Cup fever takes over as rugby fans paint town red

RUGBY fans in Limerick are being urged to paint the town red in advance of the April 23 Heineken European Cup semifinal against Leinster.

There will be no shortage of motivation, with two precious match tickets and an overnight stay for two in the Clarion Hotel Liffey Valley going to whoever does it best.

Shops and homeowners have been called on to deck their businesses and homes in Munster red.

Andrew Mawhinney of the Limerick Co-ordination Office said Limerick’s Munster Rugby Best Dressed Shop and House competition aims to show just how important rugby is to the city.

He said: “Now that O’Connell Street is covered with Munster flags, we hope the local businesses and families will rally around the team and transform the city into a sea of red support.”

This competition is also an opportunity for people to do up their premises.

He said: “We hope people will make the same effort they have made in recent Christmases to decorate their businesses and homes.”

The Limerick Co-ordination Office is running the competition.

Mr Mawhinney said: “All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning the two precious tickets to the big game on April 23 and an overnight for two in the Clarion Hotel Liffey Valley is email a picture of your house/shop to [e-mail] or drop the picture into the Limerick Coordination Office, 50 O’Connell Street, Limerick.

“Include your name, address and contact number in the email. State clearly whether you are entering the best dressed house or best dressed shop category.”

The closing date is April 19.

The best three entrants in both categories will be judged on Thursday, April 20.

Limerick will also be out in force next Saturday to support Munster in their Celtic League clash with Edinburgh Gunners at Thomond Park.

Mr Mawhinney said: “We hope there will be a good turnout on Saturday to give the lads a good send-off before their crucial Heineken Cup match.”