Cricket Ireland’s incoming chief executive Sarah Keane will make history as the first permanent female chief executive of an International Cricket Council (ICC) full member nation when she takes up the role next year.
The BBC said Keane, who is currently Swim Ireland’s chief executive will take over as CEO at Cricket Ireland in March 2026.
Clare Connor was previously the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) interim chief executive between 2022 and 2023 but decided against applying for the role on a permanent basis.
Dublin (Ireland)-based Cricket Ireland is the national governing body for the sport of cricket in Ireland. It is responsible for setting the strategic direction and the national administration of cricket on the island of Ireland.
Keane will succeed Warren Deutrom, who left the organisation in August after 19 years at the helm.
She has been Swim Ireland chief executive since 2004, leading the organisation to its best Olympic Games performance in Paris last year with Daniel Wiffen and Mona McSharry winning gold and bronze medals respectively.
Keane, who also served as Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) president from 2017 to 2024, said she is “incredibly excited and deeply honoured” to take up the role.
She said, “Cricket is a truly global sport, and Ireland now stands on the threshold of tremendous opportunity – from the Olympic opportunity with the inclusion of cricket in the 2028 Olympics, the accelerated development of the women’s game, and the potential of bringing different communities together, to Ireland hosting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2030.
“I’m particularly keen to explore further avenues for commercial growth to ensure sustainable investment, and I look forward to supporting the ambitious plans for the development of the National Cricket Centre on the National Sports Campus and the upgrades to vital cricket infrastructure at Malahide, Stormont and others.
“I am committed to working collaboratively and tirelessly with the board, staff, players, and the entire cricketing community to deliver on those opportunities for Irish cricket and all involved.”
Planning permission was recently granted for Ireland’s National Cricket Centre to be built within the renowned Sport Ireland Campus in Abbotstown, Dublin.
Fingal County Council gave the green light for a new €35 million National Cricket Centre that will host the 2030 T20 World Cup matches.
The plans include a floodlit stadium with a seated capacity of 4,240 spectators and a two-storey pavilion, where the sport’s high-performance centre would be located.
Cricket Ireland chair Brian MacNeice said he was “thrilled” by Keane’s appointment.
He said, “Sarah brings a wealth of experience and is one of the most respected leaders in sport nationally and internationally.
“Her track record speaks for itself. Cricket Ireland is getting a world-class sports administrator and more importantly an individual of the upmost integrity, character and high-performance mindset.”
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