GREAT PROGRESS IN WICKLOW & DLR AREAS

Cricket Leinster’s Development Programme in North Wicklow and DLR (led by Jim Stewart, Development Officer) has delivered well despite the prevailing conditions. 

In Wicklow, 122 sessions were delivered to 557 boys and 520 girls total 1077 children within 8 schools, including St. Patrick’s Wicklow Town and Greystones Community National School who had never experienced cricket before. Between the two schools, pupils participated from over 20 different nationality backgrounds.

During June, cricket featured in Sports Day events in several schools for the first time ever with a mixture of games being played.

Moving through to the club environment, coaching sessions have been held with Greystones Women’s team to support the development of key skills and encourage growth within the Women’s section.

Sessions are also being held with many youth cricketers within the area. There are now 66 registered youth players at Greystones CC which is over double the 2020 number and this includes 16 under 9s - this augurs well for the long term future at the club.

In Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, our recent focus has been to develop new schools within the catchment area including Our Lady’s Girls National School, Ballinteer, Our Lady of the Wayside, Kilternan and St. Attracta’s National School - all have received development visits for the first time.

A total of 780 children, 229 Boys and 481 girls, received coaching over 115 sessions.

Within safety constraints, school pod blitzes have taken place which have proven extremely popular with the children and schools alike.

DLR Cricket Club is committed to establishing a Youth Section next year and coach development sessions will be offered to club members and teachers within the area as part of this development strategy.

In summary, over 1,850 children (most of them new to the sport) have received an extended introduction to cricket this year with a view to full participation in next year’s cup competitions.