The evening light was falling over Lismore Castle when Jarlath Burns stood looking out across the fields. The GAA President had come to the town for a special occasion – the launch of a 412-page history of the local GAA club, a book that captured 127 years of sporting life in this corner of County Waterford . What he saw that day surprised him.

“You could be standing watching a hurling match, behind you there is a soccer match and to the right is a cricket match,” Burns told the crowd gathered in the castle. “I never thought I would see that in Waterford” .

His words caught the attention of everyone who heard them. Not because they were critical – quite the opposite. The GAA President was expressing genuine wonder at something he had not encountered anywhere else. In most Irish towns, one sport dominates. One pitch, one passion, one story. But Lismore has never followed that pattern. The town has found a way to share its fields, to let different games flourish side by side, and to build a community where every sport has its place.

This is not just a curiosity or a happy accident. It is a symbol of something deeper. Lismore has built a sporting culture that welcomes everyone, from the youngest child picking up a cricket bat for the first time to the veteran hurler who remembers the glory days of the 1990s. It is a culture that respects the past while building for the future, and it is one of the reasons why families keep coming back to this town year after year.

A Tradition of Greatness: The GAA Club

The history of Lismore GAA club is written in silverware. The club has won the County Senior Hurling Championship three times – in 1925, 1991, and 1993 . The first of those victories came when the town was still finding its feet after the upheavals of the War of Independence. Lismore beat Erin’s Own by 4-2 to 2-3, a scoreline that tells you something about the different style of play in those days.

Then came the long wait. Sixty-six years passed before Lismore tasted senior glory again. In 1991, they beat Mount Sion by 5-7 to 1-5, a victory that sent celebrations through the town streets. Two years later, they did it again, this time beating Passage by 0-8 to 0-7 in a tight, tense final . That victory in 1993 was the last time Lismore lifted the county senior title, but it was not the end of the story.

In 2016, the club won the Munster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship, proving that the winning spirit had not faded. The club also has four county senior football titles to its name, a record that speaks to the depth of talent in the town.

But the club is not content to rest on its history. At the same event where Jarlath Burns spoke so warmly of Lismore, club chairman Colin Kearney outlined ambitious plans for the future. The club is working towards a fully floodlit main pitch, a biodiversity walkway, and additional dressing rooms . These are not small projects. They represent a serious investment in the future of sport in the town.

The biodiversity walkway is particularly interesting. It shows that the club is thinking beyond the game itself, looking at how sport can coexist with the natural environment that makes Lismore so special. The walkway will serve players and supporters alike, offering a place to walk and reflect while connecting with the landscape.

Jarlath Burns also complimented the club on their plans to develop a second pitch . This is significant. It shows that Lismore GAA is preparing for growth, expecting that more people will want to play, more families will want to get involved, and the club needs to have the facilities ready.

A Cricket Renaissance: From Oldest Club to Programmes for Everyone

Lismore Cricket Club has a story that is just as remarkable. The club is one of Munster’s oldest cricket clubs, with the first recorded committee meeting taking place in 1872 . That means the club has been part of Lismore life for over 150 years. It was founded on the grounds of the Lismore Castle Estate, where the club still plays today .

The club’s history is not just about longevity. It is about survival and revival. For many years, cricket in Lismore was a quiet presence, a game played by a dedicated few while the hurling and football matches drew the crowds. But something has changed in recent years. The club is now in the middle of a genuine renaissance.

The turning point came with the introduction of the “Smash It” programme, a Cricket Ireland initiative designed for children aged five to nine . The programme is built around inclusion and fun. Children learn the basics of batting, bowling, and fielding through games and activities. They are not pushed to compete or to excel. They are encouraged to enjoy the game and make friends.

Lismore Cricket Club embraced Smash It with enthusiasm. They ran a highly successful series of weekly sessions that attracted over twenty children . The sessions were so popular that the club was able to build on them, offering youth training sessions for older children and even entering an under-13 team – the “Lismore Knights” – into the Munster Cricket Union Cup for the first time in years .

Club Secretary Dan Dixon has been at the heart of this revival. He has spoken about how the club has turned a corner, moving from being a “single team club” to one that is looking to enter second XI, under-15 and under-13 teams . The energy is infectious. On Wednesday nights, the club comes alive with children running around the pitch, parents watching from the sidelines, and a real sense of community spirit.

The national programme co-ordinator for the Munster Cricket Union, Glenn Brokenshire, described Lismore as a “shining example” of how to tap into the resources and training available from Cricket Ireland . He noted that the club has turned a significant corner and is now on the cusp of fielding underage teams in MCU competitions. That is a big step for any club, especially one in a town where Gaelic games have traditionally dominated.

The club has also reached out to women and girls with the “CricHIIT” programme, a four-week fitness and cricket initiative launched during Women in Sport Week . CricHIIT combines cricket skills training with high-intensity interval training, offering a fun and energetic workout that introduces women to the sport in an accessible way. It is designed for beginners and returners, for women who have never picked up a bat and for those who have not played in years.

The response has been positive. The programme, funded by the Waterford Sports Partnership Women in Sport Grant Scheme, has helped break down barriers and build confidence . It is another example of how Lismore Cricket Club is thinking about inclusion and diversity, making sure that everyone feels welcome.

Lismore Cricket Club is also one of the only clubs in the Munster Cricket Union with a traditional grass wicket as its sole playing surface . Visiting teams often find this challenging, as many are used to playing on artificial pitches. But for the club, it is a point of pride. It connects them to the long history of the game, to the way cricket has always been played on these grounds.

A Place for Families: Sport as a Foundation for Community

Sport in Lismore is not just about competition. It is about building a community where families can thrive. The town has understood something that many places have forgotten: that sport is one of the best ways to bring people together, to teach children important lessons, and to create lasting memories.

The previous article about Lismore talked about how families can make a bet on a memorable holiday, a bet on an experience that children will remember for the rest of their lives. That idea applies just as strongly to sport. When a family comes to Lismore, they are not just watching games. They are joining a community. They are seeing how children learn teamwork and discipline, how parents support each other, and how a town can come together around its clubs.

For families with young children, the Smash It programme is a perfect introduction to sport. Children aged five to nine can learn the basics of cricket in a safe and supportive environment. They receive a Smash It t-shirt, backpack, bat and ball when they register . They make friends and build confidence. They learn that sport is fun.

For older children, the club offers pathways to more competitive play. The growth of the under-13 team and the plans for under-15 and second XI teams show that there is a future for young cricketers in Lismore. They do not have to leave town to play at a higher level. They can stay and be part of something that is growing.

For women and girls, the CricHIIT programme offers a way into sport that is social and supportive. It is designed for all fitness levels, so no one feels left out. It is a chance to try something new, to meet people, and to be part of a community.

For parents, there is the simple pleasure of watching their children play. The cricket club has created an environment where families can spend time together, where grandparents can watch their grandchildren learn the game, and where the whole community can share in the joy of sport.

The GAA club offers similar opportunities. The plans for a floodlit pitch and new dressing rooms will make the club more accessible and more welcoming. The biodiversity walkway will give families a place to enjoy the outdoors while connecting with the club. These are not just facilities for players. They are facilities for the whole community.

The Future is Being Written Now

Lismore’s sporting story is not finished. It is still being written. The GAA club is planning for a future with better facilities and more opportunities. The cricket club is growing, building on the success of the Smash It programme and expanding its reach. The town is becoming a place where sport is not just for the few but for everyone.

This is the bet that families make when they come to Lismore. It is not a bet on a game or a team. It is a bet on a place where children can grow up healthy and active, where they can learn the values of teamwork and discipline, and where they can be part of a community that cares about them.

It is a bet on a town that has been welcoming visitors for over 1,300 years, since St Carthage founded his settlement on the banks of the Blackwater. The first visitors came to study. Then came the pilgrims, the scholars, the artists, and the travellers. Now come the families. And they keep coming back.

There is something about this place that stays with you. Maybe it is the light on the river, the view of the castle, or the kindness of the people. Maybe it is the feeling that you have stepped into a story that is still being written. Or maybe it is simply the sight of children running on a pitch, learning a game, making friends, and being part of something bigger than themselves.

Lismore understands that sport is more than just a game. It is a way of bringing people together, of building a community, of creating a future. The town has found a way to make room for everyone, from the hurler to the cricketer, from the young child to the veteran player. That is something special. That is something worth celebrating. And that is something that will keep families coming back for generations to come.