Marian Cricket Club was established in April 2010 to bring past pupils of the secondary school Marian College and cricket enthusiasts together. Marian College is located in Ballsbridge next to the new Lansdowne Road Stadium (where according to Ger Siggins cricket was played back in the day). Although not renowned as a cricketing school (more know for its basketball and water polo), it nevertheless has a strong association with the game. Two of the schools most famous past pupils are Niall and Kevin O'Brien, currently starring for Ireland in the 2011 World Cup. Another who played on the international stage was Railway Union’s Roger Whelan. Other past pupils include Brian O'Rourke who having won Sportsman of the Year in 1988 went on to become one of the most successful club players in Irish cricket. In more recent times Paul O'Connor has represented Leinster at underage level while Merrion’s R R Murali is currently a member of the Leinster U’17 training squad. Well known cricket writers Emmet Riordan and Ger Siggins are also past pupils of the school.
Marian currently plays in the ‘Alf O’Connell’ Leinster schools league (Senior B) and is managed and coached by staff member Hugh O’Byrne and Railway Union’s Kenny Carroll respectively. Many of the pupils within Marian were first introduced to the game by playing cricket at local feeder primary school Star of the Sea.
Although very much of a basketball background school principal Paul Meany is delighted Marian College are currently competing against some of Dublin’s top cricketing schools.
‘Situated in the heart of Dublin 4, Marian College is also situated in the centre of one of the highest concentrations of crickets clubs and cricket pitches in any area of the island with the Pembroke, Railway Union, YMCA, Merrion and Leinster clubs all within a short distance of the school.
As a boy, I had the pleasure to playing underage for Railway Union when one of the greatest cricketers of the time was “Ginger” O’Brien of Railway Union and Ireland fame. Years later as Principal of Marian College, I was delighted to be able to work with the O’Brien family as the various boys – including Niall and Kevin - went through Marian College.
We also had the opportunity in the 1980’s to admire the cricketing prowess and success of Brian O’Rourke, then associated with the Pembroke Club, and now the development Manager for Leinster cricket, as well as two of the journalists who recently covered the Irish World Cup odyssey, Gerry Siggins and Emmet Riordan.
In the early part of the new century, as Ireland received a wave of new immigrants, Marian College became part of that immigration story with students from India, Pakistan and South Africa, who were interested in continuing with cricket here in Ireland, joining the College community. One of these, Murali R.R., now about to sit his Leaving certificate exam, showed particular enthusiasm and leadership and convinced our Director of Sport, Mr Hughie O’Byrne, to enter the schools cricket competitions for the first time.
We hope to capitalise on the new wave of interest in cricket and although the schools’ cricket season is short, we look forward to a new chapter in the story of cricket for pupils at Marian College’.
Many of the Marian team developed an interest in the game following Ireland’s successful exploits in recent years and banded together to play informally at Séan Moore Park or the ‘Séan Moore Oval’ as it has become known of late. More recently they have been using Pembroke cricket club as a training and match venue.
The team comprises primarily of past pupils but all new members are welcome. The club hopes to arrange taveners games this season and would welcome any invitation to play.
Please contact John Ryan on 086 1622543 if your club would be interested in arranging a fixture.