Ireland takes major step for cricket with approval of permanent cricket stadium in Dublin

The Irish government has given the green light to build a permanent international cricket stadium and a High Performance Centre at the National Sports Campus in Dublin.

This initiative is part of a broader strategy to position Ireland as a co-host, alongside England and Scotland, for the 2030 T20 World Cup.

Earlier this year, Ireland had to cancel plans to host Australia for their first-ever men's bilateral series, citing the lack of a dedicated home ground as a significant hurdle.

Presently, Ireland's cricket infrastructure includes four ODI-rated venues—Malahide, Clontarf, Stormont, and Bready. However, these are primarily club grounds with temporary seating, making the cost of staging international matches, including the necessary temporary infrastructure, prohibitively expensive.

In recent years, Ireland has had to stage home matches against South Africa and Bangladesh in England and will host South Africa later this year in Abu Dhabi.

The project will be rolled out in phases, with the first phase scheduled for completion in 2028. This phase will see the construction of a main cricket oval with permanent seating for 4,000 spectators, along with a high-performance centre and essential facilities such as a pavilion for players and officials.

The proposed complex will also feature both indoor and outdoor practice and training areas.