Transport firms gear up for semi-final

Transport company bosses have drawn up major logistical plans to get more than 50,000 Limerick and Clare hurling fans to Croke Park for next Sunday’s All Ireland semi-final clash.

Irish Rail and Bus Éireann are laying on specials and private bus companies have also been inundated with bookings.

Jim Gallivan, Mid-West sales manager for Irish Rail, said their three regular morning trains out of Colbert Station will be augmented by a 9am match special.

He said: “We also have a special leaving Charleville at 8.40am, which will stop at Limerick Junction, and this will cater for fans from South and East Limerick.

“Our two regular trains out of Cork at 8.20am and 10.20am have been booked out, mainly by hurling fans who will get on at Charleville and Limerick Junction.

“We also have an additional train out of Ennis at 9am, along with the two regular services at 7.40am and the 9.38am which transfer to our Limerick trains at 8.25am and 10.25am.”

Bus Éireann have had to get special licences and Andrew Yates the company’s regional sales manager said as well as their hourly service from Limerick they have added three direct specials at 7.30am, 8am and 9am and a fourth from Ennis at 8am.

Private coach company McElligtotts, based at Clarina, Co Limerick, said they are putting on five extra buses while the Manning coach hire company are putting on an extra six buses.

Fans wishing for that extra comfort are being catered for by JBM Chauffeurs, whose limo service operates from Clarecastle.

Company spokesman Jim McMahon said fans can take one of their luxury VW Caravelles, which can take eight passengers and be hired for €450.

Limerick county board chairman Oliver Mann has said he expects more than 20,000 Treaty supporters to follow John Allen’s team to the capital this Sunday.

Moreover, the appearance of the Limerick minors in the curtain raiser has led to a proliferation in ticket sales.

“Tickets have been going exceptionally brisk,” said Mr Mann.

“I have no doubt that the way ticket sales are going, I expect a huge Limerick crowd in Dublin on Sunday.”

Across the border, Clare county board secretary Pat Fitzgerald expects the Banner will be outnumbered in the stands on Sunday.

“We don’t have that major of a following,” he said.

“We won’t have that big of support. It is only a semi-final and I would never have anticipated that demand would exceed supply.”