Limerick’s All-Ireland SHC team holiday expected to cost over €600,000

Officials in the county have been informed travel costs have risen since the players’ holiday to Florida and The Bahamas in early 2023 and significant funds will be required to reward the All-Ireland winners

FORE: Cian Lynch playing Golf as the Munster Rugby Legends take on the Limerick Hurling Legends. Pic: ©INPHO/Tom Maher.

Limerick’s All-Ireland SHC team holiday is expected to cost in excess of €600,000.

Fundraisers are to take place in Dublin, London and New York to supplement the fund for the trip, the destinations of which have yet to be confirmed.

As All-Ireland senior finalists, both Limerick and Galway are in line to receive a €150,000 team holiday grant from the GAA, which is an 88% improvement on the €80,000 contribution Limerick received when they previously won the Liam MacCarthy Cup in 2023.

However, officials in the county have been informed travel costs have risen since the players’ holiday to Florida and The Bahamas in early 2023 and significant funds will be required to give the players and management the reward for their Division 1, Munster and All-Ireland triumphs.

In 2018, Limerick spend two weeks in Cancun, Mexico with the €560,000 cost offset by €350,000 in fundraising. In 2019 and ’21, they enjoyed breaks in Barbados’ Sandy Lane resort, which is part-owned by patron JP McManus. The pandemic ruled out a break following their 2020 success.

The board’s fundraising for the 2023 holiday ran into controversy when they were forced to reduce the price of a commemorative jersey from €150 to €100 following public outcry.

A statement at the time read: “With the cost of international travel increasing the cost of the team holiday to include players, management backroom team and their partners is substantial. Limerick County Board will solely be responsible for paying this cost. To that end the unique opportunity to purchase this special jersey was launched as a fundraiser to offset some of that cost.”

According to their 2025 accounts, Tipperary’s All-Ireland winning team holiday to South Africa last November cost €373,300, while Kerry’s to the US and Mexico was listed as €366,341. In 2022, their bill for their break in Dubai and Mauritius was recorded as €444,971.

Between their playing panel, management and support teams, Limerick have over 50 people involved in their set-up. In 2019, almost 60 people were reported to have flown on the holiday to The Bahamas.

All-Ireland senior football champions Mayo are hoping to shortly confirm their own team holiday, which is to take place in late October or early November. They hope to face runners-up Kerry in a special challenge game in London at the end of November.

After their Munster SHC final win over Cork in June, Limerick manager John Kiely hailed the commitment of his players following their return to training last November.

“I don't know where the last eight months have gone. Because it's just relentless. They got five days off over Christmas. Think about it. What other profession is there where you get five days off in eight months?”