Cricket on solid local footing
Gorey and Wexford clubs upholding a proud tradition
THE FIRST mention of cricket in Ireland was in 1731 in the Phoenix Park as reported by the Dublin Journal, while cricket in Wexford started in 1833.
A decade later, Lord Courtown built the first oval cricket pitch in Ireland, which remains in the Burrow Road.
The game flourished throughout this country, so much so that Michael Cusack, a keen cricketer and athlete, wanted to put cricket under the umbrella of the newly-formed Gaelic Athletic Association. Alas, this motion lost out narrowly, therefore consigning cricket to a very different fate.
Most half parishes played cricket on Sundays, first recorded in Gorey in 1866 in the beautiful grounds of Ramsfort Park, attracting large crowds who enjoyed the spectacle.
Cricket matches were played in Camolin, Ballycanew, Ballyhast, Ardnamine, Wells and Ballymore as far back as 1895.
Evidence suggests cricket derived from the native Irish, as many phrases come directly from Gaelic as explained in that splendid book from local author James Caulfield, ‘The Origins of Cricket’.
Cricket may have come from an ancient game called ‘Katty’, hence the anglicised words for crioc, crios, bail, googly, etc., played by the Irish serving in the British army.
The empire modified this ancient game, using anglicised Gaelic terms, hence cricket as we know it today.
The first cricket bat documented in Lords, the home of cricket, is a shillelagh used by the native Irish.
Michael Cusack, G.A.A. President, knew of this significance and, as James Caulfield pointed out, that’s why Kilkenny are called the ‘Katts’.
The Statues of Kilkenny 1314 banned all shillelaghs, as these were very proficient weapons. The famous Rackard brothers and Hendersons were fine exponents of cricket, hence their hurling prowess.
Imagine D.J. Carey, Henry Shefflin, George O’Connor etc. playing cricket for Ireland - if only Cusack had his way.
Cricket as a significant sport declined sharply after World War 2, with many factors, other than sporting, being responsible.
The popularity of Gaelic games was chief amongst them, as both were summer events, but mainly cricket for many was regarded as a social game, with Dublin being the main exception.
Phoenix was Ireland’s first ‘competitive’ club, soon followed by seven others to create the Leinster Cricket Union in 1919.
A unified sporting body, Ireland succeeded in becoming an associate member of the International Cricket Council (I.C.C.) in 1993, playing their first one-day international in 2006 in preparation for the 2007 I.C.C. World Cup.
Notably, Ireland beat full members Pakistan and Bangladesh as well as tying with Zimbabwe, receiving a heroes’ welcome back home.
As impetus grew, Ireland followed up with an incredible victory versus England by three wickets in the 2011 World Cup. Kevin O’Brien hit the fastest century in competition history in just under 50 balls.
It was as if the roots had found fertile soil once again, a natural rhythm of hand/ eye co-ordination. Proponents of how efficient we are, if evidence was ever required, are Ed Joyce, Kevin O’Brien and Eoin Morgan, pedigrees of this global game on their successes to date.
Interestingly, the highest viewership of any Irish team in 2018, notwithstanding Ireland’s rugby Grand Slam and women’s hockey final, was the Bangladesh versus Irish women cricket match, watched by an estimated half a billion viewership.
Gorey Cricket Club’s reincarnation commenced in 2015, on the back of those famous World Cup victories (particularly versus England). The meeting took place in the landmark Loch Garman Arms Hotel.
In attendance were many local veterans from Camolin C.C. (the last regional team until 1979), along with enthusiasts, people who were newly settled in the community, as well as many ‘new’ Irish from former British colonies.
Chairperson elected was Alphonsus FitzGerald, along with these committee members: Sophie Leonard (Secretary), Shalini Sinha (Welfare Officer), Pradeep H. Gamage (Treasurer), Roger Norman, Mark Leonard, and Rashid Owais.
The first eagerly paid-up member was Joe Tyrell from Camolin, who was delighted to see the continuation of cricket in the area.
Based in the fabulous grounds of Courtown Hibs, the cricket club secured a third soccer pitch on a long-term lease, formerly an agricultural field. They ploughed and levelled it, installing an artificial wicket.
The goodwill shown by the general public was evident when all ages, both very young and old, picked stones with their bare hands, carrying buckets and pushing wheelbarrows with Francis Porter’s tractor and trailer alongside.
These memories will never fade as people generously gave their time free and contributed money generously to offset the considerable expense for the love of the game of cricket.
Trent Johnston, captain of that victorious Irish World Cup team, officially paid tribute to Gorey C.C. in the Amber Springs in 2016, recognising the strong emotions and tradition cricket has in the area.
In honour of that past, present and now future players, a Trent Johnston Perpetual Cup has been played annually amongst most of the primary schools in the Gorey/ Kilmuckridge region.
Since then over a thousand pupils have been introduced to cricket from as far afield as Kilmore N.S. to Kilanerin N.S., with the numbers growing.
A secondary schools tournament is contemplated between Gorey C.S., Creagh College and Coláiste an Atha (Kilmuckridge) such is the interest.
Gorey C.C. has exceeded expectation, with 2018 being particularly successful, winning our Cricket Leinster League Division 14 title, the Dick O’Neill Midlands/ SE Regional Cup, and reaching the final of the Russell Court Cup in Sandymount, Dublin.
A memorable anecdote from that day in the grounds of Railway Union was the diversity of players representing Gorey. A bus was organised to bring the team and supporters up to the match, with many languages spoken on the way including English, Urdu, Afrikan, Senagalese, agus cúpla focail as Gaeilge, all shouting for Gorey in their inimitable style of accent.
Currently, Gorey Cricket Club has 60 members; it includes a Senior team intent on winning Leinster Leagues, and a Development League side blending young talent with seasoned campaigners as a soon potential second team.
There is a Junior section involving hard/soft ball games, as well as a social team plus a women’s team. All our coaches are accredited, and our club welfare protocols are steadfast.
Gorey, along with Wexford Cricket Club, are the only two ‘competitive’ teams in the county, both sharing the same goal of promoting the game.
This cricket renaissance can be ascribed to Herbie Honohan, ably assisted by Peter Hudson of Wexford Wanderers, who coaches in many schools the length & breadth of Co. Wexford.
Cricket Leinster co-ordinator Naomi Scott-Hayward deserves credit for her expertise and professionalism, along with C.E.O. Philip Smith for his direction and vision, helping us navigate in times of need.
The Courtown Hibs A.F.C. Chairman and Secretary, Bert Fortune and John Carroll, are thanked for the use of their club facilities, with appreciation also to Ron Breen, groundsman par excellence, Sports Active Wexford, along with all the school principals and teachers.
Our club committee members - AL FitzGerald, Mark Leonard and Haley Squire - have travelled the long road preceded by some, accompanied by others, facing many obstacles along the way, none insurmountable, yet they remain steadfast in their objectives.
Members Vincent Murphy, Rob Millard, Ross Norman, team captain Anslem Diaz, vice-captain Umar Khan, and Gary Murphy to name but a few are also closely involved.
Ironically, the history of cricket has been recounted in oral form by some in the Indian sub-continent, tracing its origins back to the Irish - a fact we have overlooked in this country.
The games of hurling, shinty, rounders, baseball and cricket may have come from the Gaelic gene-pool. Cricket is Australia’s national game, likewise in South Africa, not to mention a vast swathe of Asia and the Caribbean.
The Irish psyche, along with our British brethren, has encapsulated what this game is really about and a large part of who we are.