The Court: Current status Status Report No. 12, May 2019

In September 2016, planning permission was granted for the development of a science museum on the site which includes the real tennis court building. As part of that permission, the real tennis court can be used for temporary exhibitions. An Bord Pleanála imposed the condition that 'The developer shall submit a detailed proposal to the planning authority for the temporary re-instatement of the penthouse galleries and any other essential features required for playing Real Tennis matches.' Since then, the IRTA has repeatedly written to the relevant parties expressing our willingness to help meet this condition, in an advisory capacity and via our network of international experts. However, our offers have not been taken up, and to the best of our knowledge no such proposal has been submitted.

More recently, in November 2018, the chair of the National Children's Science Museum expressed frustration, writing in the Irish Times that 'the preparatory work by the OPW [Office of Public Works] seems to have come to a standstill, and the project is now so far off schedule, that planning permission could expire before the building work begins.'

The consistent goal of the IRTA since its foundation in 1998 has been the return of the Dublin real tennis court to its intended purpose. With the situation as it is, then, the IRTA will continue to impress upon the relevant parties the exciting possibilities that a restored real tennis court in Dublin would bring. We will continue to offer to fund-raise, contact people with relevant expertise, and be part of ongoing promotional support to ensure a viable real tennis club in Dublin. Although it now seems not certain that the Science Museum will come to fruition, we will also continue to make ourselves available to those responsible for this project.