Residents living in the shadow of Thomond Park are looking for more than twice the market value of their homes as uncertainty continues over the future of Limerick's famous rugby stadium.
It emerged yesterday that local residents were recently invited to submit their own valuations on their homes as part of a feasibility study into the provision of a 26,000 capacity rugby stadium by the IRFU Munster Branch. It is understood that some residents valued their properties at more than €350,000 while property sources say their real market value is about €150,000.
Earlier this year, some 13 householders on Knocklisheen Road, Ballynanty, were offered €200,000 each by the IRFU to sell their homes adjoining Thomond Park. It was proposed that the houses would be demolished to allow the ground to double its capacity to 26,000 spectators. However, the offer was rejected by the residents.
Rugby fans feared the breakdown in negotiations could signal the closure of the ground where Munster famously beat the All-Blacks in 1978. Last month, the IRFU announced the appointment of a firm of consultant engineers to carry out a feasibility study into the proposed development as well as an examination of three other sites. However, an IRFU spokesman said yesterday the residents' valuation procedure was part of the overall feasibility study examining four possible sites.