A MULTI-MILLION euro prestige building, which was first opened just 16 months ago as a centrepiece property on Limerick City’s revamped O’Connell Street, is set to close its doors for a final time later this year.
The International Rugby Experience, a cornerstone building on Limerick City’s main thoroughfare developed on the back of a €30million investment from the JP McManus Charitable Foundation, will close its doors on December 23 this year.
That’s according to a shock statement published this evening on behalf of the operators of the landmark tourist destination.
The statement confirmed that the International Rugby Experience (IRE) “will cease operations and close its doors on December 23rd this year”.
The multi-million euro IRE was first opened in May 2023, described as the brainchild of billionaire JP McManus and fronted by Munster Rugby legend Paul O’Connell. It’s opening was a who’s-who of international rugby stars.
The building, which towers over the skyline of O’Connell Street in the heart of Limerick City, was awarded the Public Choice award at the 2023 Irish Architecture Awards along with architect Níall McLaughlin.
In April of this year, it was announced that the 30,000sq/ft building and its entire operations were to be handed over to Limerick City and County Council, with Discover Limerick DAC to oversee its day-to-day operations.
However now, according to the IRE statement, “the IRE has been unable to advance the process with the Council and so have taken the difficult decision to close the business”.
“The experience has brought over 60,000 visitors to the city centre since it opened and has delivered an estimated €7.8million boost to the local economy in that period,” the statement read.
“This project was a not-for-profit charitable venture and was constructed and delivered without state support, funding, or grant aid.”
The statement stressed that the IRE was to be handed over to the local authority “entirely debt free”.
“The intention was to gift this architecturally significant, award-winning building to the state and in so doing help with visitor footfall to Limerick city centre. This gift offer, along with a €1.2million donation, was made to Limerick City and County Council in October 2023, with Heads of Terms signed by both parties in March 2024. The proposed offer would have seen the building free to be used for any civic purpose by Limerick City and County Council after 2028,” the statement said.
The IRE also extended its thanks to “Paul O’Connell and Keith Wood, who have been unselfish in their fantastic assistance to the project since the concept stag”.
“The IRE thanks its wonderful staff, and the people of Limerick and beyond, for supporting the venture and the effort to help to bring life back to the city centre.”
It’s understood around 50 people are employed at the business.
Reassuring those who have current bookings or events planned for the landmark venue, the IRE said that “all existing bookings for the venue will be honoured up to December 23rd, visits to Santa’s Secret Workshop, and other booked events inclusive”.
“The doors will close permanently from that date and no new bookings are being taken with immediate effect. Bookings for subsequent dates will be refunded in full.”
Responding to the shock statement, a spokesman for Limerick City and County Council said that the local authority is “disappointed by the news announced today that the International Rugby Experience is set for closure”.
“We want to assure the public that every effort was made to secure the proposed transfer of the International Rugby Experience into Discover Limerick DAC, the Council-owned tourism company that manages other Limerick attractions including King John’s Castle,” the Council spokesman said.
“Following extensive due diligence, a detailed briefing was provided to the councillors of Limerick City and County Council, as recently as this week, to discuss the proposed transition. All possible avenues were explored including a report from an independent tourism expert consultant.”
The spokesman concluded that “despite our best efforts, we were unable to secure a viable path forward as substantial operational and capital funding would be required from the Council into the future”.
The building remains in the ownership of horse racing mogul JP McManus, who owns a string of other properties including the five star Adare Manor hotel and spa resort set to host the Ryder Cup golf tournament in 2027.
