Tourism Ireland were today announced as sponsors of the Ireland cricket team for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup.
Speaking at the launch today at The Pavilion in Trinity College, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring T.D welcomed the sponsorship.
“The Ireland team has grown enormously in stature as a force in World Cricket in recent years,” Ring said.
“This sponsorship agreement is an opportunity for Ireland to benefit from this increased profile, with the Ireland.com logo beamed into homes across the world, creating awareness about Ireland which will translate into decisions to travel in the future.”
“I wish the Ireland cricket team every success at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.”
Speaking to breakingnews.ie Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland agreed the sponsorship deal was a great opportunity. “Ireland.com supporting the Ireland cricket team is a good fit,” said Gibbons. “Some of the games they are playing, the likes of India and the United Arab Emirates and South Africa, are key tourism markets for us.”
Warren Deutrom, CEO of Cricket Ireland, said: “As a standard-bearer for Ireland on the world stage, it is entirely fitting that our World Cup squad will be sponsored by the organisation responsible for promoting our island abroad.
“Cricket is Ireland's fastest-growing sport and has enormous prominence in a number of key overseas tourism, education and commercial markets for Ireland. Therefore, we are confident that we can deliver for Ireland plc during one of the world’s great sporting events.”
Ireland go into the event with a win in their most recent event - a training camp tri-series in Dubai, where they played against Afghanistan and Scotland.
The Ireland cricket team departs for Australia on 30th January, for a training camp at the Randwick Petersham Cricket Club. The team will play warm-up games against Scotland and Bangladesh before facing the West Indies in the tournament opener in New Zealand, on 16th February.
