Gillespie played two more games for Ireland in 1997, both Benson &amp; Hedges Cup games, against Middlesex and Glamorgan. In 1998, he began to become a more regular fixture in the Irish side. That year, he played against the MCC, Bangladesh, a NatWest Trophy match against Warwickshire, South Africa (twice) and Australia in addition to the Triple Crown and the European Championship. He also represented Northern Ireland in the cricket tournament at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, the only time to date that cricket has featured in the Commonwealth Games.