International Rugby Experience (IRE) – the Limerick-based interactive rugby exhibition – has announced its closure, just a year after opening.
The hybrid museum-interactive rugby space opened in May of last year in a newly built premises on Limerick’s O’Connell Street, with the backing of businessman JP McManus, who owns the building.
Despite attracting more than 60,000 visitors and boosting the local economy to the tune of nearly €8m, IRE’s management this week announced a closure date of December 23.
Bookings already made, up to and including December 23, will be honoured, but no new bookings are being taken.
The IRE – which employs around 50 people and is debt free – had been looking to gift the building to the State and transfer its management to the Discover Limerick tourism company. However, it said it had been unable to advance the process with the local council.
Limerick City and County Council said: “We want to assure the public that every effort was made to secure the proposed transfer of the International Rugby Experience into Discover Limerick DAC, the Council owned tourism company that manages other Limerick attractions including King John’s Castle.
“Following extensive due diligence, a detailed briefing was provided to the councillors of Limerick City and County Council, as recently as this week, to discuss the proposed transition. All possible avenues were explored including a report from an independent tourism expert consultant.”
“Despite our best efforts, we were unable to secure a viable path forward as substantial operational and capital funding would be required from the Council into the future.”
