Nenagh LTC is one of Munster’s and Ireland’s more active and successful tennis clubs in terms of facilities, playing numbers and sociability in the country.  That the club is such today has not happened by accident.  Many people down through the years have been involved and made significant contributions though their organisational skills, foresight and time.  One such person was the late Aine McKenna who sadly died in June 2019.

Aine was a former hon treasurer and committee member and we recall her professionalism, efficiency and courtesy in the onerous role of treasurer.  She was of course also involved in many other aspects of the club. notably being involved in tournaments and the operation of the bar facilities, etc.

She also found time to play some tennis and despite being a relative late comer to the game became an accomplished player, being a regular participant in many open tournaments and in Munster inter-club events and often featured in the ‘business end’ in competitions.  She won a number of open events in her category in Nenagh and other clubs and she was captain of a Nenagh team (with Nicola O’Carroll, John Moylan and David Kyne) which won a Munster Winter League title in 2011.

She also took an interest in the Midland Tennis League, participating in and assisting in organising various Nenagh teams in the league, also herself featuring in a ladies final in 2009.

She took on every role, administrator or player, with enthusiasm, always with an eye for the greater good of the club and fellow players.

She was refreshingly honest in her views, would never hold back from expressing an opinion and if she disagreed with you, maybe over a grading decision or rule interpretation she let you know about it and sometimes you might feel that you were really in the bad books with her.  Then you detected a hint of smile and you knew that at least she accepted the situation and agreed to differ, if only until the next time.  Therein was another of her great traits – she was pragmatic and understood that ‘the show had to go on’.

Serious illness intervened during her term as treasurer but she recovered and continued her involvement as treasurer and later in other areas of the club, always available to help.  There was always joy, laughter and banter when Aine was around.   We admired her open and positive attitude to life.  Tragically illness again recurred and sadly she died on Wednesday 19th June 2019.

Aine was predeceased by her father Paul and is survived by her mother Geraldine, her twin sister Paula, her other sisters Olive, Caroline and Siobhan, brothers Vincent and Darragh, her great friend and wannabe sister Jennifer, uncles and aunts and her large extended family and friends, to whom we extend our sincere sympathies.

May she rest in peace.