Heineken Cup Time in Thomond Park

It is Heineken Cup Quarter Final time and Munster Rugby want everyone to get behind the team this Sunday in Thomond Park at 1pm and help Turn Thomond Red!

Heineken Cup – Munster v Ospreys, Thomond Park Stadium (KO 1pm)
This game is Sold Out.

Turnstiles open 2 hours before kick off at 11am. Please check your tickets for details of Turnstiles (T1-T12), your ticket will only be accepted in the identified turnstile.

Staff operated hand held scanners will control the access through the turnstiles, the automated scanners will not be in use for this game. Please be in your seats/terrace at least 20 minutes before kick-off.

Ticket collections will take place from the Thomond Park Ticket Office in the East Stand between 9am and 12pm on Sunday. The Thomond Park ticket office is also open on Good Friday and Saturday from 10am-2pm.

Turn Thomond Red

Come to the ground early and join in the pre match build up! The East Stand’s “Dug Out” will be open from 10am with the “Amadáns & Bodhráns” providing entertainment before and after the game.

Match programmes will be on sale for €;5 from booths inside and outside the stadium.

Munster Rugby are pulling out all the stops this weekend, with a comprehensive pre match programme to entertain fans ahead of the Heineken Cup quarter final clash with Ospreys.

Supporters are asked to bring along your Munster flags and help TURN THOMOND RED. Thousands of flags have been handed out throughout the season and we are asking people to dig them out and bring them along! 

The carnival themed activities will kick off when the gates open, with the Munster Stripe Crew on hand to put Munster Red stripes on the faces of arriving Munster supporters. It is hoped that thousands of Munster fans will have their faces painted on the day. Don’t be shy- the specially designed Fanbrush is quick and easy to use, and our crew will be on hand to ensure you wear your colours with pride!!

This Sunday you will be greeted at the stadium by stilt characters including the Arcana Carnival Queen, unicyclists, jugglers and acrobats, with Murty also up to his usual antics!

On the pitch, the entertainment will kick off 1 hour before kick off with the Munster Rugby Supporters Club Choir, which has grown in numbers to well over 40 singers, leading the pre match entertainment, to be joined by Limerick tenor Derek Moloney for some truly passionate performances of some of Munster’s favourite songs.

We are breaking new ground in Thomond Park on Sunday with the Meteor Award nominated FRED performing in Thomond Park for the first time. With the first two singles, Running and Skyscrapers, taking over the national airwaves simultaneously, their live reputation and fanbase has grown at a rapid pace, enlisting droves into the Fred army, everywhere they go. Do not miss it!

The powerful Arcana drummers will once again perform on the pitch, in their own unique Celtic rock style, with members of the Munster Rugby Supporters Club forming a Guard of Honour for teams. Hold onto your hats when Munster take to the field as Thomond marks their arrival in style!

At half time, the Toyota Catch for Cash competition returns, with all money raised being donated to the Irish Cancer Society- oh and there might be a special guest or two!

Travel Details…. Please arrive early and allow sufficient time for your journey. Please respect all local parking restrictions.

Patrons are also strongly advised not to travel out to the venue as parking in and around the vicinity of Thomond Park will be severely restricted. Patrons are advised to utilise City Centre car parking areas and Park & Ride facilities in Limerick and either walk out to Thomond Park or avail of the Shuttle Bus service out to the Stadium.

As always Bus Eireann are running a shuttle bus service directly from Henry St. (besides Dunnes Stores) to Thomond Park Stadium from 11am – 12.30pm. A nominal fee is charged on board.

All Limerick City car parks will be in operation at reduced rates up to 6pm.

Travel by Train from Cork to Limerick – train times are listed below.

Iarnrod Eireann is delighted to advise all Munster Rugby Supporters that a special train will depart Kent Station, Cork on Sunday, 12th April 2009 at 09.35hrs and serve Mallow (09.58hrs), Charleville (10.15hrs) and travel direct to Colbert Station, Limerick arriving at 11.00hrs. Kick-Off is at 13.00hrs.

The Special train will return from Colbert Station, Limerick at 16.45hrs and travel direct to Kent Station, Cork serving Charleville and Mallow.

To facilitate everyone – Including Rugby Fans wishing to watch the Leinster v Harlequins game on TV – Munster Rugby Supporters can (if they wish) return to Cork on any of the following trains from Limerick on Sunday afternoon.

For example:

Depart Limerick Station at: 14.55hrs, 16.45hrs (Special Direct Train), 16.55hrs, 18.55hrs and 19.55hrs.

Reservations are essential and Iarnrod Eireann is asking all Munster Rugby Supporters to book their rail tickets on-line at www.irishrail.ie

A new Park & Ride facility is in operation from The Limerick Racecourse for all matches at Thomond Park starting with the Leinster match this weekend.

The racecourse can facilitate up to 2000 vehicles and this service will be operated by Mike Hyman Coaches. Departures will commence at 4pm on Saturday and the return fare will be €;10 per person.

This operator is also operating Park & Ride services from the Kilmurry Lodge Hotel on the Dublin Road and from the Radisson Hotel on the Ennis Road. These services commence at 4.30pm and return fare is €;5 per person.