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Like most people in the week before Christmas, the feet barely touched the ground. Almost literally, since a lot of it has been spent either on a bus or train between Belfast and Dublin. The diary goes something like this:

Like most people in the week before Christmas, the feet barely touched the ground. Almost literally, since a lot of it has been spent either on a bus or train between Belfast and Dublin. The diary goes something like this:
SUNDAY: Arrive Dublin Airport after the overnight flight from Abu Dhabi with coach Phil Simmons, Intercontinental Cup in his hands, leading his triumphant squad through arrivals to the applause of early morning travellers. Lots of family there to meet the Dublin contingent, Cricket Ireland’s Andrew Leonard on hand with photographer to capture the moment – everyone v happy. Off to Belfast for a long-standing lunch, barely making it through to the pudding.

MONDAY: Blazer back on first thing and an early bus to Dublin to chair a “welcome home” media reception at Cricket Ireland HQ. And there was plenty to see and hear for the gathering of television, radio and newspaper folk. Pride of place went to the three trophies Ireland have won in this historic year: the World League Cup which has led to early qualification for the 2015 World Cup; the Twenty20 Qualifying Trophy which will take the team to next spring’s finals in Bangladesh; and, of course, the Intercontinental Cup.And sitting proudly beside them, Kevin O’Brien’s individual award as the ICC Associate Player of the Year.
Fielding the questions were Phil Simmons, Kevin O’Brien and Trent Johnston, his international career behind him but much in the spotlight as the new coach to the Ireland women’s team. He may not be playing with his erstwhile team mates in Bangladesh but he will be still be there, meeting fresh challenges with his new charges in their T20 World Cup. Back in County Down in time to see the teatime television bulletins north and south: decent coverage and well deserved. The three trophies were also to decorate the BBC’s Newsline studio in the company of Andrew White and Gary Wilson as the boys chatted about the treble live on air.

WEDNESDAY: Off to Belfast’s Europa Hotel with team manager Roy Torrens as guests of the Northern Ireland Lord’s Taverners at their Christmas lunch. Lots of cricket folk there, including my fellow committee member and former prolific Ireland opener, Stephen Warke. And, as always, a fine turn out by the Lisburn club, lead by former President of the Irish Cricket Union and a founder of the Taverners in Belfast, Cecil Walker. It’s been a tough year for the great man after an accident at his beloved Wallace Park in early summer and I’m delighted to report he’s all but back to his old form. It was good of the Taverners’ chairman, Sam Goldblatt, to bid Roy and me a public welcome; more so to pay handsome tribute to the exploits of the international team. Lots of applause. A grand day out with many thousands raised to give young disadvantaged folk “a sporting chance”.

THURSDAY: The bus to Dublin, DART to Sandymount for the Dublin branch of the Taverners at the Four Seasons. A fine table assembled by Cricket Ireland and hosted by Chief Executive, Warren Deutrom, including both John Mooney and John Rooney – one of course the cricketer, the other of bread fame from Johnston, Mooney and O’Brien. As an old newsman I had a long chat with that firm friend of Cricket Ireland, Senator Darragh O’Brien – not so much about cricket, rather about the headlines he’d been making over Nama’s operations. Former presidents of cricket abounded as tributes flowed to one of our number and the founding father of the Taverners in the south, the late Des Cashell.

Easy to miss people among the throng but I had a chat with predecessors Tom Prior, Stan Mitchell, Enda McDermott and Arthur Vincent as well as my good friends Henry Tighe presiding over the Leinster Union table and YMCA’s Heatley Tector presiding over an auction which enriched considerably the coffers of the charity. There was no doubting the star of the show. The guest speaker was the British Ambassador to Ireland, Dominick Chilcott, with whom I had enjoyed many overs of that unforgettable game against England in September. His speech was a tour de force: hilarious at times, thought-provoking at others. Some of the Ambassador’s humour verged on the risqué but couched, of course, in diplomatic language. And in his more serious moments, his observations on Anglo-Irish relations were engaging and positive. The standing ovation came as no surprise. Time to make good my escape – this time to Connolly for the train. My next engagement is in Dublin tomorrow and I had toyed with staying overnight. I know that temptation was made to be yielded to, but common sense prevailed……

FRIDAY: Same procedure – bus to Dublin, train back and in between lunch at another fine hotel. It’s the Irish Times/ Irish Sports Council Sportswoman of the Year Awards at the Shelbourne. Mixed sporting chat over a bite, from the future prospects of Irish rugby with the IRFU’s Director of Development, Scott Walker, to expert insights into the McIlroys, McDowells, Harringtons and Clarkes from the Irish Times Golf Correspondent Philip Reid.. Good to chat, as always, with the Sports Council’s CEO, John Treacy, and his chairman, Kieran Mulvey. The winner came from one of the 12 Irish Times/Sports Council Sportswoman of the Month winners and was Fiona Coghlan, the rugby captain who led her side to that famous Grand Slam this year. Given the progress of the women’s cricket team, maybe one year……..

GREETINGS: And that’s it. The blazer has taken a rest over the Christmas period, to be next donned when the club dinner season resumes in the New Year. Hope your Christmas and New Year has been very merry and from a cricket point of view, wouldn’t it be marvellous if 2014 was as happy as 2013.

Robin Walsh
Yes
Connaught