Adamstown Cricket Club still enjoying growth despite new development being pushed back
By Caitlin Rundle
ADAMSTOWN Cricket Club will have to wait another year before moving into its new facility in Airlie Park because of fall-out from Covid restrictions.
Olag Sivanantham, Club Head Coach, has said that preliminary meetings with Dublin County Council have been underway.
Adamstown CC members installing new nets on the club’s training facility last year
“The cricket ground we are going to get in Airlie Park is going to be an international sized cricket ground, that will be one of its kind in all of Leinster,” Sivanantham said.
“In Ireland, in a public park, to have a cricket ground of that size will be fantastic.”
Though specifications made by Adamstown have been accepted, Sivanantham said that there are some crucial aspects to a cricket pitch that the club has struggled to get approved by the Council.
“We wanted grass wicket or a turf wicket, but the decision on that is not looking favourable to us,” he said.
“They’ve been quoting the maintenance as the reason, but I think any cricket ground needs good maintenance and there’s no two ways about it.
“The club is happy to take the maintenance part, but they are not willing to involve the club.
“I think there is definitely a lack of understanding of what is needed for a cricket ground, and I suppose the necessary backing is also missing at this time.”
The request for proper facilities is something that goes beyond having a good quality pitch. For Sivanantham, it’s about furthering the development of cricket for the community around them.
“Adamstown, you know, we stand for developing the sport and bringing the sport more into the community, so it’s not something that we want for our club, it’s more about what we need for bettering cricket and developing the players of tomorrow,” he stressed.
“Once you provide the facilities, obviously the numbers are going to increase and then naturally that is going to improve the scene in Leinster and overall in Ireland.
“I think we can be an agent for the change, but the changes are very slow.”
Sivanantham said that there is still much to be discussed before work can continue on the facility.
Adamstown is adding an eighth team to its men open competition group, making it the number one cricket club in Leinster.
Leinster Cricket has also asked all its cricket clubs to play in coloured uniforms for the upcoming season, breaking off from the traditional white uniforms worn by teams.
Sivanantham said the excitement for the new uniforms is elevated by the addition of a new sponsor, Adamstown Londis.
“Adamstown Londis has been a community champion, you know, supporting all of the community organisations over the last 10 years and more,” he said.
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