01st April 2025
It is with great sadness that Tennis Ireland marks the passing of Kay Lonergan. For nearly five decades, Kay, a much loved figure in Irish tennis, was the heart and soul of Parks Tennis.
Since 1977, Kay had dedicated herself to making tennis accessible to as many children as possible, all across Ireland. But her work wasn’t just about raquets and balls. It was about values, and Parks Tennis was simply her vehicle for creating opportunities, building community, and embodying the ideals of equality, diversity, and inclusion long before they became buzzwords.
Kay worked on the Parks programme for an incredible 48 years, pouring her energy, kindness, and fierce sense of purpose into every detail. As she did so, she defied description. It wouldn’t be enough to call her a volunteer, an organiser, or even a leader—she was a movement in herself.
We will miss you Kay, and as your death comes only a month after the passing of your devoted husband Joe, our thoughts are with your family at this time of deep grief.
Just some of the tributes people wished to pay Kay, are posted below.
Letty Lucas – President, Tennis Ireland
Kay’s warmth, energy, and impact will never be forgotten. She was a guiding light in our community and an inspiration to us all. Kay’s life was one of service, humility, and lasting impact. Her passing leaves a void in our community, but her spirit endures in every park where children pick up a racket, in every coach she mentored, and in the ethos of inclusion and joy she helped shape.
On behalf of everyone at Tennis Ireland, we extend our deepest sympathies to Kay’s family, friends, and the extended Parks Tennis community. Her light was extraordinary—and it will never fade.
Brendan Moran – Former Director of Dublin Parks
When Dublin Parks Tennis was founded in 1977 as a small and unproven entity comprising seven venues in the Dublin Corporation area, few people could have envisaged the huge impact it would have on the Irish tennis landscape.
Kay Lonergan played a vital role in the success story that is Parks Tennis Ireland. As Secretary /Administrator, Kay was the first point of contact for Parks Tennis and was involved in every aspect of the day-to-day running of the organisation. Nothing fazed her. Kay’s motto was that we would find a solution regardless.
As the programme expanded, both in Dublin and throughout the country, Kay’s role grew accordingly, and her influence became ever more widespread. No task was too big or too small. She juggled her dual role with Parks Tennis Ireland and Dublin Parks Tennis with incredible efficiency and dexterity. All of this work coincided with her most important role as a devoted wife and mother of a young family.
In my capacity as Programme Director of Dublin Parks Tennis, Kay and I communicated virtually every day – indeed, on most days, this occurred on multiple occasions. We managed to resolve virtually all problems, as not only did she possess a keen grasp of the bigger picture but also a remarkable eye for detail.
Kay was a force to be reckoned with and will be sorely missed by all at Parks Tennis. Because of her generosity of spirit, foresight and boundless energy, many thousands of children have been introduced to the sport of tennis for almost half a century.
Ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam uasal.
Roger Geraghty – Director of Development, Tennis Ireland
For 48 years, Kay was the heartbeat of Parks Tennis.
As we mourn her passing, we also celebrate a life of extraordinary purpose. A life that changed the lives of countless children and coaches who may never have experienced tennis if not for Kay’s passion and dedication.
For Kay, Parks Tennis was more than a programme, it was a reflection of her unwavering belief in community, equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Her dedication knew no limits, and for nearly five decades, she created a welcoming space where participants from all walks of life could belong, have fun, and grow, not just as players, but as people.
Kay wasn’t just an administrator, she was a mentor, a guiding light, and a force for good, who embodied resilience, kindness, and a deep commitment to serving others.
To those of us who had the privilege of working alongside Kay, she was an example of selflessness, humility, and an unshakable belief in the power of sport for all to change lives.
Personally, as well as being a lifelong friend, I learned so much from Kay. Her outstanding administration skills, her meticulous attention to detail, her tireless availability, and even her early dedication to recycling, long before it was common practice in organisations.
Although Kay has left us, her legacy remains in every child who picked up a racket because of her, every successor who continues her work, and every life she touched with her limitless compassion.
It may be quieter now at 142 Vernon Avenue, Clontarf, but her spirit lives on in every phone call, every email, every meeting, and every act of kindness inspired by her example.
Rest in peace Kay!
You showed us how one life, lived with purpose, can ripple across generations.
Thank you for the light you brought to tennis! It will never fade.
“Tennis is for everyone”!
Cormac O’Shea – on behalf of Parks Tennis friends
It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Kay Lonergan on Sunday 30th March 2025.
Kay was one of the founding members of Parks Tennis, and since 1977 she has worked tirelessly and selflessly to develop affordable tennis lessons for children across the island of Ireland. She, along with other founding members, were ahead of their time. Kay’s passing is a huge loss to all of her friends in Parks Tennis, and to the wider tennis community in Ireland.
Kay was much more than Parks Tennis – she was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, a good friend to many, a member of the Clontarf Historical Society, a former committee member in St. Anne’s Tennis Club – it’s remarkable how she was able to juggle everything. But that was Kay. She was a force.
On behalf of all of Kay’s friends in Parks Tennis, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Kay’s family at this very sad time.
May Kay’s soul rest in peace.
Ann-Marie Breen – Regional Development Officer, Leinster, Tennis Ireland
A remarkable, strong and inspirational woman who did so much and gave so much of her time to expanding tennis in Ireland, and her support and guidance to so many Irish coaches. She will be greatly missed.
Tom Shelly – Tennis Leinster
Kay’s introduction to Parks Tennis began through her connection with Seamus Shelly at Briscoe Smith & Co Chartered Accountants. Seamus was a Founder and the first chairperson of Dublin Parks Tennis Ltd. (DPTL)
Indeed Kay registered the company Dublin Parks Tennis Ltd on behalf of Seamus at the Companies Office in 1977. When Seamus stepped down as Chairperson he recommended that Tom O’Loughlin, the incoming Chair, engage Kay as “The Administrator”. So began a life’s vocation of passionate commitment and service to all things Parks Tennis…
Liam Cassidy – Tennis Coach Ireland
I was heartbroken to hear of the passing of Kay Lonergan, the heart and soul of Parks Tennis Ireland. Kay was truly one of a kind, an exceptional woman whose tireless dedication, warmth, and boundless energy shaped every fibre of Parks Tennis for decades.
Kay would spend countless hours of her day ensuring the smooth running of the parks programme, always focused on making the experience the best it could be for every child, coach, and parent involved. She touched every part of Parks Tennis, no detail was too small, no person unimportant. Whether it was the players on court, the coaches guiding them, the parents cheering from the side-lines, sponsors supporting the programme, or city council staff, Kay had time for everyone. And somehow, no matter how busy she was, she never made you feel like you were taking up her time.
I have such fond memories of the years I spent working with Kay. Her calm presence, her incredible organisational skills, her sense of humour, and her deep belief in the power of sport to build community and joy it brought to young people’s lives. All of it made working with her a true privilege. Kay’s impact went far beyond administration; she built relationships, fostered opportunities, and created a legacy that will forever live on in Irish tennis.
We will never see the likes of Kay again. Her loss leaves a void, but her spirit will continue to inspire all of us who were lucky enough to know her and work alongside her.
Thank you, Kay, for everything. You were, and always will be, Parks Tennis.
Lisa Bolger – Tennis Coach
I first saw Kay in the Parks Tennis when I was playing as a kid. I remember looking and saying ‘That lady is very glamorous and always smiling’. I then went on to the tennis coaches course and Kay has been part of my life since then.
Kay’s door was always open, she was always on the end of the phone for advice, equipment, guidance or a cup of tea and a chat to all the coaches.
Kay was known to the coaches as our tennis mammy or auntie Kay and to the kids as Mrs.Parks Tennis.
Whatever you needed Kay had it, would get it or knew a way to get it.
If there was a problem Kay would get it sorted. Kay always had our backs and introduced tennis to kids all over Ireland and beyond. Nobody was turned away.
Tennis made us colleagues but the chats, fun and laughter we shared made us friends.
A big light has gone out in the tennis world and we are all heartbroken but Kay has left us with amazing memories, stories and a love of tennis that we will cherish forever.
Kay you were our star.
May you always shine brightly.
Rest in peace in your heavenly home.
