The Government has confirmed a €3.5 million investment through the Shared Island initiative towards the redevelopment of cricket facilities at the Stormont Estate in Belfast, strengthening preparations for Ireland and the UK’s joint hosting of the 2030 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
The investment will support the transformation of the Stormont venue into an international-standard facility capable of hosting World Cup matches during the tournament.
The redevelopment represents a significant element of Ireland’s preparations for what is expected to be the largest sporting event ever staged on the island in terms of global broadcast reach and international engagement.
The announcement follows the Government’s existing commitment to developing the new National Cricket Centre at the Sport Ireland Campus in Blanchardstown, the first sod of which was turned last week, and is scheduled for completion in 2029, becoming the largest-capacity cricket venue in Ireland for the tournament.
Together, the two projects underline an increasingly coordinated all-island approach to major event hosting, with Stormont set to ensure that the benefits of co-hosting the World Cup are shared across both jurisdictions.
The funding was announced by Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, and Minister of State for Sport and Postal Policy, Charlie McConalogue TD.
Minister O’Donovan highlighted the broader significance of the investment, noting that sport continues to offer opportunities for meaningful cross-border collaboration.
“There are many exciting opportunities for enhanced cross-border working, including through sport,” he said. “The funding from the Shared Island programmes announced today further showcases the potential of these opportunities.”
“Recognising the growth of cricket in Ireland in recent years, including among the growing community from South Asia, the proposed development will provide Cricket Ireland with the facilities required not only to co-host major international matches, but also to grow participation numbers,” he said.
“This investment reflects our shared ambition for an all-island approach to hosting major international sporting events and to build high-quality sports infrastructure for the benefit of everyone, from grassroots participants all the way up to elite-level athletes.”
Minister McConalogue said the World Cup offered an opportunity not only to showcase Ireland internationally but also to leave a lasting sporting legacy.
“I am looking forward to Ireland co-hosting the 2030 Cricket T20 World Cup, along with the UK, and it will be exciting to see some of those matches taking place in the National Sports Campus in Dublin and in Stormont Estate in Belfast,” he said.
“Having World Cup matches in Ireland will boost participation levels amongst all age groups, both through the profile of the event and related legacy programmes, North and South.”
Sport for Business Perspective
The funding announcement is notable not only for its sporting significance but also for what it says about the growing role of major events within Ireland’s broader economic and diplomatic strategy.
The 2030 T20 World Cup has the potential to reach audiences measured in the hundreds of millions worldwide, offering Ireland a platform unlike any previous sporting event staged on the island.
The decision to invest in venues both North and South reinforces the increasingly collaborative approach being taken to major event hosting and highlights sport’s ability to deliver lasting infrastructure, participation and social benefits beyond the tournament itself.
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Image Credit: Leinster Rugby, Leo Cullen with Leinster Rugby CEO Shane Nolan.
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