Limerick's International Rugby Experience to develop apart from council after ‘misplaced commentary’ 

CEO Barry Hannon said it also declined an offer made by John Moran to keep the venue open

The International Rugby Experience, situated in the heart of Limerick City, is set to close on December 23. Picture: Picture: Paul Lehane

The CEO of the International Rugby Experience (IRE) has said it has declined an offer made by John Moran last week, who had committed €300,000 of his mayoral budget over a three-year period to keep the venue afloat, adding that the firm will look at the future of the venue without Limerick City and County Council.

In a letter seen by the Irish Examiner, Barry Hannon confirmed it has disengaged with the council on the transfer of ownership for the premises.

After declining an invitation to attend an “in camera workshop discussion” with the councillors, Mr Hannon addressed the “misplaced commentary” regarding  theperformance of the venue.

“The last few weeks have been damaging for the International Rugby Experience and for Limerick in general.

Misplaced commentary on social media etc on the performance of the International Rugby Experience and its contribution to the city centre has been most damaging to our team who I am proud to work with every day. 

"These individuals have delivered at every turn while they work in and contribute to our city centre economy in their own right,” he wrote in the letter sent on November 2.

“The financial performance shared last week was consistent with our budgeted expectations for the operation since we first completed our own due diligence in 2016. 

It was an investment the project was willing to make to help with tourism in the city centre and we have been delighted with the results that we see every day with visitors coming into Limerick to visit the attraction.

Mr Hannon said the IRE wants the people of Limerick to be involved in the next stage, but will look at the future of the venue with “the greater good of Limerick in mind”.

“We will look at the project through a more solution focused lens rather than highlighting potential problems that may or may not arise. As noted, we have disengaged with Limerick City and County Council on the transfer of the International Rugby Experience and have declined the offer of funding made last week.

Limerick City and County Council CEO Pat Daly said: “I must place on record that at no point have Limerick City and County Council declined the offer of the IRE. As I have outlined in my previous correspondence this is a complex matter involving the transfer of a loss making 'startup' tourism attraction to the local authority, which requires careful consideration, especially the financial implications.

“Limerick City and County Council have at all times engaged on this matter in good faith and it is regrettable that the parameters that the Council as a public body must operate under have not been understood or acknowledged by IRE.”

The attraction is set to close on December 23.