Kelly Liggan (23), though based in Spain, has been named to make her debut for Ireland in the European Nations tennis championship in Porto, Portugal, at the end of the month. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) relaxed its attitude towards the international residential ruling in Liggan's case and her inclusion at the head of the Irish team sheet is a clear endorsement of her importance to the team.

Liggan's WITA ranking of 400 , higher than any other member of the team, will entitle her to play number one singles, with Gina Niland at number two. Claire Curran, currently playing in the US National Collegiate League for the University of California, and Yvonne Doyle, who has recovered from a lengthy injury, complete a strong-looking side managed by Peter Lowther. Liggan considers her selection as "an ambition fulfilled." She is playing on the South American circuit at present. In last summer's Irish Open, she didn't quite live up to expectations but excused herself at the time with "I was trying too hard." Trials have decided the composition of the side although the final test in the series for the number four spot between Yvonne Doyle and Lesley O'Halloran fell through due to an injury sustained by O'Halloran.