Like so many other aspects of life in Ireland, cricket and cricket umpiring in the Leinster area in the era before the 1960s was far different from the modern game's relative sophistication. Those were the days when draws were frequent (and often honourable), cup matches might extend over a week, tea was 20 minutes, there were no one-day wides, no penalty runs, few behavioural problems, no grading of umpires, and a cloud of tobacco smoke around the head of the square-leg umpire was a common enough feature!

The status of umpires, to put it mildly, was low in the mid-century game. Although appointed by the Leinster Cricket Union (LCU), this organisation took no responsibility for payment of the umpires' expenses. Umpires were paid on the day of a match by the home club. As umpires were not permitted access to, or invited into, most Club bars in these times they had to wait outside - often for a considerable time - until the Club Treasurer got around to paying them. And this humiliation all for the princely sum of five shillings (32 cent).

1961 was a watershed year. The amounts paid, but more importantly the system of payment, were no longer acceptable and the umpires refused to officiate at all for the first part of that season. Perhaps for the first time, clubs and players realised that cricket without neutral and knowledgeable umpires was fraught with problems. Clearly something had to be done, and quickly. To his great credit, Brendan McGrath of Old Belvedere proposed at a meeting of the LCU that that body should not only select and appoint umpires but also become responsible for payment to umpires, anand that this be done in a more discreet and less servile manner. The clubs would continue to have ultimate responsibility for the expenses, as is still the position today, but would now reimburse the LCU. This was agreed, and further joy followed in 1962 when the expense fee was doubled to ten shillings (64 cent).

An LCU sub-committee, which was to be the forerunner of the Leinster Cricket Umpires' Association (LCUA), was therefore formed in 1961 with Brendan McGrath as Chairman, Jim Connerton as Appointments Secretary and those other towering umpire figures of that period, Ken Orme and Tim Protheroe-Benyon, also sitting on the sub-committee. Meetings were held monthly in the offices of Marlowe's Cleaners in O'Connell St, Dublin (where Brendan McGrath was Managing Director) and appointments made for the month ahead to be followed up by appointment cards being sent out to all umpires. Ad hoc arrangements gave way to a good measure of efficiency. Brendan McGrath furthermore arranged to pay umpires' expenses out of his own resources in advance of being eventually recompensed by the clubs through the LCU.

Our Association today owes a great debt of gratitude to Brendan McGrath for his successful efforts to put Leinster umpiring arrangements on a regularised basis. He, rightly, became the first Honorary Member elected after LCUA's 1992 constitution was adopted.

Slowly the number of umpires increased. Brian Carpenter and Gerry Doyle started in 1964 and Bob Smith in 1966. By the early 70s to all the aforementioned could be added the names of Cecil Dixon, Des Farrell, Michael Gallagher, Ted Harper, John Manning, Jim Pender, Paddy Quinn and James Timmins. At about this time the sub-committee evolved into a separate organisation - the Leinster Cricket Umpires' Association - and took tentative steps into areas of recruitment, training and looking after the welfare of its members. The structure was a loose one: no constitution or membership fee; if you were an umpire you were a member.

Lack of belief that the lot of the umpire could improve to any satisfying extent seems to have been the reason that the Association effectively ceased to function as an active one during the mid-to-late 1970s.

Other than appointing umpires to club matches the Association was dormant. Indeed, even in this area, all the work seems to have fallen on the shoulders of Bob Smith, simultaneously with his tenure as President of Clontarf Cricket Club. Largely, due to his instigation and drive the Association was revived in late 1979 on a proper footing. It was fitting that Bob became the first President of LCUA in 1980. Application was made to be affiliated to the Association of Cricket Umpires (ACU), and for many years LCUA was part of the North-West Region of ACU.

In 1980, Tim Protheroe-Benyon tells us, there were 16 regular and 6 occasional umpires. Two were full members of ACU and 3 further Associate members were studying for the full examinations. Regular monthly meetings were arranged for the winter months and, for the first time, a representative of the Association was on the full LCU committee. Tim himself carried out training activities for many years until he retired in 1985. Sean Moore then assumed responsibility for training, to be in turn followed by the evergreen and indefatigable Alan Tuffery.

The late 70s also saw the start of the legendary Liam Keegan's career as umpire. Liam had an enormously positive influence on the Association over the next quarter-century. He is the only person to have held the Presidency for two separate terms and he was for many years Secretary and Appointments supremo. By the mid '80s Liam had cajoled many more reluctant debutants to don the white coat and membership increased to more than 30.

Liam was also instrumental in forging the links with the North and North-West Associations which have produced many positive benefits to all not least in easing the path to the formation of the Ireland Umpires' Committee in 1993, embracing all regions of the country, and which recently evolved into a thriving Irish Region of ACU&S. The historical first North/South umpiring combination was Sean Moore with Dai Jones from Belfast standing together in South Leinster v. Munster Interprovincial match on the Carlisle CC ground in June 1981. Although there have been occasional lapses, there have been fruitful and enjoyable weekend exchanges most years with four of our umpires travelling North/North-West and four coming to Dublin from these regions.

Joe Connolly and John Heavey were enthusiastic supporters of a closer co-operation with the other Irish regional umpiring bodies. Out of this enthusiasm, which was freely reciprocated elsewhere, was born an Irish Umpires Committee late in 1993. This was quite an informal body without any real authority. Nonetheless, it evolved in 1998 into a more formally constituted organization - The Irish Cricket Umpires Association. John Heavey was Chairman in 2001. This body has since metamorphosed into the Ireland Region of ACU&S (2002). There is the possibility to standardise grading criteria throughout Ireland in the near future through this body.

In the late '80s Alan Tuffery became the first Training Officer of the Association - a post he has held for more than 15 years continuously. Alan has brought training for fledgling umpires and scorers onto a new plateau and has successfully prepared countless nervous people for ACU examinations. Monthly workshops and panel discussions are arranged for the winter months and he has had a major influence in keeping the members active and in touch with one another. In recent times he has had considerable support from, Philip Boylan, Peter Thew and David Walsh in the running of the Association's courses.

As if that were not enough, Alan also started LCUA's Newsletter in May 1988 with an initial circulation of about 20. This production he edits, largely writes, types, prints and posts for 10 issues a year. To date 170 issues have been produced and circulation has increased to well over 100. The Newsletter manages to stay fresh, stimulating, and up-to-the minute on law changes/interpretations. Altogether a staggering achievement for one man over such a long time period.

Alan is also the author of a useful and thought-provoking book "Thinking about Cricket Umpiring", published in 1996, which was well regarded by reviewers both here and in Britain.

The keenly fought battle for the White Stick Trophy - a cricket match between LCUA and our Northern friends NIACUS - started in 1989. With the exception of one year, when a family bereavement necessitated the cancellation of the game, the match has been played every autumn since. Of the 15 matches contested up to and including 2004, NIACUS have won 8 and LCUA have won 7. It is a highlight of the umpiring year for both bodies, is very seriously and competitively contested but also is a source of much good-natured banter and friendship. The match, in late September, is alternately held in the Dublin and Belfast areas. Sean Pender, an outstanding Irish Times cricket correspondent and a good friend to Leinster umpires, played in the first of these games.

Indeed Sean was a member of LCUA, and for many years an Umpires v. Press match was played on the eve of the Senior Cup Final. After his untimely death in 1993 the match was continued for several years with a magnificent trophy at stake, donated by the Irish Times. When in 2000 it became impossible to secure a ground due to pressure of other matches, LCUA created an award in memory of Sean to be presented to the best example of a cricketer below Senior 1 Level who, over a season, contributed most to the games in which they featured. Umpires vote in each game and the winner is determined over the full season.

Dickie Spence was a much-loved cricketer who took up umpiring in the late 80s. He had just achieved international standing when he died suddenly in Cork on the morning of a match he was due to umpire at the Mardyke in 1996. The previous year LCUA had instigated a Fair Play Award for the senior cricketer who best exemplified how the game should be played - as voted for by the umpires. In its way this was a ground-breaking concept which was picked up in several other areas in later years. Dickie himself had been a hard, competitive, but thoroughly fair and honest player for decades and it was entirely appropriate to rename the perpetual trophy in his honour from 1996. It has been so awarded and received with pride by each recipient ever since.

Tommy Thompson was a well-regarded Hon. Secretary for many years. After his sudden death in 1994 a match was staged each year until 1999 beween LCUA and Old Belvedere Taverners (his beloved club) and a trophy presented by his wife was awarded for Man of the Match.

Surprisingly, for a body operating since the 1960s, the Association had no form of written constitution until this matter was driven forward purposefully by President Louis Hogan. The first constitution was adopted by members in 1992. Whilst it has been subject to several amendments since then, it remains the bedrock on which LCUA operates. New categories of Honorary Membership, Honorary Vice-President, and Associate Membership were created. The first Associate member was Geraldine Banks, the Pembroke and International scorer. In 2005 the Association voted to amend its name to "The Leinster Cricket Umpires' and Scorers Association", thereby allowing for scorers to become full members and bringing the Association into line with other Irish regional bodies and the ACU&S in the United Kingdom.

In 1992 a formal system of grading for umpires was started. It is principally based on reports from the two captains,, supplemented by reports from fellow-umpires who are senior to their partners. It is a system that has created much angst and dispute from the very start but it has stood the test of time reasonably well. On such a subjective issue no methodology is perfect or agreeable to all but a more equitable basis of assessment has yet to be found.

The other hot topic of the late 1990s and early new century has been player behaviour/dissent. Increased support of umpires authority by LCU, coupled with a well-structured disciplinary code and procedures for hearings, has helped to contain and punish the worst excesses. However, the problems remain far short of eradication and disciplinary matters are likely to remain as a major subject for LCU&SA in the years ahead.

In 1992, such was the burden of work devolving on the Hon. Secretary, it was decided to create a new executive post of Hon. Appointments Secretary solely to organise the enormous logistical task of appointments throughout the season. A small sub-committee, which includes the independent voice of a respected senior player, makes the appointments. Close to 900 appointments were made in 2004. From the early 1960s and for the next 30 years, the arduous task was handled successively by Jim Connerton, Brian Carpenter, Bob Smith, Tommy Thompson and Liam Keegan. In 1992 Stu Daultrey became the initial Appointments Secretary bringing an efficient and effective computerised system into operation. He was followed by the existing incumbent, Peter Thew, and the Association is highly fortunate to have had two such dedicated individuals running this important area so smoothly for 13 seasons to date.

Since the late 1980s an Annual Dinner has been held without any lapse. The first series of dinners were held in the Engineers' Club in Clyde Road, then in the Deerpark Hotel from 1994 to 1998. Since then all the dinners have been in Leinster CC, except for the 40th Anniversary Dinner held in Malahide CC to coincide with IACU&S workshop.

Members of LCU&SA have acquitted themselves with some distinction over the years at international level, and have been in the vanguard as opportunities have arisen in recent years to widen their experience at overseas venues and tournament:

• Tim Protheroe-Benyon claimed a world record as the oldest man to umpire a first-class match when he stood in the 3-day Ireland v. Scotland game in 1977 at the age of 72 (it is not certain if this record still holds)
• Jim Connerton and Louis Hogan share the honour of standing in the highest number of internationals by a Leinster umpire at 29 each. The others to have achieved double figures are Ken Orme (15+), Robert MacClancy (12) and Brian Carpenter (10)
• Louis Hogan was the first Irish umpire to be permitted to officiate in a Natwest Tournament (now C&G Tournament) when he stood in the Ireland v. Leicestershire game in 1999
• Louis Hogan is, to date, the only Leinster umpire to be honoured as the official Irish umpire at an ICC Tournament when he travelled to Malaysia in 1997
• Brian Carpenter officiated at the Maccabiah Games in Israel in 1997 including standing in the Final Australia v. South Africa
• Stu Daultrey and Louis Hogan have both stood in English County 2nd Eleven 3 day games. Stu also spent a season down under standing in Western Australia Grade cricket
• Ronnie O'Reilly is the only Leinster umpire to date to stand in a C&G match outside of Ireland when he officiated at the Staffordshire v. Northumberland 1st Round game at Oswestry in 2003
• Stu Daultrey and Louis Hogan have both umpired an Irish Senior Cup Final on two occasions and Robert MacClancy has stood once in a Final

As the season is about to commence, LCU&SA is in healthy condition with the greatest number of active umpires it has ever achieved. The coming years promise exciting and challenging opportunities for Leinster officials to broaden their experience at home and overseas.