JP McManus is scheduled to meet with Limerick councillors to discuss the future of the International Rugby Experience (IRE), which has been closed and unused, “like so many other homes and businesses.”
The IRE, which attracted 60,000 visitors during its year of operation, closed its doors in December 2024, resulting in 50 job losses.
Mr. McManus previously offered the €30 million building and an additional €1.2 million in funding to Limerick City and County Council last year. However, the council declined the offer due to concerns about the attraction’s operational costs.
He is scheduled to address the councillors at a private meeting in Dooradoyle this Thursday at 12pm.
The Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, has stated that he cannot attend the meeting due to prior commitments.
Mr. Moran commented: “While I cannot attend myself, I do believe it will be very helpful for JP (McManus) to meet with other councillors for everyone to share both hopes and concerns and engage in further open and constructive dialogue. I, myself, had a recent meeting with him and others of his family and team accompanied by senior officials of the Council.”
Mr. Moran emphasized that everyone desires a sustainable solution to secure the building’s future and accept Mr. McManus’s gift, adding “it goes without saying”.
“Hopefully, this spirit of collaboration and transparency will help find a potential solution,” he stated.
Mr. Moran had previously offered €300,000 from his mayoral fund (€100,000 per year) to help resolve the museum’s closure, an offer the IRE rejected.
Local councillor Elisa O’Donovan, who will attend the meeting, described the situation as having been “handled very poorly.”
“There appears to have been enormous misinformation spread about the viability and cost of running the building,” she told the
“Limerick councillors were not made aware or informed of this gifting until a decision was already made to accept the gift. At the time of the closure, my main focus was on the excellent staff there that lost their jobs.
“We are crying out for community and public meeting spaces in Limerick City and I think as a councillor for this area, I have a duty to do all I can to ensure we can use this building for our vibrant and wonderful city community. Seeing it lying derelict like so many other homes, businesses, and buildings really is criminal,” she said.
