As the 2016 season draws ever closer, warm-up matches begin to take precedence, overseas players are welcomed in to their new environment and all eyes turn back to the domestic arena.
For many of the Ireland national side, they will return to their respective counties for a full pre-season after failing to qualify for the main round of the ICC World T20.
Despite none of the current Ireland side calling Trent Bridge home, Nottinghamshire have been involved with the Irish game at some points in their 164-history.
Kevin O’Brien
The big-hitting all-rounder who famously helped Ireland to victory over England in 2011 during the ICC Cricket World Cup with a 50-ball century called Trent Bridge his home for a T20 stint back in 2009.
O’Brien played six games for Notts, prior to the ICC World T20 in England that same summer, with his best performance with the bat coming in his final match, a 20-ball 26 against Lancashire.
The 32-year-old also took figures of 2-14 in a narrow loss to Durham in his first match for the Outlaws, whilst also taking the time to turn out for Nottinghamshire Premier League side Plumtree, taking six wickets in the process.
Charles Pepper
Charles Pepper, a sergeant in the same regiment, played seven games for Nottinghamshire as an all-rounder. He lost his life in the Battle of Passchendaele in Belgium in September 1917.
Charles grew up in Nottinghamshire for the majority of his childhood but was born in Youghal Bay, County Cork and was the first player from Ireland to play for the Club.
The talented sportsman also played football for Notts County and held the Military Cross for Gallantry after his time in the Army.
Nottinghamshire In Ireland
The Club have only played two matches on Irish soil, one in 1910 against Dublin University and the other 40 years later against the Gentlemen of Ireland.
In the inaugural match on Irish soil, Tom Wass ripped through the home side on his way to taking figures of 7-12 and 8-33, a combined match total of 15-45, as Nottinghamshire eased to a seven-wicket victory.
In 1950 Nottinghamshire returned and it was Peter Harvey (5-59) who starred with the ball in a side also including the likes of W.W.Keeton and J.Hardstaff.
Ireland’s Games At Trent Bridge
Ireland have played three games at Nottinghamshire’s home, all in the ICC World T20 in 2009.
In a Group A also consisting of India and Bangladesh, they were comprehensively beaten by the former but held their never in a low-scoring contest against Bangladesh to progress to the Super Eight stages.
Kevin O’Brien, who had spent the earlier part of the year at Trent Bridge with Nottinghamshire, smashed 39 off just 17 balls to root Bangladesh to the bottom of the table.
However, against the stronger outfits of Sri Lanka, Pakistan and New Zealand, Ireland failed to win a match and didn’t progress any further in the tournament.
The 2015 season saw dramatic last-gasp four day victories, thrilling limited-overs contests and an historic Investec Ashes Test, all in the unique surroundings of Trent Bridge.
Next season, we’d wager, will be no less enthralling and frankly we’d hate for you to miss out.