The country's newest interactive visitor experience, the International Rugby Experience based in the heart of Limerick city, regarded as one of the country's most passionate rugby locations, has officially opened.
The iconic six-storey red brick building features a state-of-the-art digitally interactive experience where young people and families can experience how to play the game, improve their skills, score a try, visit a legends gallery, and follow the stories and history of the game from grassroots to clubs, to the nation's historic wins.
The museum offering has been inspired by World Rugby's values of passion, discipline, integrity, solidarity and respect, in which visitors will hear the stories, feel the passion and test their own skills as they move through the building.
It uses leading, custom-made, real-time software coupled with the expert knowledge of Jock Peggie, Head of Education, Laws and Compliance at World Rugby, to deliver an interactive experience designed to be an authentic and exciting reflection of the game, with visitors having hands-on fun each step of the way.
The construction of the museum has been made possible by a €30m donation from the JP McManus charitable foundation.
The museum was due to open last autumn, but Covid-19 public health restrictions slowed down construction.
However, despite these setbacks, the museum is now ready to open to the public.
The ambition is that the newest museum and visitor attraction will help to revive the area and will bring tourists back into Limerick city centre building on its leisure tourist offering, particularly for families.
Estimates are that it will attract over 100,000 visitors, building on those who visit to see the historic King John's Castle, the Hunt Museum, St Mary’s Cathedral, Thomond Park and the Milk market.
A number of well-known rugby personalities in the game are due to attend the museum to mark its opening, including several World Cup and British and Irish Lions players.
These include Bryan Habana, Francois Pienaar, Johnny Sexton, Joy Neville, Danielle Waterman, Keith Wood, Paul O'Connell, Jeremy Guscott, Matt Dawson, Sean Fitzpatrick, Martin Johnson, Peter Stringer Ciara Griffin and Rory Best.
International Rugby Experience Chairperson, and former Ireland, Lions and Munster player Paul O'Connell said he was delighted to now be able to welcome the public to the building.
He said: "It's been years in the making, but we're finally able to throw open the doors and the whole team are really looking forward to it. This is a visitor attraction that Limerick, and indeed the whole country, can be proud of and we're very thankful to those who have helped us along our journey to this point."
International Rugby Experience CEO Barry Hannon added: "This is going to be a really unique and fun way to spend time in Limerick city - for families, fans and those just looking for something different to do."
The museum also features a ground floor retail shop, and a café on the first floor, and is open seven days a week from 9.30am-6pm.
Walk-in visitors are due in from tomorrow 3 May with online bookings from 15 May next. Tickets cost €15 per adult and €10 per child.
