Cricket Ireland announce International Umpires Panel for 2024

DUBLIN – Cricket Ireland has named its four-member International Umpires Panel for 2024 – featuring two new appointees, Aidan Seaver and Johnny Kennedy. 

The four members of the International Umpires Panel are:

• Roly Black
• Mark Hawthorne
• Aidan Seaver (new)
• Johnny Kennedy (new)

Dublin-born, Wexford-raised Aidan Seaver, 47, began his umpiring journey in 2011 and has been part of Cricket Ireland’s domestic umpiring panels since 2014. Rising through the ranks, he was appointed to the First-Class Panel in 2019 and from there has developed a wealth of experience at club, provincial and international levels.

Amongst his key appointments, Aidan has previously stood in three women’s One-Day Internationals and seven women’s T20 Internationals and has been appointed third umpire on nine occasions in women’s internationals. He has umpired 42 domestic representative matches across men’s inter-provincial series and women’s Super Series in Ireland, as well as four men’s one-day matches between Associate European nations.

Aidan Seaver said: 

“I am delighted to have been appointed to the International Umpires Panel, it is both an honour and privilege to be a representative of my country doing something I love. 

“My route into umpiring may not have been direct, but from a young boy in Wexford, I have had a love of cricket that has only grown stronger over the years. I greatly enjoyed playing back in the day with Wexford Wanderers, but umpiring has given me a new avenue into keeping involved in cricket – and what started out as a hobby has now become a career.”

Antrim-born Johnny Kennedy, 52, began his umpiring journey in 2011 and has been part of Cricket Ireland’s domestic umpiring panels since 2016. He was appointed to the First-Class Panel after the 2021 season and from there has developed a reservoir of experience at club, provincial, and international levels.

Amongst his key appointments, Johnny has previously stood in one women’s One-Day International and three women’s T20 Internationals. He has also been appointed third umpire on eight occasions in women’s internationals. In the domestic game, he has been involved in twenty representative matches across the men’s inter-provincial series and women’s Super Series. He also stood in three Ireland Wolves matches. Since being appointed to Ireland's 1st class panel, Johnny has also officiated in twelve men’s T20 matches between Associate European nations.

Johnny Kennedy said: 

“It’s a privilege to be appointed to the International Umpires’ Panel. After my club cricket playing days were over, I took up umpiring as a hobby to give something back to the sport that had given me so much. I soon discovered the enjoyment of being an umpire; particularly the social side of traveling around clubs, meeting old friends, and making new ones. 

“I also came to appreciate the importance of the role an umpire plays. It doesn’t matter what standard of cricket is being played, whether Under 13s or a Premier League decider, an umpire’s decision matters to those involved. Therefore, I’ve always tried to bring a professional and knowledgeable approach to every game I umpire.

I’d like to thank those players, coaches, officials, and mentors who have helped and encouraged me along my umpiring journey but especially those who had the confidence in me to nominate me for this role. Being part of Ireland’s International umpires’ panel is both an honour and a privilege for which I am most grateful.”