Stirling is the opening batsman for the Ireland cricket team and an occasional right-arm, off-break bowler.

Having represented Middlesex's youth sides and Second XI, Stirling signed a contract with the club in December 2009.

In December 2018, Stirling was one of nineteen players to be awarded a central contract by Cricket Ireland for the 2019 season.

The contract allowed Stirling and the others to focus on cricket, with the aim of improving ahead of the 2011 World Cup.

[17] After the 2011 Cricket World Cup, Stirling broke into Middlesex's one-day side during the 2011 season, making his List A debut for the club on 24 April against Worcestershire.

[18][19] Although Middlesex failed to progress beyond the group stages of the 2011 Clydesdale Bank 40, Stirling enjoyed personal success.

[21] Towards the end of the competition Stirling struck his first century in Middlesex colours, scoring 109 runs from 81 balls to a 34-run win over Derbyshire.

His innings of 107, beating his previous highest score of 100, came off just 79 deliveries and helped Ireland to their second win of the Intercontinental Cup.

Ireland's had most nominees in the "Associate and Affiliate" category, with Trent Johnston and Kevin O'Brien included alongside Stirling.

Richard Holdsworth, a representative of the ICC, said "I think it's fantastic for Paul Stirling to be nominated in two separate categories and to be recognised alongside some of the leading emerging players in the Full Members, it proves how far the development of Associate cricket has progressed".

[30] On 7 September 2010, during a One Day International against Canada, Stirling made his maiden List-A century, scoring 177 runs.

[31] Ireland won two out of six matches, which was not sufficient to progress beyond the group stage, but finished on a high by beating the Netherlands.

[34] A side made up of some of the best players from Associate and Affiliate teams was put together to face England in Dubai in January 2012.

[35] In the ODI series against Afghanistan he along with Rashid Khan became the first pair of bowlers representing different teams to take 6 wickets a piece in a single ODI match [36] In February 2018, the International Cricket Council (ICC) named Stirling as one of the ten players to watch ahead of the 2018 Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament.

[42][43] In September 2019, he was named in Ireland's squad for the 2019 ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier tournament in the United Arab Emirates.

[54] He was also involved in a 115-run stand with Andy Balbirnie in the first innings, recording the highest partnership for Ireland in Tests, in terms of runs.

[58][59] In July 2019, he was selected to play for the Belfast Titans in the inaugural edition of the Euro T20 Slam cricket tournament.