The proposed National Stadium, on which the Fianna Fail/Progressive Democrats cabinet will make a decision shortly before Christmas, will contain a cricket field, CricketIreland can reveal. While this seems like a token effort to include as many sports as possible - the "activity plans" show the cricket area to be on the periphery of the site, sandwiched between the picnic area and the archery targets - the Irish Cricket Union have been in discussions with Sports Campus Ireland about the cricket site.

"Because of our first choice to get North County funded we did not press for Indoor Facilities", says ICU Honorary Secretary John Wright, "The main areas that we have concentrated on are Sports Medicine and office space".

The campus is based close to several areas of rapid population growth in West Dublin, which seems set to continue for several years to come. "If there is a cricket pitch, we would have no trouble getting a tenant", says Wright, "But we have had no detailed discussions."

Several clubs draw members from the west Dublin area, notably Phoenix and junior clubs Civil Service and North Kildare. All those seem well bedded down in their grounds are unlikely to move, which may see a new club spring from what has been derided as 'the Bertie Bowl'.