The Irish government has approved plans to build a permanent international cricket stadium and a High-Performance Centre at the National Sports Campus in Dublin. This ambitious project aims to prepare Ireland to co-host the 2030 T20 World Cup alongside England and Scotland.
Earlier this year, Ireland had to cancel the opportunity to host Australia for their first-ever men’s bilateral series due to the lack of a dedicated cricket stadium.
Currently, Ireland has four ODI-rated venues—Malahide, Clontarf, Stormont, and Bready—but all are club grounds with temporary seating. The high costs associated with setting up temporary infrastructure at these venues have been a significant challenge. In recent years, Ireland has had to play its home fixtures against South Africa and Bangladesh in England, and later this year, they will host South Africa in Abu Dhabi. The new stadium will address these issues by providing a permanent home for Irish cricket.
The project will be executed in phases, with the first phase focusing on the construction of the main cricket oval, which will feature permanent seating for 4,000 spectators, a high-performance centre, and other essential facilities like a players' and officials' pavilion. This phase is expected to be completed by 2028. The development will also include both indoor and outdoor practice and training areas.
Warren Deutrom, CEO of Cricket Ireland, expressed his excitement, calling the announcement a significant milestone for Irish cricket. He also emphasised that the stadium will increase the number of pitches available, allowing Ireland to host more cricket at home. Whether for men’s or women’s teams, at the national or provincial level, this new facility will help ensure that Irish cricket continues to grow and thrive on home soil.