'Misplaced commentary is damaging' says CEO of Limerick's International Rugby Experience

THE CHIEF executive of the International Rugby Experience, which is to close next month, has said the last few weeks have been "damaging" for the venue and "Limerick in general".

Barry Hannon made the claim in a letter sent to council bosses, where he confirmed management of the attraction, spearheaded by JP McManus, will not be accepting a €100,000-per-year offer for three years from Mayor John Moran to help keep the venue float.

He described "misplaced commentary on social media" over the performance of the city centre venue, as being "most damaging to our team who I am proud to work with every day".

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"These individuals have delivered at every turn while they work in and contribute to our city centre economy in their own right," he wrote in a letter to council chiefs, and which he requested be circulated to all 40 council members.

Mr Hannon wrote in the letter sent on Saturday to council, and seen by Limerick Live: "The financial performance shared last week was consistent with our budgeted expectations for the operation since we first completed our own due diligence in 2016."

At an emergency meeting last Tuesday afternoon, it was disclosed that an independent audit had found that the venue was on track for operational losses of almost €700,000, with only 31,000 visitors estimated to visit the O'Connell Street venue this year.

In July 2021, two years before it opened, a press release issued by the International Rugby Experience said it was envisaged the centre will welcome 100,000 visitors per year.

The letter stated "officials" had referred to the International Rugby Experience as "negatively impacting on other services."

"Many attractions rely on subventions in one form or another. We know councillors recognise this as we note the support from council to other tourism infrastructure experiences throughout Limerick. Rather than referring to these items as negatively impacting on other services (as officials have done with the International Rugby Experience) it is only fair and correct to recognise what these investments in tourist attractions bring to Limerick's wider benefit. We hope this continues into the future," Mr Hannon's letter, dated November 2, added.

Mr Hannon said the future of the facility will happen "with the greater good of Limerick in mind".

The city centre venue will close next month with the loss of 18 jobs, with management at the attraction on Friday rejecting an offer of €100,000-per-year for three years made by Mayor John Moran to help keep it afloat.

In the letter, sent on Saturday, the chief executive of the rugby museum also turned down an invitation to appear before councillors in a behind-closed-doors meeting - an in camera workshop discussion - in relation to the closure of the facility, which was also championed by former Munster and Ireland captain Paul O'Connell.

This request came following an emergency meeting of members last Tuesday, organised after news of the closure initially emerged before the October Bank Holiday.

Mr McManus had earlier this year agreed to 'gift' the Experience - which operates from a landmark building in O'Connell Street - to the people of Limerick, through the local authority.

This transfer never took place and now Mr Hannon has added this will not happen.

"We have disengaged with Limerick City and County Council on the transfer of the International Rugby Experience and have declined the offer of funding made last week," Mr Hannon added, saying he communicated this to council director general Dr Pat Daly on Friday.

"We really wanted the people of the city to be involved in the next stage of the International Rugby Experience. While we will now look at that future without Limerick City and County Council, it will remain with the greater good of Limerick in mind. We will look at the project through a more solution focused lens rather than highlighting problems that may or may not arise," he wrote.

Mayor Moran used a separate council meeting on Friday to tell members of the communication from Mr Hannon declining the offer of funding.

This first letter was sent to director general, Dr Pat Daly, not the first citizen. And it is understood that Mayor Moran only referenced the line in the letter where the offer of funding was declined.

The International Rugby Experience chief executive said the full contents of his initial letter were "regretfully not fully communicated to councillors" at this.

To this end, he also enclosed a copy of this letter.

Mayor Moran has said he remains open to talks on the future of the €30m attraction, plus an offer of €100,000-per-year remains on the table and will do so until the budget later this month.

Limerick Live has contacted the council for a response to Mr Hannon's letter.