It’s a big week for Cricket Ireland with an international against England in Malahide on Friday and the AGM of the sport concluded over the weekend.
Former Mayor of Fingal County Council David O’Connor was elected as the new President of Cricket Ireland yesterday.
“I’m very proud to represent my club North County, Fingal and Leinster cricket by becoming President of Cricket Ireland,” said O’Connor.
“It will be an exciting year ahead and one which I’m looking forward to watching Irish sides – men, women and underage – at home and on the world stage.”
“While it’s indeed a great honour personally, I’m very conscious of the footsteps I’m stepping into and am delighted to be following our first-ever woman president Aideen Rice.”
“Aideen has done a fantastic job travelling Ireland and the world to represent us all. She had a lovely style and panache about her, she threw herself fully into the role. It was particularly great she was there for our women cricketers, and I hope I can continue to represent all cricketers – international and local – across Ireland as well as Aideen did.”
O’Connor’s term of office will coincide with Ireland’s first full test match at Lords in July.
Outgoing President Aideen Rice paid an emotional tribute to the people of Sri Lanka after last weekend’s tragedy across the country. She revealed that Cricket ireland officials had stayed in a number of the hotels that were attacked while on tour with the Ireland Wolves team.
Speaking as part of her farewell address she reflected that “There were so many highlights from the year – for me in the role it started with the first men’s Test Match. Just the sheer scale of everything about it – the media, the hospitality, even the match itself, it swung around like a good Test Match should.”
“The two T20Is against India – two 10,000 sell-out crowds – were also great occasions. And I was of course delighted to be in Guyana at the World Cup to represent a women’s team on the world stage.”
