Cricket Ireland appoint Brian MacNeice as new Chair of Board

In recent developments, Brian MacNeice has been appointed the Chairman of Cricket Ireland following the board's Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sunday, May 1.

Since last year, MacNeice, who served as the Vice-Chairman of Cricket Ireland, has replaced Ross McCollum for the coveted position. 

McCollum leaves office after having served the role for almost a decade. He had taken over as Chairman back in 2012.

The Irish cricket board confirmed the development through an official press release.

Following his appointment, MacNeice termed it an 'incredible honour' for him to assume the Chair of Board. He also expressed his gratitude towards McCollum, the outgoing chairman and acknowledged his immense contribution to Irish Cricket.

He said:

"It is an incredible honour and somewhat humbling to assume the role of Chair. I am acutely aware of the responsibility that comes with this position, and will work to my best endeavours in the best interests of Irish cricket at all times. We have such a vibrant sport with the potential for enormous growth over coming years, and I hope to play a part in guiding the sport into the next phase of its development."

"I would like to acknowledge Ross McCollum for his immense contribution over the last decade in the Chair's role – spending the last 12 months working closely with Ross has provided a great insight into how committed he is about the improvement of Irish Cricket, and he should be very proud of what has been achieved under his stewardship. Our standing with major stakeholders domestically and internationally has grown immeasurably in his time in the role," the newly-appointed chairman added. 

MacNeice has been a part of the system for a year now, and he understands the challenges that come with the role.

The newly-appointed chairman was involved in development of three strategic plans laid out by Cricket Ireland.

In his statement, he acknowledged that there is still a lot of work to do regarding the growth of the game in Ireland.

Further, MacNeice stressed the importance of having a strong grassroots, adding that the role of local clubs is very important in this regard.

Also, he emphasized on the growth opportunities for young boys and girls are immense, and ensuring this, remains a top priority for Cricket Ireland.

MacNeice was appointed to the Board of Cricket Ireland two years ago and has more than 30 years of experience in consulting across a diverse range of industries.