West Indies Return to Bready: A Historic Cricketing Moment in Northern Ireland
It’s not every day that a small village like Magheramason in County Tyrone becomes the epicenter of international cricket, but that’s exactly what’s happening this week. Bready Cricket Club, nestled in the heart of the village, is proudly hosting a three-match T20I series between Ireland and the mighty West Indies — and for the people here, it’s more than just sport; it’s history repeating itself.
If you rewind the clock all the way back to 1969, the Irish side stunned the cricketing world by bowling out the West Indies for a mere 25 runs at Sion Mills. It was a monumental moment that etched itself into Irish cricketing folklore. Fast forward 56 years, and the Windies are back in the northwest, still carrying the sting of that upset. They’re here not just to play, but with a sense of quiet revenge — and Bready gets to be the stage.
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This isn’t just a big deal for cricket fans; it’s a community-wide celebration. Bready Cricket Club Chairman Norman Allen said it best — the big matches usually head to Dublin or Belfast. For Bready to host a team of West Indies’ caliber is huge, and the entire village has pulled together to make it happen. From financial officers to cricket coaches, locals have been dressing curtains, sweeping floors, and scrubbing stands to ensure everything is perfect. The pressure is real, especially for head groundsman Trevor Hamilton, whose sleepless nights are a testament to just how much this moment means to him and his fellow club members.
Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate on Thursday. The much-anticipated first T20 was washed out due to incessant rain. A soggy start, sure — but anticipation remains sky-high for the weekend fixtures. And if the clouds hold off, we’re in for some electrifying cricket action, with both teams evenly matched in T20Is at 3-3. It’s anyone’s series.
There’s something deeply poetic about this matchup — the West Indies, once the inspiration behind Bready’s own maroon cricket colors, now walking the very ground painted in their image. For local heroes like Ossie Colhoun, who kept wickets during that famous 1969 win, it’s a full-circle moment. Ossie will ring the ceremonial bell on Saturday, bridging generations of cricket fans with a single chime.
Bready may be small, but this week, it’s punching way above its weight. There’s music, dancing, food, and kids' zones — but at the heart of it all is the love of the game. Whether the Windies find redemption or Ireland scripts another unforgettable chapter, one thing’s for sure: this little village is living its cricketing dream.
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