International Rugby Experience 'rejects Mayor of Limerick's €100,000-per-year offer'

AN OFFER of €100,000 per year for three years by Mayor John Moran to help keep the ailing International Rugby Experience attraction afloat has been declined.

Limerick Live understands that Barry Hannon, the chief executive of the city centre venue, wrote to Mayor Moran requesting that councillors be informed of the news.

No further information was given in the letter, it's understood.

READ MORE: Limerick's International Rugby Experience set for six figure loss

This all came after the first citizen made the pledge of €100,000 per year from his own fund to help save the International Rugby Experience and the jobs of the 18 people working there.

As it stands, the Experience, located at a landmark building in O'Connell Street, is to close just before Christmas.

Mayor Moran made the brief announcement at the close of a special council meeting which took place at County Hall in Dooradoyle this Friday afternoon.

As part of an offer earlier this year, to gift the venue to the people of Limerick through the local authority, Mr McManus had agreed to pay €1.2m to support the facility afloat.

It comes after it emerged it was his family's wish to keep the €30m site open for the next three years, in order for it to benefit from the influx of tourists in Limerick for the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor.

His offer still left the venue with an operating shortfall, and it was Mayor Moran who had stepped forward to cover it.

Following the refusal of this funding, the future of the venue remains unclear.

The facility is not in public ownership as the transfer of the venue's stewardship never took place.

Mayor Moran said he is willing to keep the money aside until the local authority budget on November 29 next, and added he hopes a solution can be found.

Mr Hannon declined to comment further beyond the contents of the letter itself.

Limerick City and County Council declined to comment.