The Limerick Blogger: latest Limerick news and Limerick events

Local Preist Fr. Joe Young has now decided not to sell his stake in Hogan Park to Limerick FC, but instead looks set to sell to local business people. This is terrible news for Limerick soccer who in two years now look to be out of a home ground!

The preist has previously stated in the press and on the radio that he would grant Limerick FC the lease, but earlier this week his solicitors contacted JRM sports (the name Limerick FC trade under) and informed them that he had gotten a better offer.

Club chairman Danny Drew, who has poured a considerable amount of time and his own money into resurrecting the fortunes of the Blues over the last two years, admitted he was stunned by the development.

He said: ‘I can’t believe that this is happening to senior soccer in Limerick after all the promises that were made to this club about being granted a 25-year lease. Those promises were made by Father Joe Young on live radio and in the press and are on the record.

‘On Tuesday last our solicitors got a draft copy of the lease from Father Joe Young’s solicitors and I thought this matter was close to being resolved at last.

‘But on Thursday, Father Young’s solicitors rang our solicitors telling us that he had changed his mind and that Limerick FC would not be granted the lease.

‘Limerick FC are the sole representative of eircom League football in this city. Is it now going to come down to the highest bidder? This is terrible news for the club and our future.’

Commentating on the developments, Father Young, who was chairman of the club when Sam Allardyce was boss in the early 90s, said he hoped to release a statement next week.

He said: ‘We have received another offer on Hogan Park and I should be in a position to release a statement next week.’

As far as I know the ground would be designated ‘recreational area’ meaning that it would need to be re-zoned in order for development, which is something the council doesnt do very often! This was the same issue that drove Munster Rugby to remain at Thomond Park.

Limerick FC are Munster Senior Cup champions after a forgettable final against Cobh Ramblers in Askeaton last night. The game, played in front of a crowd of around 500, finished 0-0 after 90 minutes and also after 120 minutes. Limerick went on to lift the trophy on penalties after keeper Noel Mooney saved two of the Ramblers’ spot kicks. Cobh Ramblers had midfielder Darren Murphy sent off just before full time.

Limerick will be maintaining their push to add the First Division trophy to their collection when they travel to Galway United this Friday night.

The UTV owned Live 95fm is up against stiff competition in it’s attempt to renew it’s Limerick city and county radio license. It was originally presumed that no other group would run against 95fm in it’s attempt to regain the license for another 10 year stint, but at close of submissions yesterday a new consortium, Heart FM, also emerged as contenders for the license.

Heart FM have strong backing. Sean Ashmore, formerly of 95fm, is joined by Niall and Fergal Lawlor of the Cranberries, 2fm dj and local solicitor Will Leahy, local comedian Pat Shortt and head of HSI and former 2fm dj Michael McNamara. Heart are proposing a more news and current affairs based operation than Live 95fm offer.

The applications will be made available for viewing by the public from Monday July 31st on the BCI website and at the City Library, Michael Street.

Classic Music is hitting the shores of the Shannon as Limerick prepares for two classical music festival, The MBNA Shannon International Music Festival which sees composers from around the world entertain Limerick audiences from July 26th to July 30th, and Summer music on the Shannon (which is primarily made up of students) festival runs from August 11 to August 19th.

MBNA Shannon International Music Festival
Wednesday, 26th to Sunday, 30th of July

This fantastic five day festival showcases the best of orchestra in Ireland in four distinctive locations. St Mary’s Cathedral, University Concert Hall, Dagda Dance Studio and Dolans all play host to the Irish Chamber Orchestra’s Shannon International Music Festival. With 13 concerts there’s plenty to see.

Dates and Details

Summer Music on the Shannon
Friday, 11th to Saturday, 19th of August

7 concerts to be held in St. Mary’s Cathedral and the University Concert Hall, with the students of the Summer Music on the Shannon programme
Also as part of the Summer Music on the Shannon festival a further series of 5 concerts will take place in the Georgian House and Gardens in downtown Limerick, these are very intimate gigs and organisers state that tickets are very limited.

Dates and Details

Where to go:

St Mary’s Cathedral is on Kings Island, get an inbound bus and head North on O’Connell Street, the church was built in medieval times and is a city landmark

University Concert Hall is on the University of Limerick Campus (Bus #308)

Daghda Dance Studio is located in St. Johns Square, across from St. Johns Cathedral in an old smaller former church

Dolans is on the Dock Road west (outbound side) of the Clarion Hotel.

Georgian House and Gardens is number 2 Perry’s Square, across from St. Michaels Church and the Peoples Park.

Taxis in Limerick will be on strike all day Monday as part of a nationwide strike in protest at the new taxi regulations to be introduced in September.

The ’Driving Forward – Action Plan’ is being introduced to provide fairer, more strucutured taxi fares around the country, but obviously the taxi drivers aren’t happy.

As part of the new regulations taxis will not be able to charge for the luxury of having to carry your baggage in their cabs, or the hardship of having to pick you up from Dublin Airport.

The NTDU say that they expect 17,000 union members to comply with the strike, but that all urgent situations like hospital appointments will be accomodated.

Commuters were left bemused and late on Friday morning after the Limerick to Dublin train was delayed for over 20 minutes due to a naked man on the track. The man, a foreign national in his 30’s, was found wandering the track wearing nothing but the suit God gave him. After numerous requests for him to get off the track, Gardai were called and he was removed to Roxboro Garda station where he was seen by a doctor, and presumably given some clothes.

Entertainment is back in Limerick this weekend. From street party to sporting festival, Limerick is where its at ths weekend as the city prepares to welcome an extra c.1,500 visitors to the shores of the Shannon. So get involved, here are the details…

Friday – Open Air Street Party – Bedford Row

Limerick City Council and the Bedford Row traders are celebrating the completion of Bedford Row with a FREE BBQ, street entertainments including STILT WALKERS, FIRE BREATHERS, CLOWNS, FACE PAINTERS, etc., and LIVE MUSIC. BBQ starts at 4, music at 5.

Saturday – Grant Thornton European Cup (soccer) – University of Limerick

This Saturday 500 accountants from all over Western Europe will come to Limerick; Irelands Sporting Capital, to compete in a five a side soccer tournament. Bringing with them over 500 fans. 71 teams of men and women from Grant Thornton offices will converge on the University of Limerick on Saturday in a bid to win the prestigious title.

The Grant Thornton European Cup is a real first for Limerick however, as this is the first time Ireland has hosted this event following an outstanding victory by the Limerick men’s team in Manchester last year.And Brendan Lane, Partner with Grant Thornton, is also looking forward to Saturday: “We are delighted to welcome the 1,000 players and fans to Limerick. It promises to be a great day and a wonderful showcase for the cityâ€?.

Each of the 51 men’s teams and 20 women’s teams will play seven minutes a side in the knock out tournament which has been “superblyâ€? organised by Eoin Killackey at UL, explained a spokesperson from Limerick Co-ordination Office.

Saturday – The Pig and Porter Tag Rugby Festival – Old Crescent Rugby Club

55 teams, both professional and social, from all over Ireland and England, will be competing at this event, attracting hundreds to the city. Now in its fifth year running, the Pig and Porter Tag Rugby Festival, which is sponsored by Guinness, was a huge success last year, according to organiser Anthony O’Dwyer.

“The tag rugby festival is ran by the Irish Tag Rugby Association (ITRA) which is a branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU). It is a fantastic event for the city. And next year we are hoping to make the event a real international one with teams from all over Europe.

And this Saturday promises to be a great day out for all the family with plenty of tag rugby, live bands, a pig on the spit and BBQ and face painting and children’s entertainment,� he explained

Travel Details and Weather

Bedford Row is in the heart of Limerick City, accessable from all in-bound bus routes.

The University of Limerick is serviced by the 308 bus (departing from William St).

Old Cresent Rugby Club is not serviced by bus, it is in Rosbrien ( the grounds are just off dooradoyle exit on New Cork Road)

Weather Saturday will be sunny with a high of 25C, Friday will be partly cloudy with a high of 23C – so get out and enjoy the weekend

The two remaining parties involved in the bid for the new South West youth radio license will lay out their plans at a public forum in Limerick next week. ‘Red FM South West’ and ‘Spin South West’ will both attend a hearing at the Castletroy Park Hotel next Monday, July 17th, at 2pm.

Both parties already have experience in youth radio, Red FM hold a Cork license while Spin hold a Dublin license. The only other group to submit an application, Fresh FM, have already been ruled out after their application was considered not to be of sufficient standard to qualify for the second phase in the licensing process.

At this hearing each applicant will make a presentation followed by a question and answer session with the Board of the Commission.

A decision on the license is expected on September 4th.

Twice in the one week no less…. Shamrock Rovers were back in town again last night for an Eircom League match (as opposed to the cup game previous) and once again were on the wrong end of a 1-0 defeat thanks to a second half goal from the home team who also missed a penalty! Hogan park witnessed its biggest crowd of the season where the away support outnumbered the home crowd but thats hardly news! Paul Rose scored the winner in the 56th minute and the margin would have been doubled but for the Rovers keeper Barry Murphy saving a 73rd minute Jon Lester penalty. An element of the Shamrock Rovers supporters let their side down by being involved in sporadic skirmishes with the Gardai who were present in numbers at the ground. The hoops fans were also ejected from Finnegans pub on their way to the match and broke glasses and upturned tables on the way out. Let them off back to Dublin… Limerick’s advantage in the league first division is now back up to four points courtesy of the victory last night.
Limerick have been given a home draw against Derry City in the eircom league cup which will take place on the week of the 7th of August.

in no particular order…

Limerick scored a 1-0 victory in the eircom league cup tonight thanks to a 44th minute free kick by John Lester….

The Space Shuttle Discovery took off last night with its Limerick related CASPER expirement on board.

The Bank pub, restaurant and night club on O Connell St is for sale. Auctioneers Hickey O’Donoghue appear to be moving offices shortly. They aren’t going too far though as their new office will be across the road! The new hotel going up out near Krups is going to be a Choice Quality Hotel and is due to open in the next month or so, as is the refurbished George Hotel in the city centre. The Quality hotel is already advertising its leisure centre which is due to open in September. Some ex staff from Savins hi fi and the Sony galleria shop on O’Connell St are shortly going to open a new hi fi and tv appliance shop at the top of William St. More info on that shortly but the shop will be called future sound and vision.