Terrorism remains one of the most pressing challenges in modern law enforcement. But how do terrorist actors plan and operate? What strategies can help identify threats early and respond effectively? This intensive seminar is designed for young police officers and IPA members who seek to deepen their understanding of counter-terrorism and develop practical investigative skills
IPA
Cricket
I hope that you are enjoying the summer season and all that comes with this welcome time of the year. Many of our Regions have been making the most of the period, with events on land and water. It has also been a productive time at National Executive level, with the new Committee working hard to implement a number of new initiatives which will hopefully improve IPA for all of our members.
In this edition, we have a mix of articles which I hope you will find of interest. There is a short report on National Congress and a brief introduction to the new NEC. Our Assistant Treasurer/Supplies Officer James Codd tells us about the upcoming 70th Anniversary Friendship Week in Dublin, with an invite to join the Group for a might of music on 30th September in Dublin. There are over thirty guests from abroad attending.
Our regular contributor James Healy has penned an interesting article on the history of Cricket in Ireland, a sport which is growing in popularity here. Sport is an important part of IPA and Section Ireland has always proudly participated in events here and abroad, we may even see an IPA Cricket Club in the years to come.
Our new NEC member and long time IPA Hiking Club member, Danny Devlin, has a great article about his recent walking trip to Hadrian’s Wall in the UK. This trip took him across towns and villages where he met up with local IPA members, a unique experience made all the better by IPA membership.
Finally, we would continue to encourage you to go to our website and register for online access, before downloading the IPA App. This will provide you with prompt communications on IPA activity and events worldwide. Don’t forget to turn on ‘push notifications’. We are now at over 3,000 members registered and climbing.
I wish you and those close to you a relaxing Summer.
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Dear Colleagues,
I hope that the summer season is treating you all well and that you all get to enjoy some down time. I am pleased to say that the new NEC committee has been working hard over the last few months. We have had NEC meetings, Professional Commission Meetings, Editorial Board meetings, Heads of Commission meetings and 70thAnniversary/Friendship week meetings since we started in our positions in April of this year. The plans for the Friendship week and Gala Ball are well advanced and I hope that all regions will be represented at our half yearly meeting during the friendship week in early October. We will have some international guests with us including our very special guest, our international president Mr. Martin Hoffman.
In the last few months regions have been busy organising events with Region 12 Westmeath, Region 20 Cork North, Region 4 DMR North and Region 29 Galway all having very successful events. I would have liked to attend all events, however, I was only available for one event during this time and this was the very successful IPA Aran Event run by Michael Walsh of the Galway Region.
I have been attending this annual event for the last 8 years (it has been running for 11 years) and it never ceases to amaze me how well organised the whole few days are. Every year is slightly different and this year we had fantastic weather which helped immensely. The event started out as a 2 day event and has developed into a 3 night event, and with the same families, along with some new ones, returning each year, its lovely to see the bond of friendship that has emerged with the children over the years. It has gotten to a stage each year when summer comes around that my 2 boys are asking what date is Aran on for fear they’d miss it? They are not worried about foreign holidays, just so excited about returning to Aran to take up where they left off with their friends from the previous years. The same could be said for the adults !
No names will be mentioned here but there may be proof of some new members this year taking on the mantle of putting out the breakfast before they go to bed. Myself and Mick did it one night (as we have done for the last few years) but the younger lads took over the baton to ensure it continues (proof is in the picture for those who wake up next morning to photos on the WhatsApp group), one of many funny moments over the few days.
We also have our Little Blue Hero families on this magical trip along with the amazing volunteers who give up their time to care for the little blue heroes and hope to give their parents a little respite while on Aran. To see the joy in the faces of the little blue heroes and also their parents and siblings, being able to enjoy something they may not have experienced before. It really is a
special few days for those families and special that they chose to spend it with IPA families and their children. Long may it continue. The hotel speaks for itself.. . Niall and crew do a fantastic job every year from collecting us from the ferry to making sure that all runs smoothly over the few days. It really is a magical place to stay, and it wouldn’t be that if they weren’t so good to all of us while we are there.
It is so good that the majority of people on checking out – book for next year already! In the middle of it all you have John and Emma Walsh providing a BBQ at the beach for everyone each year, and after a nice cold swim it’s nice to have the warm food handed up to you! Thanks John and Emma! A final thanks to Mick Walsh for the organisation of the whole event. It is a credit to you every year Mick and long may it last into the future!
Before I finish, I would like to remember an old colleague of mine who I worked with in Edenderry Garda Station, Garda Alan Moran. This year is the 10th Anniversary of Alans passing and while I was unable to attend, his colleagues in Tullamore and Edenderry organised a golf tournament in memory of Alan, to remember him on his 10th Anniversary. I believe Alan’s Wife Catriona and their daughters Brona and Ava were in attendance, along with Tom Moran, Alan’s Father and some other family members. I hope this shows Alan’s extended family that he hasn’t been forgotten and will never be forgotten by his friends and colleagues. Well done to members of our local IPA committee in Laois/Offaly for taking this on and organising it. It is nice to think that 10 years on we haven’t forgotten our friend and colleague Alan.
I look forward to seeing you all in September/October for the Friendship week, half yearly meeting and Gala Ball.
Yours in Friendship
Carlo Griffin, President, IPA Section Ireland.
President IPA Ireland E: president@ipaireland.org
IPA Region 22 Limerick member, Garda Leanne McCarthy, is pictured here with members of a visiting group of Police Officers from Middletown, Connecticut, USA, who travelled to Ireland as part of the Middletown PBA Pipes and Drums. Leanne, who is attached to Roads Policing in Limerick City, plays with the Tralee Pipes and Drums, so was no doubt well able to keep the visitors entertained.
Chris Cahill
Section Ireland held its National Congress in the medieval City of Kilkenny on 2nd to 4th April 2025. This was of course a special year, as it marked the end of the three year terms of the National Executive Committee (NEC), Internal Auditors, Standing Orders Committee, and Honourary Life Membership Committee. President Conor O’ Higgins signed off having served in the role for two terms, and in what was certainly a sign of a healthy IPA Section, there were plenty of candidates for key position s.
National Congress was officially opened by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, and it was fantastic to see such a turnout of members at what is
our primary decision making forum, with a large contingent of our Young Police Officers assisting in the running of the event. A number of important motions were discussed and voted on, and as always there was lively debate.
An important element of every National Council/ Congress is of course the social side of IPA, and the Marble City certainly provided a great backdrop, with the pending elections the main subject of conversation over a few well deserved beverages. The elections were the last order of business, and before long the new NEC was elected, preceded by the new President for the 2025 to 2028 term –Carlo Griffi n.
The following members were elected/re-elected to the NEC for this term:
PRESIDENT CARLO GRIFFIN
1st VICE PRESIDENT
VICE PRESIDENT
SECRETARY GENERAL
TREASURER
TRAVEL OFFICER
EDITOR & MEDIA OFFICER
ACCOMMODATION OFFICER
SOCIAL & CLUBS SECRETARY
ASSISTANT TREASURER/SUPPLIES OFFICER
ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL (YOUTH & JUNIOR MEMBERS)
MEMBERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
MARIE DALY
DECLAN O’ BYRNE
JOYCE O’ GRADY
DAMIAN CRUMMEY
ANN LISTON
CHRIS CAHILL
CHRIS VERLING
DONIE SWEENEY
JAMES CODD
GILLIAN O’ DONOGHUE
DANNY DEVLIN
CONOR O’ HIGGINS
Congratulations to Shane Smyth (Region 9) for being awarded the Member of the Year, the IPA Pistol Club for being awarded IPA Club of the Year, and to Region 9 Kildare for being awarded Region of the Year. I want to congratulate in particular, PJ Galvin from Region 16 Louth, who was bestowed with Honorary Life Membership of IPA, a well-deserved recognition of PJs service and commitment to Section Ireland for many years.
Well done to Donie Sweeney, the local Regional Committee, and the Conference Arrangements Committee for putting together such a great event.
NATIONAL COUNCIL 2026 WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE COASTAL SETTING OF MALAHIDE IN NORTH DUBLIN.
Brendan Matthews
IPA Region 4 (DMR North) held a Summer BBQ at the Wet Canteen at Garda Headquarters on 10th July 2025. There was a great turnout with plenty of food and spot prizes on the day. Nobody went home without winning something, and the “resident chef” outdid herself again. The Regional Committee wish to thank all for a great evening.
Region 4 also ran an Easter Hamper draw recently and the winners were:
NIAMH MCMUNN - BALBRIGGAN (PICTURED LEFT)
BASIL GRIMES - RAHENY
KIERAN LENEHAN - SWORDS
NOEL MCBREARTY - AIRPORT
Having hiked several locations abroad, the Hadrian’s wall hike was something I heard about some years ago, but the opportunity never seemed to come around until now.
Hadrian’s wall was a stone wall built across northern England between 122AD and 128AD to mark the north-west frontier of the Roman Empire and to repel invaders. The wall runs for 80 Roman miles (73 modern miles/117 km) from Bownessin-Solway (west of Carlisle) to Wallsend (Newcastle). 15,000 Roman soldiers were involved in the construction of the wall, and it was built with an alternating series of forts, each housing 600 men, and manned milecastles, operated by between 12 and 20 men. Although a lot of the foundations are still visible, only about 10% of the original wall is still visible above ground, but it does not rise to its estimated original height of 15 feet tall.
I started the journey with my wife by flying into Newcastle as you cannot fly into Carlisle. From Newcastle Airport, it is just a metro journey into Central Station and a train direct to Carlisle. Having arrived on a Saturday afternoon, I planned my hike to begin on Sunday morning from Bowness-in-Solway where the wall begins. A fellow IPA member, Michel, from section UK had also arrived to accompany us along the route. There is no bus service to the starting point on Sundays but from my research, there was a taxi bus that did a drop off at Bowness in the morning. However I soon discovered that this service was discontinued, so it was a matter of getting a taxi for the approximate 15-mile trip to the start. Our initial plan was to carry our rucksacks from start to finish each day, but my wife really didn’t like the thought of hauling the baggage with us, so she contacted a company who specialise is taking bags from one accommodation to the next, just leaving us to carry our daily refreshments and rain gear in case of inclement weather. For £10 a day it is well worth it. Our first day’s hike would take us from Bowness-on-Solway back to Carlisle where we would be spending a second night before heading East along the route.
Having arrived in the little village, I firstly obtained my Hadrian’s Wall Path Passport at a cost of £6 and got the first of seven stamps affixed to it. At the starting point of our journey, just south of Gretna Green, we went down to the shore and walked across to the beginning of the wall, which is still visible at that location. Thankfully the tide was fully out, as when it is full tide it can create flooding at times along the flat ground of the route
for the first few miles. The weather was perfect for walking on our first day. The route itself was relatively flat the whole way, all 15 miles of it. It was mainly roadway at the start before taking to paths through fields and finishing the last few miles on a track that ran parallel with the river Eden. There was no evidence of a wall along the route except at the start of the day, but I was aware that a lot of stones from the wall had been taken away over the years to build houses or walls around fields. What was left on the ground was covered by soil over the centuries.
After a good overnight rest in Carlisle, we began Day 2 around 10am. Today we would be covering around the same distance, and the forecast was for another dry day. We got our passports stamped at the Leisure centre beside the river before starting out. Once we left Carlise we began to follow tracks through fields and laneways. Navigation was quite simple as there were little “Acorn” symbols at every gate or style we crossed. The whole route is very well marked and the pathways through the fields are quite visible due to the number of hikers who travel the route daily. Again, for the second day the route was quite fl at and there was no evidence of wall to be seen. I began to notice that there were no houses scattered around the countryside, just farm houses on farms which is very different to how things look at home, and all the houses were either brick or stone. Shops or places to eat were few and far between, so it was important to have a few supplies and water to take you through the day. At the end of day 2 we stayed in a hostel type accommodation at Walton, a very small village with a handful of houses and a little pub in the middle of the country.
After another good night’s sleep, we started Day 3 hoping that we would eventually get to see some of the wall that people talk of. Starting out about 9.30am it wasn’t long before we were stomping through the field tracks again but this time the terrain was becoming more undulating with short inclines.
We were now approaching the Pennine hills which stretch across northern England. About a mile into the walk, we came across a couple of archaeologists surveying a small section of a field where a digger laying fibreoptic cables had been working and unearthed a piece of the wall. This location now had to be assessed to ensure there was no damage or disturbance to the part of the wall that was unearthed. A vast amount of money was spent on the preservation of the wall and regular maintenance where required. Eventually we came to a location where a watchtower once stood, also known as a Turret. Only a small stretch of the wall remained. There would have been two of these for every roman mile placed between each Milecastle and were used as watchtowers for spotting intruders approaching.
As we ventured further along the route, the wall became a lot more noticeable and longer stretches of it became more visible too. Although the remains of the wall only stood around four or five feet high, it gave an insight into the skilled masons who built it and the precision of the construction. Where the wall is visible along the route, each stone on the wall has been carefully pointed so that no loose stones can fall or be removed from the construction. Further along the route we came to Birdoswald Roman fort which is a visitor centre with interesting interactive displays and artefacts as well as a model representation of the Wall at its full height. Its a great place to rest your feet and replenish. From there on, the visible remains of the wall stretched for miles ahead so getting lost along the route would have been quite difficult. We finished Day 3 by going off route to the town of Haltwhistle as there is no other accommodation where we finished for the day. Haltwhistle is also known for being the centre of Britain as it is equally
distanced from North to South and from East to West, with a plaque on the pavement in the centre of town marking the exact spot. The end of the day also included a few showers of rain with more forecast for Day 4.
Day 4 started with a two-mile trek back to the location we finished at the day before. It was a day for the poncho as the rain was persistent. We continued to follow the wall over the small hills which raised and lowered ahead. It was vital to have proper rain gear as there is absolutely nowhere to shelter along this stretch of the route. The first part of the day took us to the Sycamore Gap where the iconic Sycamore tree once stood for decades, before being cut down by vandals in September 2023. Thankfully the two men involved have been brought before the courts and convicted for this senseless crime.
Although the tree is gone, there are new sprouts growing out of the root which hopefully in the future will someday grow into a tree again. Our first break from the rain was when we reached the Housesteads Roman Fort, which was similar to the Birdoswald Fort the previous day, the only difference being that at this point there was an option of taking a bus to the next village to avoid the rain as we were getting colder and our feet were getting wet. But after some rest, refreshments and a further stamp collected, like the roman soldiers, we marched on and thankfully within a short time the sun reappeared and turned into a beautiful afternoon. You could now notice that you were descending from the hilly part back to more lower levels and back to hiking across fl at fi elds again. We fi nished Day 4 at Chollerford staying in the George Hotel on the bank of the picturesque North Tyne River. Stamp no 5 was inserted as we passed the Chester Roman fort on the way into town.
With the good weather back with us, we started Day 5 just after breakfast. After a mile or so on a quiet road it was back to the paths through the flat fields. It’s amazing that you can walk from one side of the country to the other using right of way public paths through private lands and farms. It just struck me too of how litter free the full route has been
from start to finish, absolutely no litter anywhere. I have been impressed by the upkeep of wall, the signage, the quality of all the wooden gates, the paths and styles along the route which were all so well maintained. Today I also noticed that the wall had gone into hiding again with visibility in just one location so it doesn’t matter if you do the walk from east to west or west to east, the first two days will be the same, flat with no wall visible. Today my good IPA friend Michel who had been suffering with an injured foot had to call it a day and leave the finishing of his journey to another time.
Our final day, Day 6 would start out with just the two of us but that didn’t last too long because as we approached Newcastle, we were met by another local member of the IPA, Maria Stanley, who accompanied us for miles along the route until the Tyne Bridge where we also met up with IPA member Chris Forester. Most of today’s walk was along footpaths but it was great to get the local knowledge from these two and it reinforces the bonds that are created within the IPA family worldwide. After light refreshments, we had to say goodbye to Chris and Maria but just a couple of miles later we were met by Mike Elliot, Secretary of the Northeast England IPA branch. With Mike, we did not have to look out for the acorn signs to guide us anymore as we now had local knowledge to finish the route. Our journey finished at a place called Wallsend where we took our final photos and said goodbye to Mike. It was a complete pleasure meeting up with all the
IPA members who shared our journey
way and added to our great memories of walking
The hike itself is comparable in distance to the Wicklow Way, but without all the mountains to trek over. As there is little or no camping facilities along the way, it is recommended to book accommodation well in advance to doing this walk with summer months being the most popular. There is very little accommodation on the route itself, which is a good thing, so do a bit of research on what is available before deciding on going. The Hadrian’s wall trek is not for groups but will be enjoyed better from solo to maybe 4 people max, which also makes it easier to acquire accommodation. Doing the trek West to East is easier as the wind generally comes from the west and also when you finish, it is easier to get a flight out of Newcastle. For the full length of the walk, you will be no more than a mile from a roadway so don’t worry too much about the isolation. The walk is steeped in history and detailed information is readily available at all places of interest. The walk was thoroughly enjoyable with the bonus of meeting my fellow IPA members along the route… overall 10/10.
In July, I journeyed into Ireland’s Industrial past by visiting Ardnacrusha Power Station. This day trip was an incredible window into Ireland’s history and natural heritage! This place isn’t just a power plant – it’s a monument to national ambition, innovation, and environmental awareness.
Ardnacrusha was built as part of the Shannon Scheme in the 1920s – one of the most ambitious hydroelectric projects in the world at the time. Ireland had just gained independence and needed a bold vision to modernise. With help from German engineers (Siemens-Schuckert), the government harnessed the power of the River Shannon to electrify the country.
Work started in 1925 and finished by 1929 employing over 5,000 people and creating what would supply 100% of Ireland’s electricity when it opened. The canals, locks, tunnels, and massive turbines were engineering marvels for their time, and remain impressive to this day. Thirty people died during construction including two Germans and the cost to the exchequer was close to six million which was twenty percent of the entire national debt at the time.
At the time of its completion, Ardnacrusha was a world leader in hydroelectric power. It was seen as a symbol of progress and independence, and drew engineers and political leaders from across Europe to witness Ireland’s bold step into the future. Engineers who built the hoover dam studied this engineering feat before they started to build their own. It was a daring ambitious challenge in a relatively poor country and the Irish succeeded in their endeavours and were the envy of many nations.
The tiny blue bomb shelters in the photograph are peron shelters and onsite there is an actual bomb shelter bunker which was built against allied forces targeting critical infrastructure.
Now run by ESB, Ardnacrusha still plays an important role in Ireland’s power system. Its original turbines are still operational, nearly a century later, supplying clean renewable energy to many locations.
Protecting Nature – Eels & Salmon Conservation
One of the most fascinating parts of the tour was learning how salmon and eels are protected around the station. Since the Shannon is a key migratory route for these species, special systems have been developed at huge expense to retain their migratory routes. The salmon ladders help adult salmon swim upstream past the dam to reach their breeding grounds.
Eel Passages and Traps guide young eels (elvers) safely around the turbines during their journey from the sea upstream. In some cases, eels are even manually trapped and transported past the station to ensure they complete their life cycle safely. It’s a great example of how energy and ecology can work together with the right planning. There is a complete fisheries department further up the man-made canal.
The tour at the site is free, engaging, and packed with history, science, and amazing views of the river and canal system. If you’re anywhere near Limerick, make time to visit. It’s control centre is like a scene from an old James Bond movie and the old appliance part of the museum and the old adverts are super interesting. All those years ago they produced too much electricity and were trying to sell it cheaply around rural Ireland. One tiny piece of advice don’t go if you’re afraid of heights.
Cricket has been played in Ireland since the 18th Century with Kilkenny and Ballinasloe two of its particular strongholds. In fact, in 1855 Ireland played its first ever international match in Dublin against ‘The Gentlemen of England’ many years before any of the original test playing nations played an international match.
With the formation of the GAA in 1884, the popularity and playing of cricket became more challenging for those organising and running it. However, one of the founding members of the GAA, Michael Cusack, took a keen interest in cricket and brought a motion before Congress to bring Cricket under the umbrella of the GAA, a motion which was narrowly lost. In 1901, the GAA passed a motion at Congress imposing a ban on rugby, soccer, cricket and hockey, with resulting suspension from the GAA for any person playing those games or even attending their matches. The ban remained in force until lifted at Congress in 1971.
Although the Irish Cricket Union had been formed in 1890 as the new century dawned, cricket remained very much a minority sport in Ireland, played by amateurs and without a national cricket coach. Even so, this country produced some first-class cricketers such as Dougie Goodwin and Alec O’ Riordain. Both were good enough to play the game at its highest level if they so desired, unlike in later years when Bray born Ed Joyce who, having represented Ireland, moved to England before going on to play Test Cricket for that country at the beginning of this century. Rush, Co. Dublin born Eoin Morgan, who having also played 62 times for Ireland, moved to England to join Middlesex in 2007 before becoming Captain of England’s One Day International side in 2015, leading them to their first ever World Cup victory in July 2019 when they beat New Zealand in the final at Lords. A Super Over failed to determine the winners, both countries having tied on 241 runs
apiece and tied also in the Super Over with 15 runs each, before England were declared the winners by reason of having scored most boundaries during the 50 Overs of the match.
After the Second World War, it became customary for Test Playing Nations who were touring England, playing the usual five match test series, to come to Ireland to play two One Day matches against our national side. In July 1969, the West Indies, who were then the number one Cricket Team in the World, were playing England in Test Matches and having drawn with them in the second Test at Lords, moved to Ireland to take on our national team. The match took place at Sion Mills, which is a small town in Co. Tyrone situated a few miles south of Strabane near the Donegal border. The Cricket Ground was very picturesque with a river running down one side and the match drew a huge crowd. That 2nd of July day was perfect for cricket with the sun shining in a cloudless sky. The wicket was fittingly emerald green and the outfield was in perfect condition even with some overnight light rain.
The West Indies fielded a very strong side under the captaincy of Basil Butcher, as the usual Captain the legendary Gary Sobers obviously underestimated the challenge of Ireland, and decided to take the day off and go racing instead. Butcher took advice before the match commenced that if his side won the toss, they should bat first as if they bowled first the match would be over before lunchtime. As events transpired the reverse was to become very much the case. The West Indies duly won the toss and Captain
Butcher elected to bat, sending out their opening two batsman Steve Camacho and Joey Carew to the crease to face the bowling of Ireland’s pair of opening bowlers Goodwin and O’ Riordan. Camacho was out for one run bowled by Goodwin and caught by PJ Dineen and Carew was out for a duck bowled by O’ Riordain caught by LP Hughes. ML Foster was run out for just 2 runs and Captain Butcher was out for two. Clive Llyod was out for just one and Clyde Walcott made just 6 before he was also out.
The three following batsmen JN Shepherd, TM Finlay and P Roberts were all back in the pavilion out for ducks each. At this stage the West Indies had just made twelve runs for the loss of 9 wickets. Their two tail enders, bowlers GC Shillingford and PD Blair managed somehow to add 13 runs to their score by lashing out at every ball before Blair was out for 3 and Shillingford stood at 9 (not out) being their highest scorer. With one leg bye, it meant that the West Indies were all out for just 25 runs which was by far their lowest ever innings score in their illustrious history, which made lunchtime sports news headlines worldwide. In Irish bowling, Goodwin had taken 5 for 6 and O’ Riordain 4 for 18. Ireland made 125 for 8 declared in their first innings reply and West Indies had made 78 for 4 in their second innings when play ended. First innings position therefore stood with Ireland winning by 9 wickets. Some days later at Stormont in Belfast, Ireland again took on the West Indies in the second match and held them to a draw which meant that the hosts had won the series against their renowned opponents.
Ireland began playing competitive national fixtures in 1980 with entry to the English Gillette Cup but results overall each year were poor. Ireland was accepted as a member of the International Cricket Council on the 6th July, 1993. In 1999, Mike Hendrick was appointed their fi rst national coach. A more professional approach was adopted with players being contracted which resulted in improved performances and results in the following years.
In 2005, Ireland finished runners-up to Scotland in the ICC Trophy and this result qualified them for their first ever World Cup, to be held two years later.
In March 2007, Ireland took on Pakistan who were then ranked number four in the World and caused a major surprise in beating them by three wickets in Kingston, Jamaica. This Irish victory resulted in Pakistan being eliminated from the tournament and their coach Bob Woolmer collapsed and sadly died in his hotel shortly after the match. Ireland having already beaten Bangladesh and tied with Zimbabwe, thus qualified for the final Super Eights with the title eventually won by India. Afterwards, Ireland were ranked 8th in the World - the first time an Associate Member had outranked a Test Playing country.
Later, in 2007 Ireland won the ICC Intercontinental Cup Trophy - a four-day competition for Associate Members – for the second year in a row. In 2011, Ireland again qualifi ed for the World Cup and in their group they met England. On the 2nd March in Bangalore, India, England batted first and made 327 runs for the loss of 8 wickets which left Ireland with a mountain to climb for victory. However, Kevin O’Brien was in superb batting form and proceeded to hit the fastest ever century in the history of the World Cup and the 6th fastest in the history of all One Day Internationals. Ireland made 329 runs for the loss of seven wickets to win by three wickets. It was the highest successful ‘run chase’ in the history of the World Cup and the 5th most successful ‘run chase’’ of over 300 runs in the history of all One Day Internationals. Despite these historic landmarks Ireland did not qualify for the Super Eights on this occasion with the title won by Australia.
Ireland qualifi ed for their third World Cup in succession in 2015, and performed again with distinction. Under Coach Phil Simmons, they got off to a great start by beating the West Indies by four wickets in Saxton Stadium, Nelson, New Zealand. The West Indies made 304 from their completed innings. Ireland made 307 for 6 from 45.5 balls in reply for victory. In the history of the World Cup from its inception in 1975 to that year, there had only been five successful ‘run chases’ in excess of 300 and Ireland had achieved three of them. In their next two subsequent matches they beat the United Arab Emirates by two wickets in Brisbane but lost to South Africa. In their next match, in Hobart, they beat Zimbabwe by five runs, making 333 for 8, their highest ever One Day International score and the highest ever score by an Associate Member against a Full Member nation with Test Status. In their next match, they lost by 8 wickets to India and in their fi nal match they lost by 7 wickets to Pakistan in Adelaide, which resulted in Pakistan drawing level with Ireland with 6 points each in the table but Pakistan advanced to the Super Eights on a superior run rate with the Cup eventually won by Australia for the fifth time.
After their tremendous success on the international stage, Ireland applied for full membership from the International Cricket Council and in June 2017, were awarded such full membership along with Afghanistan, allowing them the opportunity to play Test Matches. In being so awarded such a privilege, Ireland became only the second county in Europe, after England, and the twelfth Worldwide, to achieve Test Match status.
Ireland played their first historic Test Match against Pakistan on the 11th May, 2018 at Malahide, losing to their famous rivals by 5 wickets. They have since twice played England at Lords in 2019 and
2023 losing on both occasions. Having lost their first seven Tests, they recorded their very first win on the 28th February 2024 away to Afghanistan at Tolerance Oval, when they beat the home team by 6 wickets. They followed up this win by beating Zimbabwe on the 25th July, 2024 in Belfast by 4 wickets. On the 6th February 2025 they recorded their third consecutive victory by beating Zimbabwe in Buawayo by 63 runs. In doing so they became the second fastest Test playing nation to record a hat trick of victories in their first ten Test Match appearances.
Having obtained Test Match status, it also gave Ireland the right to participate in One Day International and T20 matches against other counties with similar status. In May of this year, they took on the West Indies in three One Day Internationals in Dublin and drew the series with each country winning one match each and the other drawn. They are also due to play the West Indies in three T20 internationals in Bready, Co. Tyrone later in the Summer.
There are now over 52,000 people involved in Cricket in Ireland, either playing, officiating, administering or involved in school programmes with over 120 active clubs and women and girls making up 20% of the participating numbers.
Having gained Test Match status and recorded three consecutive recent victories in their first ten matches, two of them away from home, allied to the hiring of world class coaches, and the increasing interest of the Irish public in the game, the future of Irish Cricket looks very bright indeed and can no longer be regarded as a minority sport in this country.
The sun was shining again this year as the annual IPA Region 29 Galway trip to the Aran Islands took place over the 4th July weekend, and of course the theme was very much USA! This is the eleventh year of this popular family event. A sizeable group participated this year, which included guests from here and abroad, and as always there was plenty on offer for everyone, including guided tours, walks, swims, and activities to keep all ages entertained. The highlight of the event was the Fancy Dress event which, as you can see from the pictures, was enjoyed by all ages! A draw was held at the Gala Dinner which raised much needed funds for the two official IPA charities, Little Blue Heroes and the Laura Fund. Thanks as always to Alan Keane for these photographs of proceedings.
THE DATES FOR NEXT YEAR ARE 30TH JUNE TO 3RD AUGUST 2026, SO BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO IPA CHANNELS FOR NEWS OF THIS EVENT.
IPA Cork North (R20) took to the waters on the 7th and 30th of June 2025 as part of their Summer Activities. Each trip had 11 people on board the South Coast Garda Sailing Club boat. There was a mix of relaxation and adventure. The trip involved sailing with the wind, enjoying the scenery and the company of fellow sailors.
The two crew members picked us up in Cobh Harbour before setting sail across Cobh Harbour and navigating into a busy marina in Crosshaven. This was followed by some nice food ashore. The vessel had a second deck which provided a kitchen. The IPA members took full advantage of this area to store refreshments which were enjoyed along the route. On-board entertainment was provided when one or two singers captivated the audience with their performance. Both trips provided an opportunity to enjoy the iconic scenery around Spike Island. Overall the trips were great days, spending time outdoors in the fresh air with the crew and fellow sailors. An enjoyable day for all.
Servo Per Amikeco
Region 20 Cork North
As Friendship Week 2025 and the 70th Anniversary of Section Ireland are finalised, Region 2 (DMR East) would like to invite everyone to the Dungeon Bar, Fitzpatrick’s Hotel, Killiney, on the Tuesday of Friendship Week, 30th September 2025.
The Friendship Week runs from 28th September - 3rd October 2025, and includes an exciting itinerary, with days in Meath, Wicklow, and Dublin, visits to Dáil Éireann, Dublin Castle and Garda Headquarters. On the Thursday, Regional delegates from across the 31 regions are invited to our annual half-yearly meeting followed by a gala ball to celebrate 70 years of Section Ireland.
For more information about the 70th celebrations, check out: www.ipaireland.org for regular updates.
