Ireland is to get a new national stadium, but not for the sport you think

Plans to progress the development of a new National Cricket Stadium have been formally approved by the government.

The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin and the Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education and the Gaeltacht, Thomas Byrne have announced approval for the new stadium and High Performance Centre project to proceed to the pre-tender phase.

The centre, which will be located at the National Sports Campus in Blanchardstown, Dublin will deliver a permanent home for cricket in Ireland that meets International Cricket Council requirements for hosting major cricket events and competitions. 

It is anticipated that the proposed facilities would include both indoor and outdoor practice and training areas and an arena for holding major games with associated media and spectator facilities. This would enable Ireland to host major international cricket events.

It is hoped the planning and design phase will be completed by mid-2025 with the delivery of a main cricket oval, seating for 4,000 spectators, a high performance centre and some ancillary facilities, completed by 2028.

Commenting on the announcement, Minister Catherine Martin said: “While cricket is a sport with really deep roots in Ireland, it’s also a sport that reflects the diversity and plurality of today’s society. It is really pleasing to see how the sport has grown, at all levels, in Ireland over recent years, particularly the increase in female participation numbers and among our growing community from South Asia. A national stadium and high performance centre will provide Cricket Ireland with the facilities required to further grow participation numbers.” 

In addition, Minister Byrne added: “As we look forward to Ireland co-hosting the 2030 Men’s Cricket T20 World Cup with the UK, the development of a national cricket stadium and high performance centre is timely. It will be really exciting to see some of those matches taking place in the new oval at the National Sports Campus in Blanchardstown. It will further open up the Campus to the wider country and build awareness of what a unique asset Ireland has in this 550 acre site.”

Speaking on behalf of Sport Ireland, CEO Dr. Úna May added: “This state-of-the-art venue will be a game-changer for cricket in Ireland, providing a high-performance training facility for our athletes to hone and showcase their talents and for fans to experience the thrill of the game up close.  This news marks a significant milestone in the Government’s commitment to elevating Irish cricket to new heights. We’re looking forward to seeing the incredible matches and memorable moments that will take place here.”