News

DUBLIN – A man of many hats – international cricketer, Board Member, selector, administrator, commentator and international Rugby referee – Alan Lewis will be honoured with the Outstanding Contribution and Service to Irish Cricket award at the 12^th Business Plus Irish Cricket Awards on Friday night.

The annual Business Plus Irish Cricket Awards recognises and celebrates the best of Irish cricket, from grassroots all the way up to international. One of the headline awards is the Gibney’s Outstanding Contribution and Service to Irish Cricket, in honour of John Wright.

The Award recognises individuals who are held in the highest regard within the Irish cricket community, having made a significant long-term contribution to sustaining and growing the reputation of cricket, growing participation and/or advocating for improvements in facilities and opportunities for players.

Past recipients of this prestigious award have included former Cricket Ireland Presidents Dr Murray Power, Roy Torrens, Joe Doherty and Paul Reynolds.

2024 Award Recipient

Alan Lewis has made a massive contribution to Irish cricket over his lifetime, as a player, administrator, club official, sponsor, and Board member.

He represented Ireland at all underage and adult categories – including earning 121 caps for Ireland (between 1984 and 1997), captaining the National Men’s team on 35 occasions.

Alan made his senior international debut against the West Indies in Rathmines, Dublin, and went on to score 3,579 runs at an average of 28.63, with a top score of 136* against Wales in July 1990, one of four centuries he scored for Ireland.

He also took 51 wickets, with best bowling figures of 4-21 against Scotland in July 1993.

Alan served a full term on the Board of Cricket Ireland as an Independent Director – and played a key role in shaping the transition to where the sport is to-day as part of his Board role.

Alan served a full term as the last volunteer Chair of the National Selectors, dedicating countless hours of his time to oversee the growth and development of the Men’s National squad.

He has also provided decades of sponsorship support to cricket via his family business, including long-term sponsorship for the Leinster Senior Cup and Leinster Premier League. He currently serves as a Director on the Cricket Leinster Board responsible for overseeing the strategic direction of cricket in Leinster, with a particular focus on the club game/grassroots cricket.

Alan has been a key driving force behind the YMCA Cricket Club which has prioritised the development of youth cricketers and has provided countless provincial and international players under his guidance, direction, and oversight (both male and female). The YMCA youth structure is regarded as a best practice example and Alan has led this project as overall Club Patron.

Alan is also a highly respected cricket commentator and analyst for many broadcasts including BBC, Sky Sports, and Cricket Ireland livestreams.

Born in Cork in 1964, and educated in St Andrews College in Dublin, Alan also played Rugby Union. However, after injury halted his playing career he turned to refereeing and established himself as one of the best referees in world rugby. He would go on to referee at the 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cups in Australia and France.  

The Event

The 12th Business Plus Irish Cricket Awards on Friday night will see 16 award categories presented as follows:

• Kitman Labs Emerging Talent Award – Men
• Beauchamps Emerging Talent Award – Women
• Macron Volunteer of the Year
• Certa Smash It/It’s Wicket! Activator of the Year
• SportsHub Coach of the Year
• Cricket Writers of Ireland Hall of Fame
• Lord’s Taverners Groundskeeping Team of the Year
• Butlers Club Player of the Year – Men
• Butlers Club Player of the Year – Women
• Gibney’s Outstanding Contribution and Service to Irish Cricket – in honour of John Wright
• Waterford Club Cricket Official of the Year – in honour of Paul Reynolds
• Arachas Club of the Year
• HBV Studios Inter-Provincial Series Player of the Year
• Evoke Super Series Player of the Year
• Business Plus International Men’s Player of the Year
• Certa International Women’s Player of the Year

Where to follow

Keep an eye on Cricket Ireland’s social media channels on Friday night to keep abreast of all the winners.