[1] or simply called The Irish Championships[2][3] was a Victorian period combined men's and women's grass court tennis tournament first staged July 1876.
[5] The Irish Champion Athletic Club was founded in 1872 by local engineer and keen sportsman Henry Dunlop.
[8] However, Trinity College complained about the lack of consulation, and refused permission for any further ICAC events, this lead Dunlop to seek a new location to stage future championships.
In December 1873 he found an 8.5 acre site close to Lansdowne Road station owned by George Herbert, 13th Earl of Pembroke and agreed a lease with him.
[12] By 1877 the ICAC was parent to seven affiliated clubs: cricket, football, archery, croquet, tennis, lacrosse and cycling.