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.