There's a change of leadership at Bready with Ryan Clarke taking over the reins from Ian Young, while David Rankin will offer support as his experienced deputy.

Cregagh go into the season with a new skipper at the helm in Robert Moore, and he is naturally full of enthusiasm for the campaign.

It's an historic occasion for Letterkenny who make the step up to senior cricket after securing the Qualifying One league title last year, following on from their cup success of 2024.

Woodvale have announced the signing of Ross Bryans from Templepatrick ahead of the new season next month.

Waringstown have announced the signing of South African Steve Stolk as their overseas professional for the 2026 campaign.

Derriaghy have announced the signing of New Zealand bowling all-rounder Matthew Scoble as their overseas player for the upcoming season.

Dave Sihra on the importance of World Cup qualification for media interest and coverage.

Pembroke make the short trip across the road to begin their defence of the Leinster Premiership title at Park Avenue against Railway Union on Saturday April 18th.

The Leinster first team league schedule for the 2026 season has been published.

Cricket Ireland have given out 33 full-time central contracts for the next 12 months, an increase from 28 last year.

Glendermott have confirmed the signing of Blayde Cappell as their overseas professional. 

Instonians will start the defence of their Premiership crown with a home clash at Shaw's Bridge against North Down on Saturday April 25th.

The North West Championship also gets underway on Saturday April 18th as the battle to get into the top flight looks set to be most competitive in years.

Defending champions Brigade will begin their Premiership campaign with a home tie against newly promoted Fox Lodge at Beechgrove in three weeks time on Saturday April 25th.

CRICKET Ireland has decided to go ahead with hosting a five-match series with Afghanistan despite its CEO talking of her ‘moral discomfort’ and ‘abhorrence’ at how that country oppresses women and girls.

Bready Women will start the defence of their Premiership crown with an away trip to Bonds Glen on Monday May 4th. The Magheramason side pipped Fox Lodge to the title last year and the pair are expected to be the front runners for the crown once again in 2026. 

CRICKET Ireland have finally announced their 2026 home fixtures with only a marginally larger list than last year’s much-criticised programme.

Carson Rose, once famously described by the late David Holmes as Instonians royalty, has died at the age of 90.

In a major slap in the face for Dublin-based supporters, Cricket Ireland has announced a pitiful summer schedule of just eight men’s international matches — spread over 11 days — all to be played in Belfast and Co Tyrone.

Balbirnie won the 2025 Marchant Cup, awarded to the leading batter in CL senior competition, but in his absence the trophy was presented to a Pembroke club-mate. However, the trophy disappeared that night and has still not been recovered.

New Cricket Ireland CEO Sarah Keane and High Performance Director Graham West met the media for the first time on Friday as, along with CI chairman Brian McNeice, they unveiled what they called a landmark year of fixtures and strategic momentum.

The Women's Super Series will this year feature only two teams – the Dragons and the Typhoons, with the Scorchers deemed surplus to requirements.

As revealed last November, Munster have been culled from the senior interprovincial ranks.

Ireland Women have a busy summer in store with a guaranteed 15 fixtures including at least five in their World Cup group.

IRELAND have confirmed a maiden first Test against New Zealand will be held in Belfast from May 27th to 30th.

John Mooney is the new fielding coach of Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League after successful spells with Afghanistan and West Indies.

PAUL Stirling has stepped down as captain of Ireland’s T20 side after the side’s failed World Cup campaign last month. Stirling will continue to be available as a player and will still captain the one-day international squad.

Afghanistan are due to play five matches in Ireland this summer - but should we be hosting representatives of a regime that has just legalised wife-beating? The idea that Sarah Keane will have to welcome officials from that regime and watch a side representing the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan standing beneath their flag on Irish soil is repugnant.

Holders Galway have been handed a home draw against the North-West's newest side Letterkenny in the opening round of the National Cup.

Leinster sides have enjoyed great success over the past years in the Irish Senior Cup and will be hoping for more glory in 2026.

Former Irish international Jeremy Bray has been confirmed as the new Munster Cricket Pathway Manager.

Bilal Azhar is at the helm once more, with two players coming in from overseas and Ben Mitchell not returning.

A look back to 1906 and a collapse by Clontarf that saw Malahide win the Junior League B Division final.

Australian Josh Hartill is on his way to Cork County for the 2026 campaign.

There were mixed fortunes for the 13 Irish internationals that put their names forward for The Hundred Draft last month.

Gaby Lewis will renew her rivalry with opposite number Kathryn Bryce at Old Trafford on the second day of the T20 World Cup this summer when Ireland take on Scotland in their opening Group 2 match.

Ireland have been drawn in the same group as hosts England, Scotland, West Indies, Sri Lanka and New Zealand for the World Cup that gets underway in June.

So, with a heavily stacked in–tray, the Irish Mail on Sunday identifies seven areas the chief executive must address to get Irish cricket back on track.

No fewer than 13 Ireland internationals have registered an interest in being involved in this season's Hundred competition in England.

County Galway are looking to build on their success of 2025 by the signing of West Indian all-rounder Jason Smith.

A comprehensive victory for Pakistan means that Ireland qualify for the next T20 World Cup.

Priyanaz Chatterji says Scotland are preparing for a ‘home away from home’ World Cup having booked their place at this summer’s showpiece.

The first ever century by an associate player at the T20 World Cup doesn't prevent New Zealand from securing their Super 8 place.

England survive a late scare against Italy but hold on to secure their place in the second round.

They need other results to go their way, but USA's faint hopes of a second consecutive Super 8 place remain alive.

A comprehensive 9 wicket win by the West Indies ends Nepal's Super 8 hopes.

Ed Joyce has joined Gloucestershire as a batting consultant on a short-term deal.

While all eyes may have been on Ireland's opening clash with Sri Lanka in Colombo, two Irishmen were making a name for themselves on the world stage in India.

The 2026 Under 19 World Cup drew to a close on Friday with India beating England in a high scoring game, dominated by Vaibhav Suryavanshi making 175. How did Ireland's cricketers perform? We look at the stats.

Arlene Kelly claimed the Player of the Match award in Kathmandu on Sunday as the Girls in Green trounced minnows Thailand by 62 runs to confirm their participation at the T20 World Cup which will be staged in England this summer.

Ireland Women sealed their berth at the T20 World Cup with a comprehensive victory by 62 runs against Thailand.

Ireland U19s ended their World Cup on Friday with a crushing 191-run defeat by Afghanistan at the Harare Sports Club.

Orla Prendergast and Jane Maguire spearheaded a superb bowling performance in Kathmandu on Friday that delivered a stunning 98-run victory over the Netherlands that all but ensured Ireland will qualify for the T20 World Cup.

Reuben Wilson took three wickets in Windhoek as Ireland gave the West Indies a scare before losing their first Super Sixes match at the U19 World Cup.

Adam Leckey took three wickets and followed up with a solid 44 to claim the Player of the Match award in Windhoek as Ireland squeezed past Japan by four wickets to secure a place in the Super Sixes of the U19 World Cup.

Dave Sihra talks with Kevin O'Brien about Italy's upcoming series against Ireland and the T20 World Cup.

Reuben Wilson and his skipper Olly Riley gave supporters a glimpse of the future in Windhoek but their efforts were in vain as Sri Lanka inflicted a second defeat on Ireland at the U19 World Cup, by 106 runs.

Rob O’Brien flew the flag for Dublin’s premier cricketing clan in Windhoek yesterday with a battling 79 as Ireland U19s opened their World Cup campaign against Australia with a eight-wicket defeat.

Handle with care. Dave Sihra takes a look at the prospects for the Ireland U19s at the World Cup that gets under way this week in Namibia and South Africa,

With (hopefully) World Cups upcoming for the men and women, not to mention a monumental change with the arrival of a new Cricket Ireland CEO, this year has the capacity to be one of the most important in recent memory. Even if we say that every January.