The Barbarians are to play Ireland at Thomond Park next year.

Munster will welcome back Ian Keatley, Simon Zebo and Andrew Conway for their Guinness Pro12 opener at home to Edinburgh on Friday, but hooker Damien Varley’s next appearance in the red jersey remains uncertain.

Operating profits at the firm that runs Thomond Park stadium last year reduced by 20% to €284,000 due to a reduced number of Munster matches at the stadium.

Limerick City will be divided into the northern and southern hemisphere this summer — and on either side of this line the food, culture, and music of some of the world’s greatest rugby provinces and clubs will be celebrated as part of its first-ever world club sevens festival.

Felix Jones and James Downey return to the Munster starting XV for the first time since facing Racing Metro in mid January, for Sunday’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Benetton Treviso at Stadio di Monigo (3pm).

Leonora Quirke, 31, is outnumbered by men at her work at Thomond Park Stadium in Limerick, but says she refuses to sacrifice her femininity.

Munster have revealed that influential lock Paul O'Connell will not return to action until the New Year as he continues to recover for a back problem.

Munster boss Rob Penney has recalled his international big guns following the conclusion of Ireland's autumn internationals for Saturday's game at home to Glasgow Warriors

Five days after making his Heineken Cup debut off the bench for Munster in the game against Edinburgh, JJ Hanrahan will return to Thomond Park Stadium to make his first senior start when Italian side Zebre visit tomorrow night (7.45pm).

Munster emerged from their 33-0 Heineken Cup win over Edinburgh on Sunday without picking up any major fresh injury concerns.

As expected, a fit again Donncha O'Callaghan has been named in the Munster line-up for the Heineken Cup clash with Edinburgh at Thomond Park Stadium on Sunday (12.45).

With an A Interprovincial on Thursday and a number of injury concerns, Munster coach Rob Penney has delayed naming his squad for the visit of Newport Dragons to Thomond Park Stadium on Saturday (8pm).

Stephen Archer and Dave O’Callaghan will start in place of BJ Botha and Paddy Butler as Rob Penney makes just two changes for Munster’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Benetton Treviso in Thomond Park Stadium on Friday (8pm).

An investigation is underway into claims by Manchester City defender Gael Clichy that a banana was thrown on to the pitch during his side’s friendly win over Limerick.

Munster second row Mick O'Driscoll announced today that he will retire from rugby at the end of the current season.

Mick Galwey last night paid a glowing tribute to Munster’s Mick O’Driscoll whose retirement after 15 years as one of the country’s most consistent second-row forwards will be announced in Limerick today.

Tony McGahan hands first Heineken Cup starts to hooker Mike Sherry and wing-forward Tommy O'Donnell as his side take on Ulster in Sunday's quarter final on Easter Sunday (1.45pm).

Munster coach Tony McGahan makes five changes, from the side that started against Treviso, for tomorrow's RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Cardiff Blues at Thomond Park Stadium (7.05pm).

With three of those who started against Ulster ruled out through injury Munster once again ring the changes for the RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Benetton Treviso in Thomond Park Stadium tomorrow evening (8.15pm).

Paul O'Connell has signed a new Ireland international contract that will see him remain in Ireland to play his rugby with Munster for a further two seasons until 2014.

Keith Earls returns to the Munster starting XV as one of three changes from the side that ran out last week in Parc Y Scarlets, for Sunday's re-match in Thomond Park Stadium (kick off: 12.45).

Keith Earls has been included in the 29-strong Munster squad named today for the Heineken Cup Round 4 game against the Scarlets at Thomond Park Stadium on Sunday (KO 12.45).

Denis Leamy, Donnacha Ryan and Peter Stringer are the only notable absentees from the extended squad Munster named today for the visit of Edinburgh to Thomond Park Stadium on Saturday.

Munster Rugby Academy graduates, Danny Barnes, Conor Murray and Peter O'Mahony, will make their Heineken Cup starts against Northampton Saints in Thomond Park Stadium tomorrow evening (6pm).

The Munster squad assembled in Cork Institute of Technology today after Tony McGahan named an extended 29 strong squad for the opening Heineken Cup game against Northampton Saints in Thomond Park Stadium next Saturday (6pm).

Tony McGahan has included all returning World Cup players in his 32-man squad ahead of Munster’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Aironi in Musgrave Park on Friday night (8.30pm).

MUNSTER have named a team mixed with youth and experience for their pre-season clash with London Irish at Thomond Park Stadium tonight (7pm).

TOMÁS O’Leary has been included in Munster’s squad for Friday’s Thomond Park Stadium clash with London Irish (7pm).

Munster 19 Leinster 9

Munster coach Tony McGahan has named his side to face Leinster in tomorrow’s Magners League Grand Final at Thomond Park Stadium, kick-off 5.05pm.

Munster centre Barry Murphy has announced today that he is to retire from professional rugby following a spate of serious injuries.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has made nine changes, two of those positional, from the side that defeated Connacht last weekend for Saturday’s Magners League semi-final match against the Ospreys at Thomond Park Stadium, kick-off 6.30pm.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has today named a 27-man squad for Saturday’s Magners League semi-final clash against Ospreys at Thomond Park Stadium, kick-off 6.30pm.

REVENUES at the company that operates Limerick’s €40 million Thomond Park increased last year by 40% as the firm recorded a post-tax loss of €1.5 million.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has named Tomás O'Leary and Alan Quinlan in his side for tomorrow night’s Magners League match against Connacht at Thomond Park Stadium (kick-off: 7.05pm).

THE country’s first major festival of the summer generated an estimated €20 million in visitor spend for the Limerick region.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has made just one change in personnel, from the side that started the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final against Brive, for tomorrow afternoon’s semi-final match against Harlequins at Thomond Park Stadium, kick-off 1pm.

ROYAL wedding watchers will get to see the British royal wedding on a big screen being erected in Limerick for the occasion.

Following extensive medical consultation, Munster rugby have announced today that Ian Dowling will retire from professional rugby, as a result of a hip injury sustained earlier this season.

Leinster coach Joe Schmidt has named his side to face Munster in tomorrow night’s Magners League match at Thomond Park Stadium in Limerick, kick-off 7.30pm.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has made 11 changes from the side that lost in Treviso last weekend for tomorrow night’s Magners League clash with Edinburgh at Thomond Park Stadium, kick-of 7.50pm.

LEINSTER will battle to retain the services of prop forward Mike Ross next season with increased speculation the Cork native is set for a return to his Munster roots following the departure of Tony Buckley to Sale Sharks.

THOMOND Park has given a boost to the Limerick economy equal to an industry employing 565 full-time workers since it opened in October 2008.