The Irish Cricket Awards (also known as Cricket Ireland Awards) are a set of annual cricket awards given by Cricket Ireland. The awards recognise and honour the best of Irish coaches, match officials, volunteers, clubs and players at all levels of the game over the previous calendar year.
History
The Cricket Writers of Ireland Association was formed in 2008, and started Cricket Writers of Ireland Awards in the same year. Later, it got dissolved except Irish Cricket Hall of Fame which subsequently became part of Irish Cricket Awards. It was launched by Cricket Ireland in 2012, with RSA Insurance Group Limited as its title sponsor.
Paul Stirling won the first ever Men's International Player of the Year Award in 2012, and went on to win it four more times in 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022 which is the most by any player. Apart from Stirling, only Ed Joyce (2013, 2015, 2016) has won the award more than once. In the same category in women's cricket, Clare Shillington won the first ever Women's International Player of the Year. And, Gaby Lewis (2017, 2022) being the only player to have won it more than once.
The Players of the Decade award was introduced in 2021. Paul Stirling and Kim Garth were announced as the Men's and Women's Player of the decade respectively.
List of winners
2012
- Men's International Player of the Year: Paul Stirling.
- Women's International Player of the Year: Clare Shillington
- International Emerging Player of the Year: Stuart Thompson
- Junior Player of the Year: Tyrone Kane
- Club Player of the Year: Johnny Thompson
- Coach of the Year: John Wills
- Volunteer of the Year: Aideen Rice
- Club of the Year: Donemana CC
2013
- Men's International Player of the Year: Ed Joyce.
- Women's International Player of the Year: Isobel Joyce.
- International Emerging Player of the Year: John Anderson
- Junior Player of the Year: Fiachra Tucker
- Club Player of the Year: Eddie Richardson
- Coach of the Year: Kamal Merchant
- Official of the Year: Mark Hawthorne
- Club of the Year: Clontarf CC
- Volunteer of the Year: Ian Talbot
- Outstanding contribution to Irish Cricket: Mary Sharp
2014
- Men's International Player of the Year: Kevin O'Brien.
- Women's International Player of the Year: Cecelia Joyce
- International Emerging Player of the Year: Craig Young
- Junior Player of the Year: James McCollum
- Academy Player of the Year: Peter Chase
- Inter-Provincial Player of the Year: Andrew Poynter
- Club Player of the Year: Dekker Curry
- Official of the Year: Mark Hawthorne
- Coach of the Year: Simon Johnston
- Club of the Year: Carrickfergus CC
- Volunteer of the Year: Lawrence Moore
- Outstanding Contribution to Irish Cricket: David Williams
2015
- Men's International Player of the Year: Ed Joyce
- Women's International Player of the Year: Kim Garth
- International Emerging Player of the Year: Gaby Lewis.
- Junior Player of the Year: Varun Chopra
- Academy Player of the Year: Jack Tector
- Inter-Provincial Player of the Year: John Mooney
- Club Player of the Year: Eddie Richardson.
- Coach of the Year: Simon Johnston
- Official of the Year: Roland Black
- Club of the Year: Waringstown CC
- Volunteer of the Year: Brian O’Sullivan
- Outstanding Contribution to Irish Cricket: Jim Bennett
2016
- Men's International Player of the Year: Ed Joyce.
- Women's International Player of the Year: Ciara Metcalfe.
- International Emerging Player of the Year: Barry McCarthy
- Junior Player of the Year: Lorcan Tucker
- Academy Player of the Year: Josh Little
- Inter-Provincial Player of the Year: John Anderson
- Super 3s Player of the Year: Eimear Richardson
- Club Player of the Year: John Anderson
- Coach of the Year: Rob O’Connor.
- Official of the Year: Paul Reynolds
- Club of the Year: Cork County CC
- Volunteer of the Year: Herbie Honohan
- Outstanding Contribution to Irish Cricket: Eddie Lewis
2017
- Men’s International Player of the Year: Paul Stirling.
- Women’s International Player of the Year: Gaby Lewis
- International Emerging Player of the Year: Jacob Mulder
- Men's Youth International Player of the Year: Harry Tector
- Women's Youth International Player of the Year: Gaby Lewis
- Club Player of the Year: Nigel Jones
- Men's Academy Player of the Year: Simi Singh
- Women's Academy Player of the Year: Lara Maritz
- Inter-Provincial Player of the Year: James Shannon
- Super 3s Player of the Year: Laura Delany
- Coach of the Year: Ryan Eagleson
- Official of the Year: Andrew Mooney
- Volunteer of the Year: David Ramsey
- Groundsman of the Year: Dale McDonough
- Club of the Year: Waringstown CC
- Outstanding Contribution to Irish Cricket: Barry Chambers
2018
- Men’s International Player of the Year: Tim Murtagh.
- Women’s International Player of the Year: Laura Delany.
- International Emerging Player of the Year: Una Raymond-Hoey
- Men's Youth International Player of the Year: Tim Tector
- Women's Youth International Player of the Year: Leah Paul
- Men's Club Player of the Year: John Anderson
- Women's Club Player of the Year: Isobel Joyce
- Inter-Provincial Player of the Year: George Dockrell
- Super 3s Player of the Year: Lara Maritz
- Groundsman of the Year: Philip McCormick
- Volunteer of the Year: Harry Rutherford, Bready Cricket Club
- Men's Academy Player of the Year: Harry Tector
- Women's Academy Player of the Year: Rebecca Stokell
- Club Cricket Official of the Year: Mary Waldron
- Club of the Year: Waringstown CC
- Emerging Club of the Year: Adamstown CC
- Contribution to Irish Coaching: Stephen Dyer
- Outstanding Contribution to Irish Cricket: Murray Power
2020
- Men’s International Player of the Year: Paul Stirling.
- Women’s International Player of the Year: Eimear Richardson
- Men's Youth International Player of the Year: Nathan McGuire
- Women's Youth International Player of the Year: Orla Prendergast
- Inter-Provincial Player of the Year: Harry Tector
- Super 3s Player of the Year: Leah Paul
- Volunteering Excellence Award: Robert McGonigle
- Club Cricket Official of the Year: Joe Connolly
- Men's Club Player of the Year: Andrew Britton
- Women's Club Player of the Year: Alison Cowan
- Club of the Year: Pembroke CC
- Outstanding Contribution to Coaching: Andy McCrea
- Outstanding Contribution to Irish Cricket: Joe Doherty
2021
- Men’s International Player of the Decade: Paul Stirling.
- Women’s International Player of the Decade: Kim Garth.
- Men’s International Player of the Year: Paul Stirling
- Men’s Club Player of the Year: John Anderson
- Women’s Club Player of the Year: Alana Dalzell
- Emerging Men’s Talent Award: Matthew Humphreys
- Emerging Women’s Talent Award: Amy Hunter
- Inter-Provincial Player of the Year: Simi Singh
- Super Series Player of the Year: Laura Delany
- Club Cricket Official of the Year: Ian Houston
- Groundskeeping Team of the Year: Dean Simpson (Lisburn Cricket Club)
- Volunteering Excellence Award: Michael Hickey
- Club of the Year: Limerick CC
- Spirit of Cricket Award: Bready Cricket Club
- Outstanding Contribution to Coaching: Brían O’Rourke
- Outstanding Contribution to Irish Cricket: Roy Torrens.
2022
- Men’s International Player of the Year: Paul Stirling.
- Women’s International Player of the Year: Gaby Lewis.
- Men’s Club Player of the Year: Ani Chore
- Women’s Club Player of the Year: Laura Delany
- Emerging Men’s Talent Award: Matthew Humphreys
- Emerging Women’s Talent Award: Amy Hunter
- Inter-Provincial Player of the Year: George Dockrell
- Super Series Player of the Year: Gaby Lewis
- Club Cricket Official of the Year: Mary McElwee
- Groundskeeping Team of the Year: Dean Simpson (Lisburn Cricket Club)
- Volunteering Excellence Award: Bryan Milford
- Club of the Year: Bready CC
- Outstanding Contribution to Coaching: Ted Williamson
- Outstanding Contribution to Irish Cricket: Michael Sharp
2023
- Men’s International Player of the Year: Josh Little.
- Women’s International Player of the Year: Arlene Kelly.
- Men’s Club Player of the Year: David Delany
- Women’s Club Player of the Year: Amy Caulfield
- Emerging Men’s Talent Award: Cade Carmichael
- Emerging Women’s Talent Award: Jane Maguire
- Inter-Provincial Player of the Year: George Dockrell
- Super Series Player of the Year: Gaby Lewis
- Club Cricket Official of the Year: Declan Earley
- Groundskeeping Team of the Year: Eglinton Cricket Club
- Club Coach of the Year: Gareth Thompson
- Volunteering Excellence Award: Simon Galloway
- Club of the Year: Cork Harlequins
- Outstanding Contribution to Coaching: Brian Kelleher
- Outstanding Contribution to Irish Cricket: Paul Reynolds
2024
- Men’s International Player of the Year: Harry Tector.
- Women’s International Player of the Year: Orla Prendergast
- Men's Club Player of the Year: Morgan Topping
- Women's Club Player of the Year: Mollie Devine
- Men's Emerging Talent Award: Chris de Freitas
- Women's Emerging Talent Award: Freya Sargent
- Inter-Provincial Series Player of the Year: Neil Rock
- Super Series Player of the Year: Amy Hunter.
- Volunteer of the Year: Dermot Ward
- Activator of the Year: Maria Van der Munckhof
- Coach of the Year: Robert Delaney
- Groundskeeping Team of the Year: Matt Reed
- Club Cricket Official of the Year: David Caldwell
- Club of the Year: Waringstown CC
- Outstanding Contribution to Irish Cricket: Alan Lewis
Hall of fame
The Cricket Writers of Ireland established the Irish Cricket Hall of Fame in 2009; it subsequently merged into Irish Cricket Awards.
List of Hall of fame inductees
- 2009: Dougie Goodwin, Alec O'Riordan
- 2010: Stephen Warke, Ivan Anderson
- 2011: Ossie Colhoun, Roy Torrens
- 2012: Gerry Duffy, Brendan O'Brien
- 2013: Michael Halliday, Simon Corlett
- 2014: Jack Short
- 2015: Alf Masood
- 2016: Paul Jackson
- 2017: Mary-Pat Moore, Miriam Grealey
- 2018: Garfield Harrison
- 2020: Alan Lewis, Susan Bray
- 2021: Peter Gillespie, Caitriona Beggs, Jimmy Boucher.
- 2022: Angus Dunlop, Barbara McDonald, Dermott Monteith
- 2023: Andre Botha, Stella Owens, Bob Lambert
- 2024: Kyle McCallan, Saibh Young, Lucius Gwynn.
References
- "Irish Cricket Awards". Cricket Ireland.
- "Winners Announced for the RSA Cricket Ireland Awards 2012". Sport Ireland. 19 November 2012.
- "Botha wins Ireland player award". BBC. 18 November 2008.
- "Ireland cricket ace Botha scoops Player of the Year award". Belfast Telegraph. 18 November 2008.
- "New awards introduced to honour Ireland's Players of the Decade". Belfast Telegraph. 20 February 2021.
- "Paul Stirling: In-form batsman wins player of the year and decade at Irish Cricket Awards". BBC. 26 February 2021.
- "All-rounder Paul Stirling named Ireland player of the year". RTÉ. 17 November 2012.
- "Ed Joyce scoops men's player of the year prize at RSA Cricket Ireland awards". RTÉ. 12 October 2013.
- "Cricket: Joyces shine in year of excellence". Irish Independent. 13 October 2013.
- "Kevin O'Brien spearheads list of Cricket award winners". Irish Independent. 11 November 2014.
- "O'Brien takes Cricket Ireland Men's Player of the Year gong". RTÉ. 19 November 2014.
- "Future of Irish cricket in safe hands as youth shines through at awards". Irish Independent. 15 November 2015.
- "Eddie thrilled to receive top player award". Irish Independent. 21 November 2015.
- "Ed Joyce claims third Player of Year award". RTÉ. 11 November 2016.
- "CRICKET: Ed Joyce and Ciara Metcalfe win top awards". News Letter. 16 November 2016.
- "Stirling displays make Paul a worthy winner of top award". Irish Independent. 19 November 2017.
- "Murtagh crowned top Irish ace". Belfast Telegraph. 3 November 2018.
- "Cricket Ireland: Tim Murtagh and Laura Delany win Player of the Year awards". BBC. 2 November 2018.
- "Stirling earns big award for starring Ireland role". Belfast Telegraph. 29 February 2020.
- "Paul Stirling thrilled to be named Ireland's International Player of the Decade". Belfast Telegraph. 27 February 2021.
- "Stirling and Garth named Ireland men's and women's players of the decade". ESPNcricinfo. 17 February 2021.
- "Roy Torrens honoured for his contributions to cricket with posthumous induction into the North West Hall of Fame". Belfast Telegraph. 19 November 2022.
- "Paul Stirling is once again crowned Ireland's Cricketer of the Year". Belfast Telegraph. 26 February 2022.
- "Irish Cricket Awards: Paul Stirling and Gaby Lewis take player of the year honours". BBC. 25 February 2022.
- "Josh Little and Arlene Kelly honoured at Irish Cricket Awards". RTÉ. 3 March 2023.
- "Josh Little and Arlene Kelly named Ireland's International Players of the Year". Irish Independent. 4 March 2023.
- "Tector and Prendergast named Players of the Year at Business Plus Irish Cricket Awards". Business Plus. 16 February 2024.
- "Waringstown treble and joy for Amy Hunter at Cricket Ireland Awards". Belfast Telegraph. 17 February 2024.
- "Strabane's Peter Gillespie thrilled by Cricket Ireland Hall of Fame honour". Derry Journal. 2 March 2021.
- "Kyle McCallan inducted into Hall of Fame on memorable night for NCU players and clubs at Irish Cricket Awards". News Letter. 17 February 2024.