Cricket Ireland is to create a new National Performance Centre on the grounds of the National Sports Campus.
The announcement was made by Cricket Ireland CEO Warren Deutrom at the Cricket Ireland Annual Awards in Dublin on Friday.
The project will see the development of 14 grass nets, a 90 metre outfield for fielding work and centre wicket practice, an artificial practice area and seating and storage areas for players, staff and equipment.
There will be a permanent poly carbonate cover over part of the facility to enable training to take place even if rain is falling.
Funding
Cricket Ireland will fund the development of the new training area, which will be utilised by Ireland’s international and inter-provincial sides, with technical assistance from Sport Ireland.
The new facility will be located adjacent to the existing Sport Ireland Institute High Performance Training Centre on the Campus. This will enable Cricket Ireland avail of the training, analysis and rehab facilities on offer at the Institute.
The €600,000 development has been made possible thanks to support from the International Cricket Council, Denis O’Brien, the Irish Government and Sport Ireland.
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“The development of Cricket Ireland’s first-ever dedicated outdoor training centre is a huge step forward for Irish cricket,” said Deutrom.
“For the first time, our performance squads – male and female, senior and junior, national, provincial and academy – will be able to train on a day-to-day basis in a state-of-the-art facility controlled by Cricket Ireland.”
“We are grateful to the Government and Sport Ireland for providing us with the land, and to the ICC which is clearly increasing its support for Ireland’s aspirations – by granting first-class status to our Hanley Energy Inter-provincial competition; through our elevation to the 12-team ODI structure; and by granting an additional $500k in 2016 and 2017 to help us afford the matches.”
Denis O’Brien
“I would also like to extend our particular gratitude to Denis O’Brien, who continues to play a vital, yet unheralded role, in the growth of Irish cricket.”
“For the last 10 years Denis has always been ready to answer our call – from supporting our team in the Caribbean World Cup in 2007 and then our first cohort of contracted players, to helping us stage our major matches and, now, helping us build our first outdoor performance centre.”
“He has played a central role in helping us punch above our weight on the world stage and, for this, we are enormously grateful.”
Both Ministers responsible for sport were quick to add their praise for the development.
“With the imminent completion of the National Indoor Arena along with this new Cricket facility, the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus is now well on its way to becoming the home of Irish sport,” said Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross.
The Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan also welcomed the development saying “This facility will give Irish based players access to quality training and preparation. Cricket is now one of Ireland’s fastest growing sports, being played in more schools, clubs and teams than ever before.”
“I am sure that the development of this new facility and the continued success of the Irish cricket team will ensure that it continues to grow in popularity throughout the country.”
“The Sport Ireland National Sports Campus is continuing to grow at a pace and the addition of cricket to the site is a welcome one, which will no doubt have a significant impact on the development of Cricket Ireland’s high-performance programme, added Sport Ireland Chairman Kieran Mulvey.
“The development of these world-class training facilities, along with the opening of the National Indoor Arena early next year, will help cement the Campus’ position as the central hub of sport in Ireland.”
Sponsors
Ed Joyce and Ciara Metcalfe won the Senior Men’s and Women’s Cricketer of the Year Awards at the ceremony in Dublin on Friday. Major sponsors including KPC Group, Shapoorji Pillonji, Toyota and O’Neill’s had their names assigned to a number of the awards and there was a strong sense that despite less than stellar performance on the field this year that the future for the sport in Ireland is very bright.
The Irish Women’s team will be travelling to Sri Lanka in February to bid to qualify for the Cricket World Cup taking place in England in the summer while the men’s team will make their first ever appearance at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, the spiritual home of the sport in May.
