Appropriately it was Limerick rugby legend who announced an exciting new visitor attraction for Limerick city recently with the news that a digital interactive visitor centre for the sport will be opened in Limerick in 2019.

30,000 square feet of 4D interactive galleries backed up by exhibits celebrating historic moments from the sport of rugby union in Ireland will be located on the city’s main thoroughfare, O’Connell Street and provide a dramatic rugby experience for visitors to Limerick. While the full details are naturally a bit sketchy considering the time frame, the new rugby visitor centre is being backed by a heavyweight in Irish billionaire and local Limerick man, JP McManus. Its board too is full of rugby heavyweights in the persons of former All Black captain Sean Fitzpatrick, Australian legend Michael Lynagh and Munster man Keith Wood, as well as the iconic former Irish and Lions captain, Paul O’Connell.

It’s a fitting tribute to Limerick city’s enduring love affair with rugby and its fanatical support for Munster Rugby personified in the guise of Thomond Park. And when rugby supporters book with Travelodge Ireland for a match in Limerick city, they have the choice of two affordable budget hotels close to the home of rugby in Munster.

Munster Rugby in Limerick City

Limerick is the main base for Munster Rugby, one of Ireland’s four professional rugby teams, who play in both the Guinness Pro12 and the European Rugby Champions Cup. Rugby matches take place in Limerick city throughout the season from September to May and the phenomenal support from Limerick fans is one of the main reasons that Munster has been such an impressive performer over the years.

The spiritual home of rugby in Limerick and Munster Rugby itself is undoubtedly Thomond Park, a 26,000-seater rugby stadium and the largest club rugby ground on the island of Ireland. One of the world’s most beloved rugby stadiums, the atmosphere in the ground when the song ‘The Fields of Athenry’ is belted out is really something to experience for the visitor to Limerick. Thomond has seen many great victories in the past forty years with the highlight being the Munster’s famous defeat of New Zealand’s All Blacks team in 1978. Thomond is just over a mile from our budget Limerick Ennis Road hotel, the perfect base for rugby fans visiting the city.

Budget Hotels for a Weekend of Rugby in Limerick

After the excitement of a Munster weekend of rugby in Limerick city, what better way to relax than bedding down in a comfortable budget-priced room in the city. Travelodge Hotels Ireland runs two 3 star hotels in Limerick, both of which have great access to both the rugby ground and Limerick city centre.

With Thomond Park on the west side of Limerick, we recommend our Travelodge Ennis Road hotel, just over a mile from the rugby ground, with convenient access to Shannon Airport and the Limerick Institute of Technology. Whether you book a room at our Travelodge Limerick Ennis Road Hotel or the almost-as-convenient Travelodge Limerick Castletroy Hotel you will be staying in 3 star comfort with spacious en-suite bathrooms as well as flat screen television and free, fast and completely unlimited Wi-Fi access. Our comfortable rooms make sure that you get a great night while we save you money by giving you the best rates guaranteed direct through our website.