Clare must throw off the shackles against Tipperary

So finally, the big day has arrived. The Páirc is back open, with a shiny new stadium wrapped up in a big red bow, writes Anthony Daly. 

The locals can’t wait to see the tape cut and the doors open so they can show off their new house. The Rebels have always been proud people. They always want to think they are the best. And now they want to tell, and show the rest of us, that they have the best stadium — outside Croke Park — in the country.

I’m looking forward to seeing how the old mausoleum has been transformed into the new coliseum. I’ve heard the stories from Tomás Mul. I’ve seen the video footage. It looks so flash it’s like something out of Jay Z’s pad on MTV Cribs. Today is going to be a grand opening with a difference but I’m not too sure that all Clare people are totally enamoured about the timing of it.