Cricket Leinster, over the past five years has seen huge growth within the game, particularly in the Dublin 15 area. There was little or no cricket being played in areas like Blacnhardstown, Mulhuddart, Tyrellstown, Castleknock, Corduff, etc. up to five years ago. Now in 2013, we have introduced cricket to more than 8000 people in the area.
Children in fifteen National schools have been introduced to cricket through our 'school coaching visit' programme. On the back of these visits, schools have then been invited to compete in 4th and 5th class blitz competitions held annually at the Corduff Sport Centre. Following on from this, schools have been encouraged to enter into the Cricket Leinster's Leprechaun Cup ‘hardball’ competition. Nine schools from the Dublin 15 area are now playing in this competition. Over 1500 schoolchildren in the area receive formal cricket coaching each year from qualified Leinster coaches.
National Schools:
St Philip’s NS (Blanchardstown), St Brigids NS (Castleknock,)
St Mochta’s NS (Blanchardstown), St Patrick’s NS (Diswellstown),
Scoil Mhuire NS (Blanchardstown), Castleknock ET (Castleknock),
Castaheany ET (Castaheany), Castleknock NS (Castleknock),
Tyrrelstown ET (Tyrrelstown), Mulhuddart NS (Mulhuddart),
St Francis Xavier NS (Blachardstown), Sacred Heart NS (Hartstown),
Ladyswell NS (Mulhuddart) and St Patricks NS (Corduff).
Cricket has also been played or introduced into six Secondary Schools. We have seen four schools from the area compete in the Leinster schools league. The growth in cricket in the area has even led to several schools now entering more than one team at different age-groups.
Secondary Schools:
Castleknock Community College
Setanta Community College
Castleknock College
Lutrellstown Community College
Coolmine Community College
Mount Sackville School
One of the great successes from introducing cricket to children in the area has been the establishment of two new cricket clubs over the last 24 months. Castleknock Cricket Club (formerly Clonee CC)started three years ago and now has three senior men’s teams in the Leinster leagues (Division 14, 11 and 6). They also are looking to start a youth section in the club this year. Thanks to the support by the Fingal County Council and Cricket Leinster they were able to gain use of a ground at Porterstown Park and also an artificial wicket to play their league games on. The ground has also been used for Leprechaun Cup matches involving local national schools. Tyrellstown Cricket Club has also started in the last two years. They have both a men's and ladies team and also looking to start a youth section. Sessions for the children are held on Saturday's at the Tyrellstown Community Centre and will be moving outdoors over the next few weeks. With the help of Fingal County Council and Cricket Leinster we are hoping to get their teams into the Leinster leagues and also get them a permanent ground with an artificial playing surface.
There has been several 'Introduction to cricket coaching' courses for teachers/parents in the area held at the Corduff Sports Centre over the last three years. Fifty people gained further knowledge of the game and now use what they learnt (fun games, techniques) to deliver coaching sessions to children in local schools. Thanks to one of Cricket Ireland's main sponsors, RSA Insurance, we have been able to distribute many cricket sets to schools in the area.
Cricket sessions have been delivered in over ten Youth project camps in the area. Children have enjoyed the cricket so much that these organisations keep asking us to come to deliver further sessions over the holiday periods.
The huge growth in cricket in Dublin 15 is very encouraging for all involved and we hope (with the continued support of Fingal Co Co) to keep introducing the game to more schools, organisations, clubs, children (boys and girls) in the coming years.
"The coaches have made the sessions so much fun that everybody is enthusiastic to participate in the cricket sessions and look forward to them each week. We are privileged to be able to offer the children an opportunity to experience cricket in our school."
Emer Soulsby, St Patricks NS Diswellstown. Teacher.
“We have been very fortunate to have been included in the primary school Cricket Leinster Programme sponsored by Fingal County Council since 2008. Each year, the pupils look forward to the arrival of our cricket coaches! Previous to 2008, our pupils would not have been familiar with the sport but since its introduction to our school, cricket has become one of our favourite sports! The pupils have embraced cricket with the greatest enthusiasm and in so doing, their hand/eye coordination, catching and throwing skills have improved hugely. Each pupil has embraced the team spirit involved in this game and this has also led to positive interactions within the classroom. The passion that the cricket coaches bring with them to the training is infectious and their professionalism and experience plays a huge part it the success of this initiative. We hope to continue our partnership with Cricket Leinster into the future so that the pupils of our school will continue to reap the benefits of this programme.”
Sinéad Armstrong, Principal Scoil Mhuire SNS, Hartstown.
Reinhardt Strydom
Fingal Cricket Development Officer