Munster’s field of dreams could come true

THE mighty men of Munster could be playing in front of 30,000 fans under a plan proposed by a top rugby official.

Branch president Niall O’Driscoll says he would be in favour of a purpose-built stadium to be located between Cork and Limerick, as the province tries to cash in on the popularity of the European Cup.

As it stands, Munster’s matches alternate between Limerick and Cork, but Mr O’Driscoll believes the province should operate out of a single base.

“Munster’s facilities are Third World in comparison to the top European clubs,” said the accountant from Bandon in Co Cork.

“I believe the province should build a stadium from scratch, select a greenfield site, maybe 15 or 20 miles on the Cork side of Limerick and recreate the Thomond atmosphere in a 25,000-30,000 ground, complete with modern dressing rooms, training facilities, medical rooms and media facilities.”

Thomond Park has an official capacity of 12,000 while Cork’s Musgrave Park’s official capacity is a mere 8,000. But Munster’s growing popularity has seen European games sold out with thousands of ticketless fans left outside.

“A stadium this size would go a long way to solving our ticketing problems,” Mr O’Driscoll said. “Thomond and Musgrave Park could then be re-assessed, perhaps one sold off and the other used for secondary matches.”

Over the past five years, Munster have twice been defeated in the final of the Heineken Cup and twice in the semi-final, including last April’s loss to eventual winners Wasps.

In the wake of that reversal, captain Jim Williams said Munster’s practice of operating out of two bases was self-defeating. He said valuable hours were wasted travelling for training sessions when players should be resting before big games.

Munster’s popularity over the past five years has resulted in a huge demand for tickets and the advent of the corporate fan has led to escalating tension between the clubs, the Munster Supporters Club and the branch over ticket allocations. A 30,000-seater stadium would solve these problems but the more likely scenario is for the branch to develop their existing grounds.

“I have raised this issue at committee level and the Cork-Limerick agenda has ensured a mixed response,” admitted O’Driscoll.

“We are looking at turning the existing stand in Musgrave Park into one that would seat 6,500 and we want to raise €6.5 million.

“Pre-planning discussions are taking place with the council and there is land on the Sunday’s Well side of the ground which could be sold towards a deposit.”

Munster rugby has a proud tradition which has always incorporated Limerick and Cork and the proposal for a single base will garner a great deal of support. “My views are well known, the idea is out there and it makes tremendous business sense,” Mr O’Driscoll said.

However, as GAA president Seán Kelly found out after his calls to open Croke Park, what a president wants and what a president gets are two entirely different things.