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As Cricket Ireland President Robin Walsh prepares to hand over the presidency at the forthcoming AGM, his final diary looks back at what was a memorable year for Irish Cricket.
Nearly time to declare the innings closed. This is the last diary and on Sunday the presidential baton will be passed to that pillar of North-West cricket, Joe Doherty.

The blazer was first donned a year ago with the hope that it would still fit when the term of office ended. Well, somehow, it does despite the best efforts of so many hospitable clubs up and down the country.

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The final two functions were no exception – the annual dinner of Instonians, bringing together rugby, cricket and hockey, and the monthly luncheon club of Harlequins rugby folk nearby in South Belfast. The former was by far the more relaxing given that one didn’t have to sing for supper. Just as well since on the bill was Gerry Donnelly, once the PR man for Derry GAA and the most entertaining after dinner speaker I’ve heard in ages.

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Not so relaxing at Harlequins. No joke speaking any time; a touch more intimidating in front of the likes of cricket loving former Westminster MP, Stratton Mills, a few captains of industry, a sprinkling of QCs and two former Presidents of the Irish Cricket Union/Cricket Ireland in Simon Corlett and my immediate predecessor Arthur Vincent. I was invited to talk about the World T20 in Bangladesh and suggested that in itself that would make for one of the club’s shortest speeches. There was no difficulty in balancing the books as I also reviewed a magnificent year for Cricket Ireland and held out the hope for Test cricket for Ireland as soon as 2018. The President of Harlequins, Peter Bates, spends most of his time now in the Isle of Man and ensured I had the tastiest of breakfasts the next morning. His present of Manx kippers went down a treat.

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And so to Sunday’s annual meeting and the honour of presenting the traditional Staffordshire Mugs to hail the presidency of Joe Doherty. Another pleasant task will be to review my year in office. It will be about saying thanks:

– to Phil Simmons and his squads and their historic hat-trick of the Associates Intercontinental Cup, World League and T20 Trophy, the ODI tie with Pakistan, the T20 victory over the West Indies and that never to be forgotten close run thing against England on that glorious September day at Malahide.

– to the squads which represented Leinster Lightning, Northern Knights and North West Warriors in the hugely successful inaugural inter-Provincial series in the three forms of the game.

– to the women who won their place in the World T20 and showed flashes of their excellent progress in Bangladesh.

– to the Under 15 boys who took the European Division I championship.

– to the many more who made the club league and cup competitions such a joy to watch.

– to the administrators led by chairman Ross McCollum, Chief Executive Warren Deutrom and his Cricket Ireland staff who have put Cricket Ireland in such a healthy state and who combined to make my year in office so pleasurable.

– to the clubs and spectators who made me so welcome when the blazer came visiting.

And finally, to my faithful readers, some of whom have dropped me kind notes down the
months.

Thank you all.

Robin Walsh
Robin Walsh entertaining the crowd at the Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifiers in Dublin
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