Country".  He was a great man.




  1988

Bill Bluett

Bill Bluett was a founding member of the Fergus L.T.C. in 1933, which precedes the current Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club. He was Club Secretary for 13 years from 1933 to 1947. He returned to the Club again in 1982 to become Trustee of the newly formed Ennis Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club.

He was born in 1909 in Brickfield between Kilmallock and Charleville on the Limerick/Cork border. After his schooling he served his time as a draper’s assistant in Murray’s Store in Charleville. He came to Ennis in 1931 and worked for two years in O’Dea’s Drapery Shop in O’Connell Street.

He then went into partnership with Ned Hickey to set up ‘The Irish House’, a thriving clothes and household goods shop in O’Connell Street close to the monument. Ned Hickey was also very involved in the Fergus L.T.C.

At the Cusack Road 1938. Bill is the first row 3rd from right

He also managed a linen factory with the co-operation of Richard Nelson (of the Belfast Linen Co.). It was called Richard Nelson & Co. and based in Thompson’s Lane off O’Connell Street. This firm supplied linen hankerchiefs and glass cloths to shops and stores all over Ireland. Its main customers were the Duty Free Shops and Mail Order Stores in Shannon Airport. To this he devoted the last of his active years and through it made many friends throughout the country.

1948

He was Club Secretary in 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946 and 1947.

He played for the Club Team in 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1945, 1946.He was the Club Final Umpire 1945 and 1948.

In 1942 Bill married Eileen Baggot of Dublin. They had four children, Liam, Desmond, Maria and Brian (who died in 1991).
Bill was also involved with local community work, especially the St. Vincent de Paul Society of which he was a member from 1942 until his death. Early in his career he joined  the local Ennis Theatre Group.

1948 at the Mill Road. This photo taken by Bill shows Ned Hickey back row on the right, and Eileen Bluett centre row 4th from left.
Frank Cassidy is in the back row on the left next to Jerry Ryan.

He was also a member of the Ennis Golf Club for many years. He served with distinction as Captain (1957) and President (1961), and was conferred an Honorary Life Membership in thanks for all his work. In 1961,through his efforts as a local agent for the Bell Bros. Belfast, he gave the Club the beautiful Bell Trophy ,which is still presented to this day.



Bill and Liam

 He was a Honorary Life Member of the Knights of Columbanus, having given of his best to that Order for over 50 years. He was also a valued member of the Irish Night Vigil to Lourdes Committee.

Bill at Shannon Airport

He  played a significant role in the formation of the Chamber of Commerce in Ennis.

His interest in photography began at an early stage and he won his first camera, a box-brownie in a competition run by a Sunday newspaper in 1923 , when he was 14. The camera however was damaged in the post and never worked. He became actively involved in the hobby in the early 1930’s. Most of his early photographs are in black and white, many of which he developed himself.

Eileen Bluett and Dr O'Shea

In 1945 he got a secondhand Leica from post-war Germany. He had become over the years acquainted with many flight crews calling to Shannon and staying in the Old Ground Hotel. The camera was acquired for him by Johnny Hoffmire, a steward with TWA in exchange for cartons of cigarettes. (Johnny was subsequently killed in the TWA airline crash in the Shannon Estuary and is buried in the mass grave in Drumcliffe Cemetery). With the Leica, Bill’s interest changed to slide photography. Over the next 30 years he shot hundreds of rolls in colour.

1948 at the Club taken by Bill

His main areas of interest were the developing Shannon Airport, Ennis Golf Club and the Fergus Lawn Tennis Club. He also went to West Clare locations such as Kilkee, Miltown Malbay, Lahinch, the Cliffs of Moher, Doolin and Lisdoonvarns. Needless to say he concentrated also on Ennis itself and events in the town. Bill also shot film while in the U.S.in 1955, and on trips to Lourdes, Spain, Jersey and Switzerland.

By the late 1940’s he was also shooting with a 8mm movie camera and for a number of years filmed events of local interest. Included were ‘An Tostal’ which featured the arrival of the first American coach tour to the Old Ground Hotel. There was also the All-Ireland Fleadh in Ennis in 1956, the 50^th Episcopal Anniversary celebrations of Archbishop Michael Fogarty, the inauguration of Bishop Joseph Rodgers as Coadjutor Bishop of Killaloe, local Corpus Christi processions, sporting events and the obsequies of Bishop Rodgers.

He was not interested in competitive photography as such and indulged in the pursuit purely as a hobby, taking him into the late 1970’s. His love of photography was shared by his son  Brian who won prizes in several local competitions.

Bill on the left with Trustees Joe Molony, Joe Williams,
Kevin Vaughan and Oliver Moylan.

Bill returned to the tennis club in 1982. He became one of five Trustees for the newly formed Ennis Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club. This club was the combination of the Ennis Tennis and Pitch and Putt Club at the Mill Road, and the Ennis Badminton Club at Our Lady’s. The other Trustees were Joe Molony,  Joe Williams, Kevin Vaughan and Oliver Moylan. They all had links in previous years with the tennis or badminton clubs. The Trustees were essential in obtaining loans for the development of the Club which was very dilapidated with regular flooding. They covered loans for up to €500,000 in todays money. This investment revitalized tennis and gave the club excellent facilities. These included three new tennis courts with floodlighting for the first time. A new clubhouse with two dedicated badminton courts and dressing rooms and car park. The club has not looked back since.

In 1992 Eileen and Bill celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary. Also in that year Bill was conferred with the Benemerente Medal  for all his work with the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Bill Bluett died on the 29^th December 1993. His obituary read “ All those who knew him, were saddened by the death of William Bluett,  Ard na Greine, Ennis, which occurred on December 29. One could say it was the end of an era, for Billy - as he was affectionately known - was active in the social, cultural and economic life of the town of Ennis…. Very Rev. Fr.Walshe, Adm, speaking at his funeral Mass said he was a man of great faith, great hope and great charity”. Eileen passed away six weeks later in Feb 1994.

A photo at the Turrett taken by Bill.

In August of 1994 Liam Bluett made the donation of Bill’s 200 colour slides and seven reels of film depicting the Banner County of the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s to the Clare County Library. The slides record daily life in the county and range in subject from family trips to the seaside to ceremonial occasions.  His photographs created quite a stir in 1996 when the collection was put on public exhibiton in the de Valera Library.  The collection can now be seen on the Clare County Library website www.clarelibrary.ie.

Jerry Ryan

1933 First match held by the Fergus L.T.C.

Jerry Ryan was a founding member of the Fergus L.T.C., the club that precedes the current Ennis Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club. He was President for no less than 25 years from 1933 to 1957. Under his tenure the club enjoyed huge success firstly on the Cusack Road and then on the Mill Road after they moved in 1948.

He was a native of Tipperary, and married Kitty on the 11^th of Dec. 1930 in Mitchelstown, which was Kitty’s home town.

They  came to Ennis in 1931. Jerry  was the Chief Clerk for the Great Southern and Western Railway (and CIE) until he retired in 1961. Kitty was a teacher at the Vocational School where her subjects included singing, choral work and musical appreciation.

They lived originally at the Station before moving to College Road. They had five children Michael, Pat, Bernard, Henry and Aida.

 He was the Club President (Chairman) in 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956 and 1957. An unbelieveable 25 years. He played for the Club Team in 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938 and 1939.

The Cusack Road 1938. Jerry is back row
third from right.

    Both were active in the community. Kitty was organist at the Friary from 1933 until 1966, and returned again in the mid 70’s until 1978. She was also the founding member of the Franciscan Musical Society where she directed the choral work and piano until her retirement in 1970. 

They were both members of the Odd Fellows Operatic and Dramatic Society.

Jerry is in the centre of the photo from 1940.

Kitty is in the 2nd row second from the left. Bill Bluett is in the third row on the left. Paddy Walsh (father of Fergus Walsh) is in the back row on the left.

  

   


At the Mill Road in 1948.
Jerry is in the back row
second from the left.


Left Jerry (far right) in 1952 with the Opera Society.

 Right at a Club Junior Blitz in 1952. Jerry on the left.

Jerry was also a member of the O’Connell Club in Ennis.

In 1979 Kitty received the Bernini Emeritus Award for her services to the church. In Dec 1980 Jerry and Kitty celebrated their Golden Anniversary.

Jerry passed away in June 1994 and was buried at Drumcliffe cemetery. He was in his mid-nineties.

It was just nine months later that the first artificial grass courts were installed at the club. I am sure Jerry would love to have seen grass courts back again on the Mill Road. Especially when they did not need all the care and attention that he and his colleagues had to provide the real grass courts over several decades.

 

The Cassidy Family

The Cassidy family were integral to the formation of the Fergus L.T.C. that later became the current Ennis Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club. Below are tributes to the Cassidy family, that include Mr Frank Cassidy and his daughters Claire and Mary and sons Noel, Frank and Flan.

Frank Cassidy

Frank Cassidy was born in 1897, the eldest of three children with Tommy and Mary Ellen. His father was Thomas Cassidy and his mother was Brigid (nee Hehir) from Ballygriffey Ennis. They owned a pub on Fahy's Lane and a farm on Victoria Road (Cusack Road) and Cloughleigh.

Frank and Nell

Frank worked in the drapery business at McBirneys in Limerick,which was purchased by Roches Stores in the 1940's. It was in McBirneys he met his future wife Nell O'Connor from Listowel who worked in the Millinery Department. They married on 7th Feb 1928.They had 5 children, Noel, Flan (RIP his grandchildren Emma and Mark Duffy play in the Ennis Club today), Mary RIP, Frank and Claire. They lived at 'Loyola' Cusack Road, where Flan's wife Rita and family now reside.

His father left him Victoria farm which was beyond the bridge on the Cusack Road, on the left hand side.  Frank subsequently became a builder, and built every house on that side of the road. He built the first all-electric house in Ennis.

The Fergus L.T.C. was built behind these houses on Franks land. He subsequently opened a shoe shop on the High Street.

When Frank was in Limerick he played soccer with The Limerick Commercials, which he captained from 1919 to 1924. He was also captain of the Castleisland Hurling team in 1919, and the captain of the Limerick Co. Football GAA Team from 1921 to 1924. 
He captained the winning Limerick Dalcassian Association Football Team to victory in 1925 when they won the North Munster Cup. Photo shows Frank seated centre in the front row with the cup. His brother Tommy also won a Munster Provincial Cap for Hockey. Frank was also the first Club Secretary of Ennis Rugby Club, and played for Ennis from 1927 to 1932. 

Not only was Frank a keen sportsman but he was also very involved in Drama. He helped to form The Ennis Theatre Guild (1934 -1950), and The Ennis Dramatic Society. He produced and managed many of their productions including  'The Righteous are Bold',
'Tons of Money', 'The Cobweb's Glory' and 'The Patsy'.

He was also a founding member and Hon Sec. of the Ennis Progress Associaton (1939 -1950). He was a Life Member of the Knights of Columbanus.

Fergus L.T.C. 1938. Frank Cassidy back row 2nd from right. Noel
Cassidy kneeling at the front.

Frank was a founding member of the Fergus L.T.C. in 1933. He owned the land that the Club was built on before they moved to the Mill Road in 1948.  

He was on the Club Committee in 1933, 1934, 1935, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1953 and 1954.
He played for the Club Team in 1934, 1935, 1937 and 1938.

Frank had joined the County Clare L.T.C. in the early 30’s but wasn’t overly impressed with the attitude of its members to shopkeepers. So he and his friends decided to build their own tennis club.
The club had four courts and a large timber pavilion painted green and red. The early committee members were Jerry Ryan (Club President for 25 years), Mick Coleman, Bill Bluett, Ned Hickey, Frank O’Connell, E.Monahan Michael Haugh, P.Walsh, J.V.O’Beirne, F.McMahon, M. McHugh, F. O’Connell, Imelda Hickey, Nellie McMahon, Mary E and Kathleen Kerin. In 1934 the subs were Ladies 15/-, Gentleman £1, Family £2, non playing members  10/-, children U-16 10/-.

The club was enlarged in 1935 so that it could hold cater for a dance band (2/- a ticket). Occasionally they would hold a ‘Cinderalla Dance’ in the Queen’s Hotel (2/6 a ticket). 300 people  attended a Tennis Grand Dance there in 1938. Table tennis was also played at the club when it rained.

The club  sent its best juniors to Fitzwilliam for the Irish Junior Championships on a regular basis, with great results. The 

From left Nell and Frank Cassidy at a tennis
dinner 1949

Cahill Cup was presented to the club in 1944 for the Mens Singles Championship by Paddy Cahill, Munster and Leinster Bank. It was a beautiful trophy and is still given to the mens champion at the club to this day.

By 1946 the club was bursting at the seams and it decided to amalgamate with the County Clare Club. In 1948 it moved from the Cusack Road to the current site on Mill Road and replaced the previous club. It became even more popular and successful through the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. The club became the best location in Ennis for young people and ran regular ‘hops’ every Saturday night at the old pavilion. It also ran two fundraising dances every year in Kilkee and Lisdoonvarna.

 The first hard court was installed in the early 50’s, and the second in 1962. The remaining grass courts were replaced with a pitch and putt course. The club then became the Ennis Tennis and Pitch and Putt Club. Photo shows a group at the Mill Road in 1948. Frank is in the back row on the left.

Frank then opened a shop and service station on the Cusack Road called the 'The Rock Filling Station'. Flan worked in the business. Photo shows Flan far left, Claire and Frank seated.

Frank passed away in Jan 1977. Nell died three months later in April 1977. Flan passed away 3 weeks later, 22nd April 1977.




Claire Cassidy

Claire was Ladies Club Champion in 1953, 1954 & 1956.

She also won the Ladies H/Cap Singles Champion in 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955 & 1956, and the Junior H/Cap in 1948.

She was the Catholic Institute Ladies Champion in 1957. Claire was on the Fergus L.T.C. Committee in 1954, 1958 & 1959.

Photo shows Claire in 1954 winning the Ladies Singles Championship.
Claire worked in Hotel Management and now resides in Limerick. She has five children Frank, Richard, Paul, Desmond and Rhona. Today Rhona and Desmond play at the Limerick Lawn Tennis Club.

Photo of Claire on her wedding day with Frank and Mary.

Mary Cassidy

Mary won the Ladies H/Cap in 1945. She was the first winner at only 12 years of age. The Trophy was called The Irish House Cup. She was Ladies H/Cap Singles R-Up in 1948. She was on the Fergus L.T.C. Committee in 1949 & 1957.

Photo shows Mary's wedding day, with Flan and Noel in the back row and Frank, Claire, Mary, Nell and Frankie in the front. Mary was a dress designer and designed an outfit for Caroline Kennedy during the Presidency of JFK. She married Jim and had two children Leson and Graham.

Noel Cassidy

Noel was Club Champion in 1946 & 1947, and was  Runner-up in 1945 (see left photo, Noel on the left)).

He travelled to Fitzwilliam in 1944. See photo on right. Noel is on the far right.

He was Munster Junior Senior Boys handicap Doubles Finalist in 1945 with Larry Byrne.

He was Munster Junior Senior Boys handicap Singles Champion 1945 ( Defeated Larry Byrne).

He was Mens Open Champion in Tipperary, Athlone and Cavan.

In all he won over 40 cups.

Photo shows Noel back right going to Fitzwilliam.Noel now lives in Galway. He left Ennis in 1948 and became a bank manager. He married Catherine and they had 4 children Helen, Anne, Cathy and Noel.

Fr. Frank Cassidy 

The Ennis Faughs Senior Champions 1952. Frank is in the first row 2nd from the right.

Frank R-Up in 1949

Frank was Club Tennis Champion in 1954 and 1957, and  Runner-Up in 1953, 1956 and 1958

He was the Club Junior Handicap Winner in 1945 and 1947, and Club Mens Handicap Singles R-Up in 1949

He was the South of Ireland  Mens Handicap Singles Champion in 1957, and West of Ireland Mens Singles R-Up and Mens Doubles R-Up in 1958 with Noel Cassidy.

He was the Limerick Close Mens Singles Champion in 1958  ( The Shelbourne Cup)

He was Limerick Close Mens Doubles R-Up  in 1958 (Liam Cahir)

He was Club Captain in 1956, 1957, 1958 and Hon. Vice President in 1964 and 1959.

Left Frank R-Up 1956 to Fr Sean Moriarty.

Right Frank Club Champion in 1957. Back row 3rd from right. 

Fr. Frank left Ennis for Los Angeles  in 1959.

Photo on left 1964. Frank on left Noel 2nd from right.

Photo on right. Fergus L.T.C. reunion 2000. Frank in the centre.         

 In 2009 Fr. Frank celebrated the Golden Jubilee of his ordination.
  

Noel Frank and Claire at Frankie's Golden Jubilee in 2009



I was fortunate to meet Claire, Frank and Noel in 2009. They spoke for hours on the club, and gave invaluable information on the history of  the club. I was able to show them the Cahill Cup that Frank won in 1954 and 1957 and Noel won it in 1946 and 1947. The same cup is presented to the Mens champion to this day. Frank (Left) and Noel (Right) hold the Cahill Cup.

Flan Cassidy

Flan Cassidy played tennis but not competitively. He was more interested in playing rugby and like his father was Club Secretary for many years of the Ennis Rugby Club. Flan worked in Ennis Self Drive, and had the first School of Motoring in Ennis. He married Rita and they had 6 children, Mary, Imelda, Edel, Frank, John and Clare. Flan passed away in 1977. His grandchildren Mark and Emma Duffy play in the tennis and badminton club today.