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.