Irish government approves national cricket stadium

Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom has described the Irish government’s decision to grant approval to develop a national cricket stadium as “up there in terms of significance with the day we became a full member of the ICC”.

The Irish government said on Wednesday that “approval has been given to commence the planning and design phase of this exciting project”.

Planning and design will be completed by mid-2025 with the tender phase to follow for the National Cricket Stadium and High Performance Centre, which will be located in the National Sports Campus in Blanchardstown.

Phase one, which will include the delivery of a main cricket oval and permanent seating for 4,000 spectators with space to accommodate additional temporary seating, is scheduled to be completed in 2028.

Deutrom described Wednesday’s announcement as “absolutely fantastic”.

“It is a huge tribute to everybody involved at all levels in Irish cricket who have got us to the stage whereby the government genuinely regards us as a sport of national significance worthy of major investment,” said the Cricket Ireland chief.

“These facilities will help drive the sport forward – they will significantly assist our highest performing players nationally and provincially to prepare, train and perform better on the world stage.”

The Cricket Ireland chief said the permanent venue would also ensure “we have a platform suitable of hosting the world’s top teams on an annual basis and also when we co-host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with England and Scotland in 2030”.

“It’s going to take time to get there – likely three, maybe even four years, until we begin to use it, but today’s announcement fires the starting pistol on the project,” Deutrom added.

“It means we’re going to be using much less temporary infrastructure, which means we can put that money instead into people and programmes – and allow us to focus investment into club and regional facilities and infrastructure through our new club fund – to help grow the game.”

Cricket Ireland chair Brian MacNeice “offered our wholehearted thanks” to Irish Sports Minister Catherine Martin and Minister of State for Sport Thomas Byrne, in addition to Sport Ireland, “for their generous support for and belief in cricket”.

“This investment will help shape our future as a sport and support our ambitions to be a major sport in Ireland, and a major nation in world cricket,” he added.