tennis is first recorded in ireland in 1609 with a court in thomas street, dublin. today there are no courts in northern ireland and two courts in the republic of ireland, neither in playable condition. one is a peculiar open-air court on lambay island, part of an edwin lutyens designed estate for the baring family. it is private property, in a fairly inaccessible location, and the lack of a roof is a practical problem given ireland's climate.