Landmark deal sees solar powerhouse Filte Solar go into bat for Irish cricket

The solar product manufacturer will be #BackingGreen on and off the field as the Primary Sponsor of Ireland Men, according to a statement released today by Cricket Ireland and Fáilte Solar.

This sponsorship, which has terms in place for up to ten years, is the longest of its kind in Irish cricket history and demonstrates Fáilte Solar's dedication to the sport as the Ireland Men continue to gain recognition both domestically and internationally.

The alliance was unveiled at the recently opened headquarters of Fáilte Solar in Shannon, County Clare. Abhilash Borana, an Indian native, launched the company in 2019 while pursuing a master's degree in International Commercial Law at the University of Limerick.

Cricket Ireland President Stella Downes, CEO Warren Deutrom, and a number of Ireland Men's players, including Test Captain Andrew Balbirnie, vice-captain Lorcan Tucker, and talismanic all-rounder George Dockrell, visited Fáilte Solar headquarters to commemorate the partnership announcement. They took part in a tour of the facility, exchanged questions and answers with Fáilte Solar staff, and then played a game on the lawn.

Warren Deutrom, CEO of Cricket Ireland, stated:

An Irish business success story will help our men's team in 2025 and beyond, making today's event in Shannon a significant step forward for Irish cricket.

As they continue to expand quickly in Ireland and other international markets to lower the cost and increase the accessibility of sustainable energy solutions, Fáilte Solar is a firm that shares our ambition to become a significant sport at home and a major cricket nation worldwide.

Not only has Ireland Men's consistency over the past several years led to back-to-back Test victories, automatic qualification for the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, and some high-profile victory over South Africa only last month, but this is an extremely exciting period for the team. However, 2025 also has a lot to offer, with a January all-format tour of Zimbabwe and tours of Ireland by both England and the West Indies.

"I want to express my gratitude to Abhilash, James Ring, the CEO of Fáilte Solar, and my own team at Cricket Ireland for making this exciting partnership a reality."

Fáilte Solar was founded in 2019 and is currently the top distributor of photovoltaic equipment in Ireland. Abhilash Borana, the company's founder, was recognized for his accomplishments as a Forbes "30 Under 30 Europe" inductee in the 2022 Manufacturing and Industry category and as a finalist for the 2023 EY International Entrepreneur Awards.

Abhilash Borana, the founder and chair of Fáilte Solar, stated:

"I am thrilled to see these two things come together as a cricket enthusiast and someone who has lived in Ireland since 2018."

In the upcoming years, our goal at Fáilte Solar is to make solar energy an economical and practical option for households and businesses in Ireland and globally.

"As a company led by entrepreneurs, we foster a culture of unity, which makes Irish cricket a logical starting point for us. We are excited to start #BackingGreen and cheering on the Ireland Men's team as they continue to challenge the status quo on the global scene."

With subsidiaries in numerous countries in central Europe, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, and India, Fáilte Solar employs more than 70 people in Europe and an additional 200 in India. In 2019, Borana's family contributed €50,000 to the founding of Fáilte Solar, which is expected to generate over €60 million in revenue by 2024.

Fáilte Solar's sponsorship of Cricket Ireland brings them into line with a wide array of Irish sponsors and international businesses that are well-represented on the island of Ireland, such as Certa Ireland, Corpay, DMG Media, and Butlers Chocolates.