The Northern Cricket Union of Ireland, more usually referred to as the Northern Cricket Union or the N.C.U., is one of four provincial governing bodies in Ireland. Along with the Leinster

Leinster Cricket Union

The Leinster Cricket Union, also known as Cricket Leinster, is one of four provincial governing bodies for cricket in Ireland. Along with the Northern, Munster and North West unions, it makes up the Irish Cricket Union , the supreme governing body of Irish cricket.The Leinster jurisdiction covers...

, Munster

Munster Cricket Union

The Munster Cricket Union is one of four provincial governing bodies for cricket in Ireland. Along with the Northern, Leinster and North West unions, it makes up the Irish Cricket Union , the supreme governing body of Irish cricket....

 and North West

North West of Ireland Cricket Union

The North West of Ireland Cricket Union, often referred to as the North West Cricket Union, is one of four provincial governing bodies in Ireland...

 unions, it makes up the Irish Cricket Union

Irish Cricket Union

Cricket Ireland, officially the Irish Cricket Union , is the governing body for cricket in Ireland , and oversees the Ireland cricket team and Ireland women's cricket team...

 (now known as Cricket Ireland), the supreme governing body of Irish cricket.

The North of Ireland jurisdiction covers counties Antrim

County Antrim

County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...

, Armagh

County Armagh

-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...

 and Down

County Down

-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...

 and part of Tyrone

County Tyrone

Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...

 in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...

.

The object of the NCU is “to promote and improve cricket generally in the North of Ireland among men and women, the able-bodied and the disabled”.

The Union was founded in 1884 and is the oldest of the four provincial unions. It has organised the NCU Challenge Cup

NCU Challenge Cup

The NCU Challenge Cup, also called the NCU Senior Challenge Cup and the NCU Senior Cup, is the most important provincial cricket knock-out cup of the NCU jurisdiction in Ireland...

 since 1887 and the NCU Senior League

NCU Senior League

The Northern Cricket Union Senior League is the provincial cricket league within the NCU jurisdiction in Ireland, which covers counties Antrim, Armagh, Down and south Tyrone of Northern Ireland. The league was formed in 1897 and is currently divided into four sections, namely the Premier League,...

since 1897. In 2005, there were 50 clubs fielding 137 teams affiliated to the union.