In the early 1860s The
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, decided that our public service predecessors
needed some quality rest and recreation. He pushed a Bill through
Parliament, granting Civil Servants a cricket ground in Phoenix
Park, right beside the Dog Pond, where the Civil Service Cricket
Club play to this day. The club played its first match on the
front lawn of Aras an Uachtaran in April 1863.
During the 19th century the game was a more leisurely pursuit
than it is now, players often appeared in their Sunday best and
its technical fine points were developing, but cricket was basically
the same game then, two batsman take the field to defend their
wickets against a fielding side attempting to dismiss them and
their colleagues by a number of means – catches, run outs and
stumpings.
Back in its early days Civil Service Cricket Club had trouble
fielding sides, or to be more precise, fielding sides punctually.
In those days the Public Service worked on Saturday mornings,
and as most matches were played on that day, starting at noon,
Service were almost always late starters. This situation gradually
improved as office managers in Dublin Castle and the Custom House
developed a blind eye on match days.
The Club built a wooden pavilion with a well stocked bar in its
basement, and the Club attracted visiting sides from all parts
of Ireland. Charles Stewart Parnell himself brought a Wicklow
side to Civil Service in the 1870s. Club membership was opened
to Public Servants’ families and James Penny was the club’s first
international, the son of a public servant. The club produced
several Irish international cricketers like George Christian and
Paddy Murphy.
Civil Service was at its peak just before the First War but things
were changing, with the GAA establishing its dominance. After
the Second War Civil Service reverted to its junior status and
it has since prospered to varying degree. Now, the club’s membership
includes Aussies, Indians, Pakistanis and South Africans, all
of whom love the game and the great social life the Club has to
offer. The public service link lives on – Club President Fintan
Butler, is based in the OPW and his son Owen, who started his
career in Civil Service, later went on to play for Ireland. Aidan
Kinsella, captain of the club’s second team, is also based in
the OPW.
Given the Partnership buzzword currently in use, it’s appropriate
that the cricket club banded together with the hockey and harriers
section using the club facilities, and, with the aid of Lotto
funds a fine extension, complete with ladies’ dressing rooms,
were added to the club pavilion.
154 years on, Civil Service cricket
club is now an organised sporting outfit regularly fielding good
sides in Leinster league and cup competitions. Civil Service’
play hard but play for fun. Check us out at civilservicecc.com
or drop up to the Park and cheer us on.
(Article written by Anthony Morrissey)
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