‘It’s not recoverable in any way shape or form’ - Castlebar Tennis Club dome ‘obliterated’ by Storm Isha

CASTLEBAR Tennis Club have been left devastated after a dome covering four tennis courts was ‘blown to smithereens’ by powerful winds during Storm Isha.

The structure, which cost a total of €240,000, was used extensively over the winter months as shelter from darkness and inclement weather.

The dome was destroyed on Sunday evening shortly after Mayo was placed under a red weather warning, which brought wind and rain that toppled trees and left thousands without electricity.

Patrick Quinn, Chairman of Castlebar Tennis Club, described the destruction of the dome as ‘fairly devastating’.

The facility was insured against fire and malicious damage, but not against storm damage.

“To put it in nice language, it’s been obliterated, blown to smithereens essentially,” Quinn told The Mayo News yesterday (Monday).

“It’s not recoverable in any way shape or form, it’s been absolutely smashed.”

All activity at Castlebar Tennis Club will now have to continue outdoors for the foreseeable future.

As well as club members, the six-court facility had been used by blind tennis, local refugees and other players during the winter months.

We are going to try and raise funds again to get something back and something better that at least would be covered insurance wise going forward,” Quinn added.

“With the way the weather is changing you need something like that.”

Approximately €175,000 of the cost of constructing the dome was funded from Sports Capital Funding.

The dome was taken down in 2022 to facilitate the laying for two new clay surfaces and two synthetic surfaces.

The new facilities were launched in February 2023 and cost in the region of €180,000.

Then Taoiseach Enda Kenny officially opened the facility in 2014, when it was hailed for being the first of its kind outside of Dublin.

The dome weighed 4.5 tonnes and was roofed by a PVC membrane which stretched 76 by 36 metres and was built to withstand winds in excess of 90 miles per hour.

Storm Isha’s highest winds in Mayo were recorded in Clew Bay, where gales reached speeds of 150 kilometres per hour.