The Eton Fives Association


The Fives Courts at St. Columba's,
Rathfarnham, Ireland


The courts at St.Columba's College, Rathfarnham, Ireland, were built in 1850 by an Old Etonian, Warden Williams, with money provided by Archbishop Beresford. The game existed side by side with handball, and Mahaffy on his rounds of inspection of Irish grammar schools in 1879 commented on the excellent racquet court and two Eton Fives courts to be found there. Fives continued to be played up until the 1960s.

Photographs of the two courts

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Photograph 1.
The two courts

Photograph 2.
The left-hand court (note "shadow" of buttress)

Photograph 3.
The right-hand court (with the left-hand one across wall)

Photograph 4.
The right-hand court

Photograph 5.
The former College gymnasium (proposed Arts Centre) incorporating the 1849 ball-alley (interior) and two 1850 Eton Fives courts (exterior)

Photograph 6.
Plaque (1849) on exterior wall of former ball-alley (racquet court)

Photograph 7.
"Shadow" of buttress on wall of left hand court (buttress removed c.1942)

Photograph 8.
Exterior wall of former gymnasium showing the "slant" of the red ball-alley and 1849 plaque. The fives courts are round the corner of the building.

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