Waterford Vikings Cricket Club in Waterford City made headlines earlier this month when the members of the club, returning from a tournament in Dublin, found thousands of euros worth of damage to their equipment and playing facilities.

Large playing mats used in the game had been ripped up at several points and when it was clear they couldn’t be removed, a third of the mats were torn up.

Several days later, the club were again shocked to find another attack had occurred, this time directed at the clubhouse itself. Doors, benches, cricket batts, stumps, balls and the showers were smashed. Gardaí were called and an investigation is ongoing.

A spokesperson said the club is determined to keep going despite the setbacks. An online fundraiser has been set up to recoup the losses caused by the attacks and can be accessed at www.gofundme.com at Restore Damaged Pitch and Club House. So far, it has raised over €3,800 towards a target of €5,000.

“This is a two-and-half-year-old club,” said the spokesperson. “We started back in 2022 and it has about 200 members at the moment.” The club is run on its own members’ contributions and registrations without major sponsorship, and has held various fundraising events.

“But unfortunately this has happened. After the first incident we thought we could fix everything, with around €5,500. That was the base we started this GoFundMe.” But the clubhouse was hit again, causing more damage.

“There was really great shock. We are there for a good cause, for a good reason. We didn’t take this land from anybody else. The Council gave it to us.”

The land had to be cleared of stones and bushes before being transformed into a cricket pitch, said the spokesperson.

“We shaped it, we cleaned it. We put in the pitch. We spent a lot of money. Then we came to know that there were activities happening there before. We are not against anybody, we didn’t take this land from someone.”

Club members are mostly from Indian and south Asia. The spokesperson said he is an Irish citizen and has been living in Ireland for 17 years, and has only encountered friendly neighbours. “They are really good. When they came to know it is for a cricket club, they were welcoming us.”

Cricket is a sport growing in popularity in Waterford. “This year we cannot play in competitive matches, but next year, probably we could. We welcome more Irish people into cricket.

“We have so many plans to build indoor facilities. We have good forward thinking about that land, so it’s a good development for the community. The Council is going to help us in securing the gate and securing our equipment. If they can read and understand the feelings, they might stop it,” said the spokesperson in an appeal to the vandals.

Fianna Fáil Councillor Eamon Quinlan said the club was devastated from the initial attack and it was thought it was just down to random anti-social behaviour “but that is no longer my view.”

The attacks are more about trying to remove the club’s presence or ability to operate, altogether

“The second attack, in such a short period of time and the fact that both attacks weren’t just about being random, but actually specifically kept targeting the club’s playing equipment, and shower facilities, indicates to me that the attacks are more about trying to remove the club’s presence or ability to operate, altogether.

“We will call a spade a spade, while the club has numerous Irish members, and more are joining all the time, the majority of members of the club come from countries where cricket is the game.

“Large numbers of Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangledeshis, are all members. These new Irish overwhelmingly work in University Hospital Waterford, Whitfield Clinic, our various local nursing homes and IT.

“I understand the HSE is actively recruiting them to work here. To see this community raise serious sums of money privately and invest in a game that has tremendous history in Waterford is wonderful.”

This community helps to put in place sports facilities and allow children and adults of all backgrounds in Waterford to play, added Cllr Quinlan. “It is a serious success story that is now under threat from those in our society, who I can only refer to as having sinister intent.”

The Waterford Vikings are currently licensing lands from Waterford City and County Council in the Gracedieu area of Waterford City. The club has invested significant sums into the area already, taking on the expensive task of cutting waist high grass and cleaning the site which had been vacant for many years.

The club then set about raising money through various fundraisers that allowed them to install pitch length playing mats at a cost of roughly €15,000.

“These mats are nailed down and a very difficult to move,” added Cllr Quinlan. “Electricity and water has been restored to the club house and entry to the building was secured. Equipment was purchased and retained in the club house.

The first attack resulted in about €6,000 worth of damage

“The first attack resulted in about €6,000 worth of damage. The second attack on the interior of the clubhouse, damaging benches and cracking or smashing sections of the shower facilities has yet to be calculated in terms of loss but is estimated in the thousands of euros again.

“The club’s cricket batts, stumps, balls and St Patricks Day materials that they used to win best overall entry in the 2024 parade were all damaged. These are repeated blows to Waterford’s only cricket grounds outside of the South East Technological University.

“I can confirm that I have engaged senior Council Management on this issue. Waterford City and County Council owns these lands and it is imperative that we stop people gaining easy access as well as to stop the targeting of Waterford’s only majority new Irish member, sports club.

“Waterford Council agrees with me that action is required and we will be undertaking improving security infrastructure at the main gate as well as alternative containers that can be more readily secured to ensure equipment and so on cannot be interfered with.

“The Council is committed to making sure that where the local community is raising money for sports infrastructure, that this is not undone and people lose heart. We have to beat these vandals whether they are motivated by senseless destruction or on a more sinister level, targeting the club on blatantly racist grounds,” said Cllr Quinlan. It is hoped the security improvements from Waterford Council will stop any such further attacks.