Robin Walsh has received the highest honour in Irish cricket, being elected President of Cricket Ireland at the AGM held in Dundalk yesterday.

The 73 year old is a former Controller of BBC NI and editor of BBC Nine O'Clock Television News in London.

His cricketing journey began in his home town of Derry/Londonderry, where he played schoolboy cricket for Foyle College, and then Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Ulster Schools back in the 1950s.

A journalist by profession, Walsh played cricket where work took him. He had stints in the NCU at Larne, Ballymena and Instonians where he was responsible for youth cricket  in  the 1990s.

Following his election, Walsh said: “Irish cricket has been one of the great success stories of recent years and I am deeply honoured to be elected its president." 

Walsh served as President of the Northern Cricket Union with great distinction, and is also a former honorary public relations officer of Irish cricket. In recent years he has been cricket correspondent of “Sunday Life” and chairman of the Cricket Writers of Ireland - positions he has now relinquished.

“I really couldn’t be seen to be criticising Irish performances - not that that is likely!”, he says.

Former North West Chairman, and current Chairman of the Cricket Ireland cricket committee Joe Doherty was named President elect, and will take over the reins from Robin in 12 months time.

In other news from the AGM, Cricket Ireland announced a financial loss of €80k caused primarily by last year’s bad weather.

Cricket Ireland Chief Executive Warren Deutrom explained the financial performance saying: “Similar to many other cricket nations and Counties, the weather conspired against the business of cricket in Ireland last year.

"However, on the field, our male and female players of all ages continue to do us proud, while a two-thirds growth in participation numbers year-on-year is a powerful testament to the extraordinary growth of the game in Ireland, not to mention the tireless work of our magnificent volunteers and development staff.”

Cricket Ireland Chairman Ross McCollum added: "I'd like to wish Robin Walsh the very best for the coming year, and thank Arthur Vincent, who was a magnificent ambassador for Irish cricket."

Also at the AGM, McCollum announced the election of three new Board Members in Henry Tighe, Frank Sowman and Roger McGreal. They will replace Brian Turtle, Jerry Liston and Matt Sheridan who had all been on the Board since 2008.

McCollum paid tribute to the three outgoing Board members saying:"I'd like to thank Brian, Jerry and Matt for all their efforts over the past five years. Their dedication and professionalism has been instrumental in making Irish cricket the success story that it undoubtedly is."