Rising Limerick tennis star 'extremely excited' to be named in first Ireland Davis Cup squad for UL tie

A RISING Limerick tennis star has been included in the Ireland team for the upcoming Davis Cup World Group II Play-offs tie against Syria, taking place on Saturday, February 7 and Sunday, February 8 at the UL Sport Arena.

Ireland will be represented by Limerick man Charlie Barry, as well as Michael Agwi, Peter Buldorini, Conor Gannon and Ammar Elamin, with the tie set to bring international team tennis back to the heart of the Munster.

The selection includes a first Davis Cup call-up for Limerick native Barry, who becomes the newest member of the Ireland team.

Barry is a member of Limerick Lawn Tennis Club and will have the opportunity to represent his country on home turf, in front of local supporters, as Ireland looks to deliver a strong performance across the two-day contest.

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On being named on the squad, Barry commented: "I’m extremely excited for the opportunity to perform on home soil. It’s always been a dream of mine to play Davis Cup for Ireland. Almost 20 years since I first picked up a tennis racket, it feels incredibly special to come full circle and play my first tie in Limerick.

Fellow Limerick man, and Team Captain, Conor Niland added: "I'm thrilled to announce the team for our upcoming match against Syria. The last tie in my hometown of Limerick was very special. To now also have a Limerick player in Charlie Barry, whose recent performances on the Futures circuit more than justifies his selection, adds something extra. We all can’t wait to compete in front of our home fans."

National Performance Development Director, Cian Blake looked ahead to the tie: "We are excited to return to Limerick for the upcoming Davis Cup tie against Syria. The atmosphere was incredible there in 2024. The team are in good spirits and are very much looking forward to another great tie.

"Our last two matches against Austria and PR China showed our players’ capacity to rise to the big occasions. They know they need to be at their best, and are quietly confident they will be."

This will be the second time in recent years that Limerick will host a Davis Cup tie as Ireland hosted Austria in a World Group 1 playoff in February 2024 also at UL.

The upcoming Davis Cup at UL is almost sold-out. A limited number of tickets remain available and further information can be found on www.tennisireland.ie.