Culture clash as Reddan takes on Munster

THE Reddan clan from Limerick have a proud Munster pedigree.

But their loyalty to the Men in Red will be tested as never before at Thomond Park tomorrow when Ireland international scrumhalf, Eoin Reddan, will line out for Wasps.

His dad, Don, and mum, Geraldine, will be at the game.

A family friend said: “Naturally they are very proud of Eoin and will be hoping the best for him. I suppose you could say it’s a case of family blood being thicker than the red of Munster.”

Don played on the wing for Munster in the 1960s and will be hoping the match is a great game of rugby.

Another man hoping the match will deliver is Tony Murphy. An avid follower of the Munster team, Mr Murphy has put in place an elaborate travel plan to get to Thomond Park in time for the 5.30pm kick-off.

He will begin by setting out from his home on Bere Island by bike in time to get to the west end of the island for Colm Harrington’s 8.30am ferry to Castletownbere.

“I will then get the bus to Cork and a taxi from the bus station to Kent station in time for the Dublin train,” he said. “I will change at Limerick Junction to make the next leg of my journey to Limerick’s Colbert station and then I’ll be off on foot for the two-mile walk to Thomond Park.”

The partly constructed stadium will accommodate 12,300 fans tomorrow, 500 fewer than November’s game. The old stadium held 13,200.

Pat Whelan who heads the stadium development committee said: “The €40 million development of the new stadium is right on schedule and is due to be completed next August. It will hold nearly 30,000 fans.”

Meanwhile Wasps have taken up their complete allocation of 1,500 tickets.

The invasion of rugby fans promises to bring a huge weekend spending boom for Limerick.

A spokesman for the regional tourism promotion agency, Shannon Development, said: “Hotels report heavy bookings. As well as the big number of Wasp fans coming over, a lot of Munster fans who are travelling from other parts of the country to Limerick are opting to stay the night due to the late start. They can savour what promises to be a great rugby night in the city."