Delight as city set to benefit from rugby tie
Some Limerick hotels report they have been heavily booked by the English club’s supporters who plan to ensure they are well organised for the big game set for the weekend of April 10/11.
Last Saturday’s game against Northampton was reportedly worth more than €10 million to the city.
And hoteliers are delighted that Northampton are back again for the crucial tie.
Sean Lally general manager of the four-star The Strand Hotel, said: “We discovered last weekend that many of the Northampton supporters stayed over the entire weekend, arriving on Friday and departing on Sunday.
“Since they were drawn to return again for the quarter final, we have been inundated with bookings from the Northampton fans who stayed with us last weekend. I would say right now we are more than 90% booked for the entire weekend of the quarter final game. Some even booked before they checked out of the hotel on Sunday.
“While it estimated Heineken Cup games in Thomond Park are worth about €10 million to Limerick, I would say games involving English clubs are worth a lot more because the English fans seem to like to stay for a few days. Many, last weekend, also attended local rugby matches on Sunday here where they enjoyed the best of Limerick rugby hospitality.”
April, he said, promises to be a boom rugby month in Limerick.
Mr Lally said: “On the first weekend Leinster will be coming to Thomond Park to play Munster in the Magners League and that is sure to attract a full house and will be as big as a Heineken Cup game ~because of the bragging rights which will go with it. Then, on the last weekend of the month, Munster will have Ospreys at Thomond Park for the Magners league.”
And that weekend will see a huge demand on hotel rooms as more than 4,000 delegates will also be attending the Irish League of Credit Unions annual conference at UL.
