Fran Reynolds: The Community Spirit Behind Malahide Cricket Club

At Malahide Cricket Club, international cricket may be played on the field, but keeping the club running is very much a team effort off it. For Fran Reynolds, the club’s Chairperson, the day-to-day operation of one of Ireland’s most recognisable cricket venues comes down to a simple formula: plenty of volunteers, plenty of hard work and a community that is willing to get stuck in.

“It’s not easy and it’s not that difficult,” Reynolds says with a smile — perhaps the most diplomatic assessment of running a cricket club imaginable.

Behind the scenes, however, there is plenty involved. From preparing the ground to setting up tables and even taking care of the flowers, Malahide relies heavily on its volunteers to ensure everything is ready when players and spectators arrive.

“We have a lot of volunteers and a lot of good people in this club that spend a lot of time and give us a big dig out,” Reynolds explained.

That community spirit is at the heart of Malahide Cricket Club. Despite being a relatively small club with a modest membership, it has built an identity that extends well beyond the boundary rope. Fundraising remains an important part of keeping the club moving forward, while its community programmes continue to introduce new generations to cricket.

One of the highlights is the club’s Friday evening Bite Size programme for children. The initiative has grown into a lively weekly gathering, with Reynolds recalling one occasion last year when around 120 children turned up to play.

For a club that regularly hosts international cricket, those evenings provide an important reminder of where the future of the game begins — with children running around a cricket ground simply enjoying themselves.

That makes the arrival of the ETPL particularly meaningful for Malahide.

The club will host half the matches of the new competition, giving its volunteers, members and grounds team the opportunity to be part of a major new chapter in European cricket.

For Reynolds, the occasion is also a proud moment for Josh, the club’s groundsman, who now faces the challenge of preparing pitches for an influx of international and franchise talent.

“It’s a great honour for him, for Josh, to have the opportunity to prepare pitches for such an elite of players that are due at this time,” Reynolds said.

There is, however, one final variable that no amount of preparation can control. The Irish weather.

After talking about volunteers, community cricket, fundraising and elite players, Reynolds ended with perhaps the most important request of all:

“Bring it on and please God, we have some good weather.”

At Malahide, it seems even the ETPL’s biggest weekend has one final team member to win over.

The weather.