This photograph shows a woman called Kathleen Shanks playing tennis. I reckon it dates from between 1900 and 1910 although I am not too sure of the location. It might be at the Clontarf Lawn Tennis Club as the family lived in that area, however, there are several other clubs in suburban Dublin whose courts are in similar settings. I like the silhouetted houses and the fact that the two men in the background appear to float in mid air just like the tennis ball that Kathleen is about to hit!
White was considered a suitable colour for sporting activities as it does not show perspiration as readily as other colours and Kathleen’s outfit was typical of that worn during the early twentieth century. The Painted Woman blog has a great post on the history of tennis clothing for women with particular emphasis on the 1930s.
Jacolette: 
I have a Kathleen Shanks in my family tree, wonder if it is her? If so then the photo could have been taken around 1916 when Kathleen would have been around 16. If this is the same girl, she was the daughter of Thomas Shanks, a merchant tailor, and his wife Agnes Hyde of Myrtlefield Park, Belfast.
Kathleen Matilda Hyde Skanks b 1899 was my mother. She had two sisters,
Alex ( known as Paule) Another, and two brothers John and Roger. 1930 married Charles Trevor Payne, son of Charles Payne Managing Director of Shipbuilders Harland & Wolff 1909 – 1939.
I have just started to trace my Huguenot ancestors. Paule married Robert/Buzz Kelly and had two sons Tom and Patrick who live in Dublin.
I hope you have some history of my Shanks ancestors.
Charles Patrick Hyde Payne
Hello Charles, Lovely to hear from you. If you have a direct e-mail I can send you a list of the other names in the album. It is titled as the ‘Foley’ album.