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Thanks Roger.

It should make no difference Colin, as both the UK and the EU have agreed that the Common Travel Area, which has existed since the 1920's, and allows unrestricted movement between the two jurisdictions, will remain in place after Brexit.

Not looking to start a political discussion on rights and wrongs of Brexit.
However simple question;
In the event of a no deal Brexit will this affect overseas players playing in NCU/ NW on an Irish passport?
Additionally would cross border cups be affected?

Andrew White NCU Cricket Academy 2018 - 2019
The Andrew White NCU Cricket Academy has now been in operation for three years and continues to go from strength to strength. The Academy was originally established to provide opportunities for young talented players within the NCU to obtain specialist support. Thus, enabling more of those young players, both male and female, to gain international representation at Irish level at the various age groups. The Academy programme has had some success in that regard during the last three years, with some of the Academy graduates going on to gain representative honours at underage level, and others on the cusp of achieving that. We are delighted that the Academy support along with other coaches in the NCU system, has enabled so many players to achieve representative opportunities.
Following a recent review of the Academy, the NCU Representative Directorate has agreed that the 2018-19 Academy intake will focus on players within the 17-23 age group who have the potential to gain future Senior Interprovincial and/or Senior International representation, and who currently are not involved in any Cricket Ireland Pathway Programmes.
The Academy members will also be actively participating in the 2019 Emerging Knights fixtures, which it is anticipated will have up to have 10 match days.
Players selected for the Andrew White NCU Cricket Academy 2018-19 are as follows:
* Aditya Adey (Muckamore)
* Jack Burton (Carrick)
* Matthew Foster (CSNI)
* Sam Gordon (Muckamore)
* Jamie Magowan (North Down)
* John Matchett (CIYMS)
* Matthew McCord (Carrick)
* James Metcalfe (Instonians)
* Ben Rose (Instonians)
* Morgan Topping (CSNI)
* Harry Warke (Carrick)
* Aaron Wright (CSNI)
Andrew White commented, ‘The group of young players selected have shown promising performances at various stages during the Premier League last year and I look forward to helping them in their quest to push for representative honours in 2019. Simon Johnston’s coaching expertise and commitment to assisting the players achieve their potential will be invaluable over the coming months. The Academy is indebted to the continued support of Ulster University, O’Neills and MG2 Cricket who have been great supporters of the Academy since its inception’.

is there a reason that all the draws for ncu cups can't be done at the same time as the senior cup draw

At last some concrete fixtures to start a brand new copy for 2019 and something to look forward to come. Nice to see the sponsor Gallagher sponsoring and that the Womens draw took place on the same evening to and this is what should happen in all unions across the island of Ireland and not just on a throw away day
Any ideas Ed when the T20 cup fixtures will be published and those important League fixtures to and has anybody yet decided to stream matches live on their site or through the Northern Cricket Union site as it has been a good thing for the LCU
I have been lying low for a few weeks listening to the Womens side in the West Indies and yes we took a few hammerings but all it would take would be more exposure to big crowds like play a Womens final before a Mens T20 final and encourage more girls to play the sport in all communities. Hannah Greive and a few from the NCU should get a chance now that the 4 best ambassadors of the Womens game have retired, and play more matches to improve their technique.
Anybody missing cricket already can tune into Radio 5Live sports xtra for Australia v India from 1120 each night bar the Perth test at 0215 and followed by the Womens Big Bash from 0730. All live on BT Sport by the way to.

Holders Waringstown will be away to Holywood in the first round of
next season’s Northern Cricket Union’s Gallagher Challenge Cup.
The holders of the women’s trophy Lurgan will also be on their travels
against the winners of the preliminary round between Holywood and
Laurelvale..
Eight Premiership clubs and 10 from Section 1 of the Senior League
will compete for the men’s trophy but only two games will feature all
Premiership sides - Instonians v North Down looks to be the game of
the round and newly promoted Lisburn will be at home to CIYMS.
Dates have yet to be fixed for both tournaments and the full draws are:
Mens preliminary round:
Ballymena v Cregagh; Templepatrick v Donaghacloney Mill
First Round:
Carrickfergus v Woodvale; Instonians v North Down; Templepatrick or
Donaghacloney Mill v Downpatrick; CSNI v Armagh; Lisburn v CIYMS;
Bangor v Muckamore; Ballymena or Cregagh v Derriaghy; Holywood v
Waringstown.
Women’s preliminary round:
Holywood v Laurelvale; Donaghacloney Mill v Carrick.
First Round:
Waringstown v CSNI; Instonians v North Down; Muckamore v Donaghacloney
Mill or Carrickfergus; Holywood or Laurelvale v Lurgan.

It is with sadness and much regret that James McCall (Jimmy) sadly passed away this morning after a short illness.

Funeral details to follow.

Ulster Grasshoppers CC weekend tour to La Manga 4th April 2019
Afternoon guys
Please see below the email I received from the organiser of the tournament this week. If anyone is interested in getting touring / playing please email me etc. The details are self explanatory.
Cheers
Ricky

Hi Ricky
Good talking to you earlier.
We run a pre season tournament each April for teams looking to prepare for the coming season.
For the first time in 2019 we will be using our grass wickets following significant investment from Cricket Ireland, the grass wickets have been used by their test squad, women's squad this pre-season and for training sessions through the summer.
The tournament is an 8 team event, a 20/20 festival played over 3 days - with teams guaranteed a minimum of 4 games.
The standard package is teams arriving on Thursday 4th April, with cricket played Friday, Saturday and Sunday and teams leaving Monday.
Package includes
4 nights twin share accommodation in Las Lomas Sports Village Apartments - seewww.lamangaclub.com/accommodation and click on Las Lomas Apartments
3 days of cricket - minimum 4 games per team, umpires, balls, trophies etc... all provided - played on grass wickets
Scheduled use of 2 grass nets for 1 hour per day per team during the tournament
Sunday night presentation dinner - 3 course hot buffet with wine and beer on table
Daily return transfer per team from accommodation to ground (5 mins drive)
Use of fitness centre and spa
Discounts in a variety of bars and restaurants - plus special meal offers
Price £350pp for UK teams
Deposit of £100 or 30% per person - balance due 6 weeks before the event
Not included:
flights (you should book into Murcia / Corvera or Alicante)
Priced at £160pp return as of 09.11.18 by tourist Andy Beattie
Airport transfers - we quote this for you when we know how many players but approx 25 Euros PP for Murcia / Corvera and 40 Euros PP Alicante (This is the total price pp not each way)
Food unless where stated - please note the cricket centre marquee will serve breakfast baguettes, lunch time food options and soft hot drinks, snack, cakes and beer and wine all day.
I hope this helps, to confirm we need a rough idea of players and how many supporters and I can then provide a booking form / deposit invoice.
I look forward to hearing from you and answering any questions
Regards
Andy House - La Manga

Ulster Grasshoppers CC Dinner 2019
Afternoon all
The annual Ulster Grasshoppers CC dinner is scheduled to take place on Saturday 2nd February 2019 in the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Shaw's Bridge, Belfast.
Last years event was a super evening in excellent surroundings with Lisburn CC stalwart and now respected umpire, Michael Foster our guest speaker. This year, the guest speaker is former Irish skipper and Grasshopper, Kyle McCallan (227 caps).
The evening is open to non members and from talking to cricketers over the summer, there was high interest in attending the dinner. If you are interested, please email me on richard@finlaygrahamproperty.com
Many thanks
Ricky
Chairman Ulster Grasshoppers

I though this had a certain resonance for the whole cricket in Ireland situation and the seemingly fruitless search for El Dorado.
Poetry For The Mildly Insane: The Shiny Things by Edwin Madu

There was an urgency the night bore
When the men with the shiny things came
The air was tight
Words on lips were light
The moon cowered
The crickets were mute
The men arrived on beasts
That resembled slender lifeless horses
They came to us as we sat in the open
Telling old stories to newborns
They asked us where our leaders were
We took them there with hastened steps
For these men were white
Almost as white as the cowering moon
They saw the chiefs and gave them gifts
The chiefs, they laughed and called them kin
The gifts were several, shiny they were
But after that night, more of the moon men arrived
But bearing no gifts, they took instead
They stole our land and erased our name
Freedom left when the shiny things came.

Dr Murray Power will be recognised with a Special Award - Outstanding Contribution and Service to Irish Cricket , in honour of John Wright - at the 2018 Turkish Airlines Cricket Ireland Awards on Friday 2 November 2018.

Yes Ed. My comments were mainly directed at CI. But any cursory perusal of the "other" site will reveal the level of misgiving that exists. I would respectfully suggest that, having seen how the upper level of administration has evolved across both sports, we are justified in making comparisons.

For many seasons I have been posting about the machinations of CI vis-a-vis what happened when rugby ‘went professional’. To take a jaundiced view of the present scenario and looking at the highly paid CEOs and their minions I see people being involved in basic admin duties - for instance - is it really the role of a CEO to be drinks waiter at an under-age game or handing out the paperwork at an AGM? It’s all about added value.. Having heard assurances that ‘we have’ learned and taken on board the lessons from Rugby Ireland’ I really do have to ask the question. The real problem is that there are so many now involved at the top Level. who are loathe to complain because they are ‘in the system’.As someone who has been involved for more years than I care to remember I am concerned about the continual decline in the Union in which I am mostly involved I really have to ask ‘did anyone take notice of my comments a few seasons ago about the emperor’s new clothes.? This is not a rhetorical question. When I look at my grandson I do wonder will there be cricket for him to enjoy in the 2020s. The ‘vibs’ that I get from the hierarchy says ‘no’ But hey - we are a Teat Nation and those at the top will have the attainment of such status on their CVs should they move on

Thanks for follow up.after enquiry at donacloney c c was able to get a copy . sorry for not letting you know sooner . thanks again