Leinster

The Leinster Cricket Club came into being on May 1st, 1852. According to the original minute book preserved in John Lawrence’s Handbook for 1865, “twenty five names were immediately enrolled as original members.”

The first match was played on June 29th 1852 against Roebuck, who scored 52 and 44 to Leinster’s 62 and 24, and the first victory was not recorded until September when in the very last match of the season Kingstown were defeated “amid scenes of wild jubilation and celebration.”

The club in those early tentative years wandered about Rathmines, from Grosvenor Square, its original ground, to Rathgar, opposite the end of Garville Avenue in 1853. The following year it moved again, this time to the vicinity of Palmerstown Park where it remained until 1861. The next move was to Emor Ville, opposite Portobello Gardens, on the South Circular Road, before finally coming to roost in the present location in 1865.

Since then Leinster has developed into the club it is today - a host of numerous international matches and winners of dozens of trophies (including the 2009 Irish Senior Cup).

Joining one of Ireland’s top cricket clubs couldn’t be easier, and in these tough times, is cheap as well. Whether you are looking to play cricket for men, women, and youth or with the taverners, there is a good deal for you. See our club page at cricketleinster.ie/clubs/leinster for further details.

  * Men - First year of membership - €300. subsequent years - €365 full member of Leinster, enabling you to be selected for Leinster teams, have use of the brand new net facilities and bowling machine and use of the pavilion. You also automatically become members of all the other sections in the club, including tennis, squash, bowls, and table tennis.

  * Women - First year of membership - €225. Subsequent years - €275. As with men, membership entitles you to selection on one of our three women’s teams. Many members are currently a part of the full Ireland team, so a great opportunity to learn from the best.

  * Student Membership (in full time student education and under 25 years of age) €225.

  * Youth - Under 19 €170 (including a €70 coaching levy) Under 9 €140 (including a €40 coaching levy) our youth coaching set-up caters from the ages of 6 - 18, both boys and girls. As with the adults, youth membership enables you to try your hand at any of the other sports in the complex, as well as playing cricket on any of our 16 youth teams, from under 9s to under 19s, boys and girls. Coaching for the 6-13 age group is primarily every Sunday morning throughout the summer, with other coaching arranged during the week.

  * Taverners - First year of membership - €205. €250 in subsequent years. If the thought of playing league cricket is a bit too much, then join our Taverners section who play a slightly more relaxed form of cricket on Friday nights.

If you have any queries regarding joining Leinster Cricket Club, please get in touch with Gill in the club office on (01) 497 2428, Email . The office is located just inside the main entrance of the club, and is open on weekday mornings.

Leinster Cricket Club is situated in the historic Observatory Lane ground, in the heart of Rathmines, which is conveniently situated close to the city centre and also areas such as Ranelagh, Terenure, Templeogue, Rathfarnham, Dundrum, Sandyford and Tallaght.

The ground is served by many bus services which stop outside the ground, as well as the Ranelagh Luas stop.