James Bennet
Cricket has been part of the social history of Fingal since the mid-1820s. The context for the paper will be provided by examining briefly its “Big House” origins through to its status as a mainstream sport in the late 1870s. The subsequent decline of cricket in much of Ireland was not replicated in parts of Fingal, and the reasons for cricket remaining a mainstream sport in this area will be addressed. The main focus of the paper will be on cricket in the Holmpatrick and Skerries districts from the late 1890s through to 1969.
Biographical Details
James Bennett, a native of Portlaoise, has worked in Fingal for his entire professional career, firstly in St Peter and Paul’s BNS, Balbriggan in 1969 and then in St Colmcille’s BNS, Swords from 1970 until his retirement in 2015. He has been a member of The Hills CC for many years and served as President of the club from 2001 until 2015.
