Update on plans to run trains to Limerick village for Ryder Cup 2027

RAIL access to next year’s Ryder Cup remains on track after a council official confirmed a temporary train platform is to be erected in Adare this autumn.

Irish Rail is planning to run passenger shuttle services between Limerick’s main rail station at Colbert and Adare village using existing train track for the duration of the Ryder Cup tournament in the hope of easing the burden on local roads.

At this month’s full council meeting, director of transportation Patricia Liddy confirmed the timeline to put the platform in place.

“They are developing in Adare and the platform will be ready by October of this year. That’s my understanding at the moment,” she told councillors.

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Fianna Fail councillor Bridie Collins, who is based in the village, welcomed the news, but admitted it took her a little by surprise.

This is because just before Christmas, she asked the rail firm for information on the plan and was told there was no news.

“It’s absolutely huge news, and to be really welcomed. It seems to have come out of the blue. It’s disappointing to be hearing it third hand,” said Cllr Collins.

Ms Liddy, who said she would contact Irish Rail to give an update to councillors, stressed it’s only a temporary platform planned.

“It’s not a permanent solution,” she insisted.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Collins said she hopes there can be a full-time rail service from Adare to the city.

“As I look beyond the Ryder Cup which in the lifetime of the village of Adare is a very short window of time - if the will is there and the demand is there, why not continue with the service particularly when we are trying to find more sustainable modes of transport,” she said.

Mayor John Moran, who has previously said he thinks up to 10,000 people-a-day will travel by train to the Ryder Cup, said he hopes the rail station will boost local traders.

He believes retailers in the village will not see the benefit from spectators arriving from park-and-ride facilities, as they will likely be dropped in the grounds of Adare Manor.

People disembarking from a train, he argued, would walk through the village and bring “economic activity and animation”.

“It is for that reason if we could engineer a situation where a large portion of people arriving are coming into a train station. I think we would all find that a preferred option,” Mayor Moran said.

Meanwhile, Limerick City and County Council has announced it plans to carry out improvement works at the Adare Heritage Centre in advance of the Ryder Cup tournament.

According to an audit report, which is the annual review of the council’s finances, local authority bosses are expecting the works, to commence this year.

In readiness for the tournament, council has previously said it wants to upgrade the facility in the heart of Adare.

Under the previously announced proposals, the existing heritage centre opened in the early 1990s, will be partially demolished.

In its place, there will be an enlarged cafe, retail and exhibition space.

The library would also get an upgrade and a new community space is also being planned for the facility.