Heineken Cup Final

We have compiled details of some of the events and activities taking place around the country and in Cardiff in the run up to the Heineken Cup Final and on the day itself.

BIARRITZ OLYMPIQUE V MUNSTER

DIARY DATES

We have put together an information guide of some of the events taking place in the build up to the game and on the day itself:

ONGOING

TURN MUNSTER RED

From now until the final, all Munster supporters are being encouraged to display the Munster colours at their home, place of work and car in an effort to turn the province RED in advance of the final. For schools, Munster Rugby are offering a prize of a class outing to either Thomond Park or Musgrave Park early next season to see Munster in the Celtic League to the best decorated school in the province. Schools are being asked to send photos of their fantastic efforts to supporterspro@munsterrugby.ie. In Cork, the Evening Echo are spearheading a competition with the support of Cork Business Association and Cork City Challenge for the best decorated business. The winning premises can look forward to a visit from two Munster players after the Heineken Cup Final.

FLAGS AND BANNERS

The Munster giant flags, giant jerseys and banners (including Irish by Birth, Munster by Grace of God and To the Brave & Faithful, Nothing is Impossible ) are currently being displayed on buildings within Munster (UL; Brown Thomas, Limerick; Merchants Quay, Cork; Blackpool Shopping Centre, Cork; Finns Sports Shop, Cork). They will be taken down in the days before the match for transportation to Cardiff and displaying in the Millennium Stadium to help turn the stadium red on match day. Also from this weekend, keep an eye out for the Toyota sponsored Munster flags at the entrance points to Cork City- Water Street, Dunkethel and Carrigrohane Straight.

Wednesday May 17^th 2006

MUNSTER SONG CARDS

The Munster Rugby Supporters Club will begin the distribution of 120,000 song cards, with the words of Stand Up and Fight on one side and The Fields of Athenry on the other side. These cards are being distributed to all traveling fans on departure at Shannon, Cork, Dublin and Farranfore Airports, at the ferry terminals and in Cardiff. Everyone attending the game is being asked to bring their cards with them and to pass them to neutral supporters who may not know the words to help form a Munster Choir in the Millennium Stadium.

Friday May 19^th 2006

MUNSTER RED DAY

The workplaces and schools of Munster (and beyond!) will be a sea of red the day before the Heineken Cup Final. In preparation for Munster Rugby s big day in Cardiff, the 19th of May is to be designated Munster Red Day. All factories, shops, offices and schools are being asked to participate in the initiative by encouraging employees and pupils to wear the Munster colours to work or school. Some of the largest employers and schools throughout the province have already committed to showing their support for the Munster team by allowing employees to wear jerseys and red clothing instead of normal work attire. All participating companies and schools have been requested to submit their details to supporterspro@munsterrugby.ie and they hope to include a list of all participating companies and schools as well as photographs on their website.

Saturday May 20^th 2006

LIMERICK

LIMERICK CITY BIG SCREEN

Limerick Co-ordination Office have released plans to bring the big Munster match to thousands of Limerick families free-of-charge on a big screen in the city centre next Saturday week. The Heineken Cup final will be shown on a giant 45sq metre television screen which will be situated on the junction of

Shannon Streetand O’Connell Street, facing down in the direction of Patrick Street, and it will be mounted on the back of an enormous 60ft American MAC truck. Two blocks from Shannon Streetto Patrick Streetwill be closed off to traffic all day on May 20^th.

CARDIFF

MUNSTER SUPPORTERS CLUB MEETING POINTS

PRE MATCH: Members of the Munster Supporters Club and friends will be gathering at Cardiff RFC before the game. Cardiff R.F.C. located in Cardiff Arms Park and the club has kindly offered us the use of their clubhouse for their pre-match bash.

POST MATCH: As this is a very special occasion they have decided to also organise a post match meeting point. Club Jongleurs in Cardiff has been designated as the post-match (and Friday evening) meeting point for Munster Supporters Club members, however all supporters are welcome. It is located centrally in Cardiff, close to the Millennium Stadium.

HEINEKEN CUP FINAL

Biarritz Olympique v Munster

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

KICK OFF 3pm

The gates of the Millennium Stadium will open at 1pm. The Heineken Cup Pub 7s final kicks off at 1.30pm followed by the pre-match entertainment Euro Cult kicking off at 2.15pm. This season s pre-match entertainment, entitled Project Euro Cult, represents all the 6 participating Heineken Cup nations, France, Italy, Scotland, Wales, England and Ireland. The line-up of Euro Cult includes:
Scottish Pipers
Marilena Della’Vittoria from Italy
Englishman Jon Christos
The famous Welsh male choir “Troerchy”
“Can Can girls” from Paris
Special guest Irish singer/ songwriter Paddy Casey

MUNSTER FLAGS

Show your colours inside the grounds and wave one of 10,000 Munster flags being distributed to supporters inside the grounds. Keep an eye out for Murty the Munster Mascot who will be showing his support for the team inside the grounds.

BODHRAN BAND

The Munster Rugby Supporters Club will be in action again in the Millennium Stadium and will be located in block U10 and U11 in the Upper Tier. It is hoped that there will be in excess of 120 bodhrans in this section alone on the day to help get behind the team on the pitch.

HALF TIME ENTERTAINMENT

We are delighted to announce that Cork soprano Cara O Sullivan will take to the pitch at half time, singing what promises to be a passionate rendition of Stand Up and Fight . Show your full support for Cara by using your song cards and lending your voice to this Munster anthem. Also singing will be Michel Etcheverry from Biarritz singing Aupa BO .