Working with the great team at Munster Cricket Union from the Board and my passionate colleagues . Here are my first 6 months highlights for 2024. I look forward to further amazing progress for Munster cricket in 2025!
Building Relationships: I began by visiting clubs across Limerick, Clare, and Tipperary, meeting with officials and players to understand their needs and challenges. This groundwork has been essential in building strong relationships within the Munster cricket community.
Promoting Cricket for Disability Sports: I collaborated with local Sports Partnerships to deliver two highly successful “Sportsability” events, introducing cricket to over 150 juniors and adults with disabilities. These events showcased the inclusive nature of cricket and brought joy to all involved.
Aiding a New Club venture: In partnership with Clare Sports Partnership, I facilitated the formation of the West Clare Cricket Club in Kilrush. This exciting initiative, sparked by a well-attended “come and try” day with 60 participants, promises to expand cricketing opportunities in the region including Ennis. I then attended Kilrush primary school St.Senan’s and coached 120 children, some with disabilities, for 4 weeks.
Developing Young Talent: I had the privilege of coaching a Munster representative side against Connaught, a historic encounter not seen for 141 years. I also assisted in coaching the Munster pathway and Reds programs alongside Jeremy Bray, providing valuable support and development opportunities for aspiring cricketers.
Working with Cricket Ireland: I visited Greystones CC to learn about the Smash It and Its Wicket programs. This enabled me to help clubs train their members as activators. And took part in Transition Year training in order to deliver coaching activator modules for them.
Expanding Cricket in Schools: Working closely with Limerick Sports Partnership, we delivered a Transition Year cricket coaching course, a teachers’ course, and distributed cricket kits to schools, impacting over 500 children. This initiative will significantly boost cricket participation in Limerick schools.
Reaching Diverse Communities: In Tipperary, I collaborated with the Sports Partnership to introduce cricket to adults and children from Brazil and East Timor, demonstrating the sport’s global appeal and accessibility.
Championing Women in Cricket: I attended Cricket Ireland’s Women in Leadership event at Croke Park, gaining valuable insights into promoting gender equality in cricket.
Developing Inner-City Cricket: I’m working with a Limerick school to establish a junior cricket club utilizing their indoor hall, making the sport more accessible to primary schools in the inner city.
Level 4 Coaching achieved after a substantial amount of evening hours on zoom and 6 assignments and 12 exams I was delighted to complete an Elite coaching badge over 8 weeks.
I have enjoyed settling back into life in Co. Clare and am proud of the progress made in my first six months. I am confident that these initiatives will contribute to increased participation and a thriving cricket scene in Munster in 2025 and beyond.
H. Harvey-Kelly
