JP McManus donates International Rugby Experience Centre to Limerick council

The museum opened in May last year and was initially funded through a €30m investment by the JP McManus Charitable Foundation. 

Billionaire businessman JP McManus has donated the International Rugby Experience (IRE) Centre to Limerick City and County Council. 

The 30,000sq ft six-storey centre, which is located on Limerick's O'Connell St, will now be owned and operated by the council. 

The museum opened in May last year and was initially funded through a €30m investment by the JP McManus Charitable Foundation. 

It saw the likes of Johnny Sexton, Martin Johnson, Seán Fitzpatrick, Bryan Habana, Joy Neville, Matt Dawson, Danielle Waterman, and Fracnois Pienaar at the opening.

The museum is expected to attract 100,000 visitors to Limerick per year.

The fully immersive, multi-sensory experience is inspired by World Rugby's values of 'passion, discipline, integrity, solidarity and respect' and complements the city's other tourist attractions including King John's Castle, Lough Gur Visitor Centre and Adare Heritage Centre.

The building was designed by architect Níall McLaughlin and it has been recognised internationally for its design and structure. 

Following a process of due diligence, the museum will now be owned and operated by Limerick City and County Council. 

The ground-floor retail space, the first-floor café, and event spaces will also come under the remit of the local authority. 

Discover Limerick DAC, a subsidiary of the council is set to oversee the day-to-day operations, while the attraction centre continues to be managed by the existing team that was appointed last year. 

Heads of terms have been signed by both parties and the transition process will commence once due diligence is completed. 

Limerick City and County Council deputy chief executive Gordon Daly hoped that the donation would "drive tourism development and promotion in Limerick".

"This is an exciting opportunity for the Council to add International Rugby Experience to our existing successful tourist attractions; King Johns Castle, Lough Gur, Limerick Greenway and Adare Heritage Centre and build stronger synergies to drive tourism development and promotion in Limerick. 

"We are working closely with IRE to advance the due diligence process and commence the transition," Mr Daly said. 

IRE chief executive Barry Hannon said they have seen their corner of O'Connell St being revitalised during the museum's first year in operation. 

"The IRE has truly become the public and civic building we sought to create and this next stage of the journey in public ownership will protect the building's legacy, outlasting us all for generations," Mr Hannon added.