Run

In the area where I live, it's concert season. For the past couple of weeks our local park has been transformed into an arena for 2 weekends of music catering for all (and no) taste. The stage is only about 400 metres from our door so with a favourable (and again on some days an unfavourable) breeze we can avail of a free concert sitting in our back garden. 

I was discussing this with Zoe, my niece in law - not sure if that's actually a thing but you know what I mean - when I mentioned that while I hadn't applied for tickets in which residents can apply for free tickets, the only band in which I would have been interested in was Snow Patrol when she piped up with “played cricket with Gary Lightbody”. 

After I picked my jaw off the floor, Zoe explained that at an international game in Clontarf, a gang had played a game on the outfield after the end of play. That Mr. Lightbody was one of those was because Irish international Dave Langford Smith’s wife Maeve was friendly with Lisa Hannigan (another outstanding musician) and she had brought him along to the game. Pretty cool story, Zoe, but hang on there it gets better. After sharing this memory with our mutual friend, Neil Blair, formerly of Beverley, Clontarf and now Lusk/Malahide CC, Neil added a little more lustre to the tale.

G. Lightbody caught N Blair Bowled Z Wilshire 

And Neil confides it was a good catch too. Years ago, Irish international cricketers used to lay claim to playing against Test cricketers, Zoe and Neil can lay claim to international rock stars. Decide yourself which you would prefer.

Cricket and music are unlikely bedfellows to be honest. While players may plug in their earphones or connect to the speaker to get themselves in the mood, the practice of actually playing music and playing cricket are in conflict. Commit to a season of cricket and you have very little time for anything else, long days in the field are not conducive to long nights on stage so perhaps it is not that surprising that cricket and music connections are not immediately obvious. But dig a bit and you will find some.

Everyone loves a new Blade

Late 70s and early 80s, the Irish music scene was always on the lookout for the newest “band most likely”. There were contenders but the band most likely to be the band most likely were a group from the Ringsend area of Dublin called The Blades. No immediate cricket connections other than they played College Park on a couple of occasions during the Trinity Ball week but for this purpose, that’s not good enough. 

Fast forward some years and while The Blades still gig occasionally they never quite went beyond “the most likely” tag. To their fans, it was and still is a mystery and a travesty, ask Ger Siggins. Sport came to the fore in the children of the band members, however, the drummer Pat Larkin’s daughter, Abbie is a current Irish international footballer but up in Terenure CC, son and daughter of the front man and main songwriter, Paul Cleary found their niche with a cricket ball in the hand rather than the guitar. Rebecca and Dylan Cleary are extremely polite when fielding questions about their father to adults of certain age to whom he is still a bit of a hero.

Show us your medals

In school, a lad by the name of Stephen Rennicks was a friend and fellow sports nut. He was an excellent centre on the Senior Cup Team for a couple of years and a more than useful addition to the cricket team in the summer term. Unlike many of us, he moved on from sport and he moved into the world of music. When I saw he moved into the world of music, I may be understating it a little. A glance at his IMBD entry tells of a career that has seen awards for his film scores all around the world. More locally he would be best known for his work with Film Maker, Lenny Abrahamson - another High School pupil - particularly in the film Frank and the world wide smash TV programme Normal People.  

In the sports world, success can often be dictated by your drawer of medals, Stephen was always a modest lad but if you ask him to “show us your medals” you had better be prepared to dig in for a while.

Something for the Weekend

The Divine Comedy are one of the great Irish bands with the defining influence the North Westerner, Neil Hannon.

We have no record of Neil Hannon playing cricket, so this might feel a bit of a cheat. But no one can deny his connections to cricket. In 2009 along with Thomas Walsh, Hannon made a concept album about cricket, as unlikely a concept as is possible. Under the title The Duckworth Lewis Method, band and album, they brought together two previously incompatible players. It is genius. In promoting the album, Hannon and Walsh played a gig, on the outfield of Merrion Cricket Club, a night to remember. Tangential connection but it's one we are claiming.

Here comes the sun

As mentioned it's not ideal mixing music and cricket but occasionally it's possible. Many years ago, a new member arrived in Clontarf CC, I fancy through Dublin University CC connections but I can't be sure at this remove. Nigel Williams was a junior level but extremely keen cricketer, playing I think in our 5th eleven side. And a decent cricketer at that level, good enough to be awarded an Oulton Cup, the trophy given to the best player on each of the adult mens’ sides. 

Nigel however moonlighted on a band, a Beatles tribute band, no less with the truly brilliant title The Beatless. For a period, the band were on a high, busy all around the country and then the big gig came around. The Late Late Show was the biggest TV programme and a great showcase. The band performed as the song came to an end the camera closed in on the piece of silver at the drummers side, yes Nigel had got his Oulton Cup on national TV.

A sky full of stars

We began with the rock star and we will end there too. A few years ago, photos emerged of rock legend Chris Martin in Dublin. On closer examination, Mr. Martin was in the Sandymount area, specifically in Railway Union CC, a ground noted for it's sometimes chilly climate. The original Cold Play (copyright Get Siggins).

This is only a glimpse, I'm sure there are many others. I fine it hard to believe that while Two Door Cinema Club were plotting to spread their music worldwide from Bangor Grammar School that Chris Harte wasn't in their ear about the state of their cover drive or outswinger. I’d love to know more about our musician cricketers out there.