National cricket stadium to be located in Blanchardstown

The home of Irish cricket will be located in Blanchardstown.

In mid-August, it was announced that the National Cricket Stadium will be located in the pre-existing National Sports Campus in Blanchardstown, with hopes to have the main cricket oval and seating for 4000 fans in place by 2028.

The facility was announced by Minister for Sport Catherine Martin, following news that the National Velodrome will also be located in Blanchardstown.

Planning and design are looking to be completed by the middle of 2025, with the project going out to tender following that.

The cricket facility will be built in phases, with expectations of there being indoor and outdoor practice and training areas.

In time, the centre will be capable of hosting major international cricket events. 

Minister 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 will provide Cricket Ireland with the facilities required to further grow participation numbers,” she said.

With the Olympics in Paris having just wrapped up and Irish athletes coming home with a record medal haul, Martin already has an eye on the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Cricket will be a medal event at the next Olympics, and Martin hopes the centre in Blanchardstown will allow Ireland to compete at the event.

 “I have no doubt that this new facility will deliver a transformational impact on Irish cricket and, as a result, we will be cheering on Irish teams at Olympic Games in the not too distant future,” she said.

 Minister of State for Sport Thomas Byrne said “continued Government investment is essential to increasing participation levels in all sports, across all sectors of society. We understand that in order to achieve our participation targets, we must provide world-class sporting facilities for our athletes.”

“The development of international standard facilities is also necessary to enable Ireland to act as a host nation for major international sports events and competitions.”

Byrne noted that Ireland will be co-hosting the 2030 Men’s Cricket T20 World Cup alongside the UK, and the development of the stadium in Blanchardstown will help Ireland in its co-hosting duties.

“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.”

Byrne said the pre-existing National Sports Campus in Blanchardstown is already an “invaluable” part of Ireland’s sporting infrastructure, and the recently announced National Velodrome and cricket stadium will enhance it. 

“The National Sports Campus is already an invaluable part of the sporting infrastructure of the country and this development, along with the National Velodrome and Badminton Centre, will further enhance what are already world class sporting and support facilities.”

 Speaking on behalf of Sport Ireland, CEO Dr. Úna May said “we are very happy at this news about Ministerial approval for Sport Ireland to progress the project design and planning in respect of a National Cricket Stadium and training facility at the Sport Ireland Campus.”

 “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.”