City fears a drop kick from fans

The Times April 20, 2006
City fears a drop kick from fans
By A Correspondent

By Sunday afternoon half of Limerick will have travelled across Ireland to watch Munster play Leinster in the semi-final of the rugby union Heineken Cup, but Diarmuid Scully, the mayor, has begged the fans not to stay in Dublin overnight. He fears their absence will threaten Limerick’s status as a city.

An exodus of 20,000 fans is expected on the day Ireland’s four-yearly population census is taken. Mr Scully wants them to return straight home after the match to ensure that the count is an accurate reflection of the Limerick population.

If too many fans dally in Dublin, the true figure of about 54,000 could drop below the 50,000 threshold that determines city status. At stake is a potential loss of €3 million (£2 million) in European grants.

End Story

Or an alternative viewpoint (not the view of the Times, Irish Asia or the poster)
http://www.blather.net/zeitgeist/archives/2006/04/limerick_in_danger_of_being_br.html