Club cricket in Leinster, perhaps more than most sports, has proved vulnerable to changing social, economic and political conditions. 150 years ago cricket was on an upswing in Dublin and the surrounding counties as new clubs formed and the numbers playing the game increased. Less than twenty years on and the game was in serious decline with its rural base undermined by the land war and as the forces of nationalism took hold cricket found itself branded as a foreign sport.
But club cricket also suffered from internal problems, a dearth of volunteers, the fickle interest of players, a lack of grounds and poor organisation. Cricket was already in decline even as the political winds turned against it. Clubs were easy to set up but frequently did not last long as the enthusiasm of volunteers waned. Although many clubs were formed during this era, only five [Phoenix, Trinity, Civil Service, Pembroke and Leinster] with direct links to the present day could be said to be firmly established during this period.
Today the sport is once again gaining in popularity, helped in this case by the success of the Irish team and a growing community of players from the Indian sub-continent. Although the environment in which the sport operates today can be counted as more positive than at any time within living memory, the challenges facing many clubs remain formidable. This inevitably raises the question of what we can do to make sure that the sport at club level is on a sustainable growth path.
Consultation with the clubs on a strategic vision and development plans for cricket in Leinster is underway and anyone interested should get the relevant documents from their club and provide input to its deliberations.
In the meantime, if you want to read more about the story of cricket in 1860s go to Archives > Articles : Cricket in the 1860s.