Rod to play Limerick stadium

THOMOND PARK has hit a second concert jackpot with confirmation yesterday that Rod Stewart will perform there on July 4.

Elton John will do a concert at the Limerick rugby venue on June 4 and promoter Peter Aiken said yesterday that up to 70% of tickets have already been sold.

He also said the 5,000 tickets for Rod Stewarts’s July 7 Cork concert at the Marquee in the Docklands sold out yesterday within five minutes of going on sale.

Mr Aiken said tickets for Rod Stewart’s Thomond Park gig will go on sale at 9am next Friday through Ticketmaster and other outlets nationwide.

Aiken Promotions have a deal with Thomond Park for two major concerts in 2009.

John Cantwell, manager of Thomond Park said: “Such a combination of Elton John and Rod Stewart next summer will add to Limerick and Thomond Park’s reputation as an international venue for major events. It’s doesn’t get any bigger than these two international performers, whose acts are compatible with the venue. And coming on the back of the great All Black’s Munster game here, it again emphasises Limerick and Munster with an international venue on it’s door step. Everybody agrees that the game delivered a very positive recognition of Limerick and the Munster brand. We have no doubt that the spin off from the international coverage of the game will deliver further business, whether sports events or concerts, in the long run.”

Mr Cantwell said they are also in talks about major soccer games at Thomond Park next summer and an announcement would be made in due course.

There is speculation that some English Premiership teams will come to play exhibition games at Thomond Park.