Limerick concerts set to deliver €60m boost to Mid-West economy this summer

Major concerts at Thomond Park and venues across the city promise a tourism windfall while exposing accommodation shortages

Kings Of Leon on stage in 2021. The band will play in Thomond Park this summer. File picture: Mark Runnacles/PA

The Mid-West region’s economy is set for a €60m injection thanks to a number of high-profile acts playing in Limerick this summer.

Building up on the success from previous years, Thomond Park will welcome Lewis Capaldi, Florence + The Machine, Michael Bublé, Kings of Leon, Shania Twain and Pitbull over the next three weeks.

For the fourth year in a row, the stadium is partnering with MCD. Last year’s gigs with The Script and The Wolfes Tones brought a boost of over €15m to the region.

In 2024, the shows by Snow Patrol, Paolo Nutini and Liam Gallagher meant a €13.5m boost.

“This year we've expanded to six concerts. That’s phenomenal breadth of music to be able to deliver in one venue for Limerick and for everybody in the Mid-West. That was always our aim,” Thomond Park's stadium director John Cantwell told the Irish Examiner.

He said the stadium is not vast so "you don't need to have binoculars to see the artist on stage". 

"You're not miles away, it's very intimate. But yet again, it's still a capacity of 30,000."

He claims the gigs will deliver an economic impact of approximately €60m to the Mid-West region — with “probably half” going directly to Limerick.

While the news is fantastic for businesses, Mr Cantwell said the biggest challenge they face continues to be the lack of accommodation.

“It’s basically restricting our ticket sales, not just for major concerts, but major games as well with Munster Rugby. There is just not enough accommodation. I think that's going to be really highlighted at the Ryder Cup,” he said.

“People are having to drive and drive back. We have people now that are booking hotels in Cork and Galway to come down."

He said people want to stay in Limerick. "We're giving the music, so give people a bed to sleep in so they can have a great night out and maybe stay two or three nights.” 

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This Saturday, Florence + The Machine will be performing. It only takes a quick browse online to find out no hotel offers a one-night stay for less than €300 in the city centre.

“We’d love to see more competitive pricing. What I hate to see is there's so few hotels in Limerick, the prices for staying over are astronomical, probably three or four times the price of a ticket for the concert for one night,” Mr Cantwell said.

The promoters also need to find accommodation for a couple of hundred staff members ahead of, and during, the concerts. “We cannot kill the golden goose. They need to be able to have a competitive rate to be able to afford their staff to stay over.

“They've been here for a week building the stage, building the venue, covering the pitch. All these people need to stay somewhere, and if they're not given a competitive price, they'll go somewhere else. 

We really want Limerick to be the music venue of choice for the promoter. 

Over the years, the stadium has “earned a reputation” with promoters after playing host to Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, and Rod Stewart.

So far, most of the six concerts are sold out, with tickets still available for Michael Buble and Shania Twain.

“We think at the moment over the six concerts we'll have more than 150,000 people coming. Shania was released very late, so it's really been on the market only for two months or so,” he added.

Like every year, Dolan’s is gearing up for Live At The Docklands, a series of events in the marquee located in the heart of the industrial docklands on the banks of the River Shannon.

This August, Amble, Cian Ducrot, Block Rockin Beats with Dec Pierce, as well as a Qween will be performing over four days, from August 14 to 17.

On July 14, Patti Smith and her Quartet will be playing live in King John’s Castle, another show presented by Dolan’s.

On top of the concerts in their own venue, Dolan’s are known to transform the castle into a live music venue, or for the shows they put on in the Milk Market. Recently, the Pixies, Gavin James, The Stunning and Bell XI have graced the stage at King John’s Castle.

Year on year, Limerick’s musical offering grows stronger, according to owner of The Commercial and the Record Room, Rocky O’Shea.

“We've always been very musically inclined considering The Cranberries came out of here, that played a massive part. We've always been a musical city,” he said.

“Dolan’s have been at the forefront for ages. When there's a gig on in the castle or in the Milk Market, it has a positive effect on all the businesses around."