RECORD ATTENDANCE AT CL AWARDS NIGHT (31.1.2025)

Thanks from Cricket Leinster all those who attended the Awards Night & Gala Dinner last night at the Round Room in the Mansion House.

With over 400 people in attendance from 32 clubs, it was a busy night with 58 trophies, awards and cups presented by a combination of Siobhan McBennett (2024 President) and Meena Baskarasubramanian (2025 President).

The MC for the evening was Sile Seoige who did a brilliant job in ensuring a smooth operation and high levels of audience engagement throughout the event.

Our thanks to Sports Hub (Arun Kumar & Yogesh Kashyap) for their sponsorship and support of the event.

Some key individual awards were also announced on the night including:

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR (2024)

Jimmy Dooley (Carlow CC)

We were all privileged to have Ciaran Sharp back from Australia and on stage to present the Volunteer of the Year award in memory of his Dad, Michael Sharp, who was an incredibly dedicated volunteer over many decades for his club, his province and his country.

The third winner of this Award was announced as Jimmy Dooley who has been involved in the running of Carlow Cricket Club since its re-establishment in 2011. Passionate about cricket development, he places a special emphasis on promoting cricket for kids, and supporting the development of social cricket for the 'less youthful' members of his club and the surrounding midlands region.

Jimmy is also a strong advocate for inclusion with a particular focus on helping refugees, asylum seekers and migrant workers as they become part of the club cricket community. His tireless work over many years has seen him oversee his club’s development team, deliver youth cricket camps in school holidays and provide 'taster' sessions at primary schools – all whilst also continuing to promote cricket within Carlow Regional Youth Services, and the wider community.

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES (2024)

Derek Brennan (Terenure CC)

We were honoured to have Therese and Lorraine Brennan join us to accept the CL Hall of Fame Award which was made to Derek Brennan on a posthumous basis. Derek’s contribution to cricket in Leinster and Ireland was immense in particular as a volunteer administrator.

Amongst his many contributions, the late Derek Brennan served in all officer posts at his club, was instrumental in guiding the then CYM to senior club status and also served a term as Chair of the Irish Cricket Union (now Cricket Ireland).

Derek was also President of Cricket Leinster back in 1997/98 a post he fulfilled with great distinction.

Derek was synonymous with the establishment and growth of the cricket-based charity, Lords Taverners Ireland (LTI) and led the volunteer team at LTI in raising significant sums of money for the benefit of young people with special needs. In particular, Derek led the LTI Events Committee which delivered the hugely successful annual LTI Christmas Fundraising Lunch which is now a marquee event in the calendar of the club cricket community.

Alan Lewis (YMCA CC)

Alan Lewis was the second inductee on the night and was recognised for his massive contribution to cricket in Leinster over his lifetime, as a player, administrator, club official, sponsor and Board member.

Since his illustrious playing days, Lewie has provided decades of sponsorship support to Cricket via his family business including long-term sponsorship for the Leinster Senior Cup. He also previously provided sponsorship support for the fledgling Bolts/Emerging players concept as a means of providing a pathway for emerging young players in the province. Currently serving as a Director on the Cricket Leinster Board, he was the driving force behind the hugely successful YMCA cricket club which prioritised the development of youth cricketers and provided countless provincial and International players under his guidance, direction and oversight (both male and female).

It was noted that his late father (Ian) was similarly inducted into the CL Hall of Fame back in 2004 so it was fitting that tonight’s second inductee follows in his Dad’s footsteps 20 years on – congrats to Lewie.

Both awards were presented on stage by Siobhan McBennett to a standing ovation from the entire room.

The evening concluded with a DJ and energetic dancing - all great fun as the club cricket community celebrated a brilliant 2024 season and looked forward to the 2025 season which is now just a few weeks away!

All award winners are listed below: