Not the end but a new era for Thomond Park

FIRST things first. Thomond Park is NOT closing down.

Sensational newspaper headlines may suggest otherwise and noises from 62 Lansdowne Road would seem to confirm them, but the rugby-mad people of Limerick and Munster will not allow the “shrine” that Thomond Park has become for them over the past 70 years to be thrown on the scrap-heap.

Some 20 years or so ago, a large part of the population of Limerick marched down O’Connell Street in protest at the closing of Barringtons Hospital. They lost that war but this present battle has only just begun.

The cause is not being helped by premature reports and screaming headlines and last night it emerged that a five-man steering committee of the Munster Branch will issue a statement next Tuesday in an attempt to put the record straight.

Pat Whelan, a member of both the Munster Branch and the Irish Rugby Football Union committee, and the man charged with the building of the “new” Thomond Park, said the intention of the statement is “to clarify speculation and will go a long way towards resolving the mainly uninformed comment that has been doing the rounds. I will make no further comment ahead of the statement.”

It would be ill-advised for Thomond Park advocates to fly off the handle and disagree with the recent comment of IRFU chief executive Philip Browne that Thomond Park has no future in the modern professional era unless it can be doubled in size to accommodate 25,000 seated fans, with corporate hospitality facilities that would also bring in the kind of revenue essential for the successful management of a hugely ambitious European Cup team like Munster.

However, I also understand that discussions between the Union and the owners of approximately 15 houses on the Knockalisheen Road adjoining the ground have not broken down and that Tuesday’s statement will further explain the situation.

The IRFU offered the householders €200,000 and a further €40,000 disturbance money in an effort to acquire the extra space they felt was required to bring Thomond Park up to the necessary dimensions.

While some appear to have been in favour of accepting, the majority were opposed but I’m assured there is still room for manoeuvre. There is speculation, true or otherwise, that the sensational headlines are appearing in an attempt to scare the householders, none of whom want to be branded as those who closed Thomond Park. The rugby people insist this is not the case.

Should the negotiations with the householders finally break down, many believe the space is still there to turn the main pitch around and surround it with grandstands capable of providing the required seated accommodation.

That was the original option until the idea of buying up the Knockalisheen Road houses came to the fore. It’s now time to return to Plan A and I will be surprised if Pat Whelan and company won’t move heaven and earth to keep the headquarters of Limerick and Munster rugby on this hallowed site.