Prendergast and Ireland Women rally behind Irish Heart Foundation

For Orla Prendergast, cricket has always been about much more than runs, wickets and international caps. It is wrapped up in memories of long summer evenings, countless tennis balls, a plastic bat, and the man she describes simply as “the best coach I ever had”.

Her father Peter was the driving force behind her cricketing journey, the constant source of encouragement who helped turn a talented youngster into one of Ireland’s leading internationals. His death from cardiac disease in May 2025 left an enormous void.

Now, just over a year later, Prendergast and her Ireland Women team-mates are helping to turn that personal loss into something positive, with Cricket Ireland supporting the Irish Heart Foundation throughout September’s Heart Month.

“This is a foundation that’s very close to my own heart,” said Prendergast. “My dad passed away from cardiac disease last May. My dad just absolutely loved cricket. He was constantly down in Clontarf, his home club, and then as myself and my two brothers grew up, we played for Pembroke. We had endless happy summers there. He absolutely loved the club. He just loved being down there, he had so many friends, but most of all he loved the game of cricket. He watched constantly and loved the technique of it.”

Peter was not simply watching from the boundary, either. He was the coach who helped lay the foundations for his daughter’s international career.

“He taught in High School and we used to go down to their hockey pitches and he would throw me endless tennis balls,” recalled Prendergast. “I would bat with a plastic bat and whack them as far as I could. He would go off and fetch them while I sat there. That was how our relationship worked! Where I am now with my cricket is definitely down to him and all the support and encouragement he gave me growing up.

“He was my biggest inspiration to play, the best coach I ever had. Where I am today is definitely all down to him.”

The connection remains visible every time Prendergast pulls on an Ireland shirt. At the beginning of this year she changed her squad number from 84 to 10 in honour of her father, whose birthday was February 10.

“I’m always trying to find ways of keeping him close to me when I’m playing cricket,” she explained. “I have multiple different pieces of jewellery that I wear that make him feel closer to me. Cricket is a pretty tough game and on some harder days, I think knowing that he is there with me gives me a lot of support. Although he’s not still here with us today, I feel that he’s out there somewhere with me.”

“My dad was a terrible watcher of cricket,” she smiled. “He got so nervous watching me bat that he never came to watch. But that summer he managed to muster up a bit of courage and come along. He was there for that game and thankfully I batted quite well. It was one of my best innings in an Ireland shirt. He was there at the end and we have a photo of me hugging him after the game. That’s one of my favourite pictures with him and one I hold very dearly.”

The months following his death were understandably difficult, not least because cricket itself carried so many reminders of her father.

“There were days after my dad passed that I couldn’t really think of anything worse than playing cricket,” admitted Prendergast. “Given how big a factor he was throughout my childhood and throughout my career, I can definitely say that without the support of the team, and how lucky I am with the group that we have, I would have struggled to come back and play cricket.”

Her family remained at the heart of that support. “I’m very lucky with the support network that I have around me,” she said. “I’m very close to my family. I’ve got an amazing mum who now provides the support work of two parents to me, and two amazing big brothers. I’m very lucky to have them by my side constantly.”

Ireland’s dressing room became another source of strength.

“The team has been a massive factor in helping me through this last year. I’m so lucky that I play with a lot of my best friends who have been there day in, day out throughout the struggles of the past year. They’ve helped this journey without their own knowing, I’d say.

“And not just the players, but the support staff too. They’ve been a constant support and help and, without both our staff and the team I have around me, I don’t know how I would have done it.”

That bond has now extended to the entire squad supporting a cause with such personal significance to their team-mate. Throughout September, Cricket Ireland and the Ireland Women’s squad will raise funds and awareness for the Irish Heart Foundation as part of Heart Month. Supporters, clubs and the wider cricket community are being encouraged to donate, take part in fundraising challenges and increase awareness of heart health.

Match-worn Ireland jerseys will also be auctioned during the three-match series against England, with proceeds going to the Irish Heart Foundation.

For Prendergast, it is a fitting way to honour a father whose influence can still be felt every time she walks to the crease. Peter may no longer be standing nervously beyond the boundary watching his daughter bat. But for Ireland’s number 10, he remains very much part of every innings.

Fans, clubs and members of the cricket community can support the campaign by donating through the dedicated Cricket Ireland fundraising page, by taking part in Heart Month fundraising challenges and by helping to spread awareness of the importance of heart health. The fundraising page is here: https://events.irishheart.ie/campaign/cricket-ireland-september-challenge .

For information on how you can look after your heart visit irishheart.ie .