Limerick: The true sports capital

AS the wintry nights look to be leaving us, the time for outdoor sport to return has arrived. With the return of the much missed sun, comes the return of more sport. Speaking to a non Limerick reporter at the Ireland rugby game last week, I was asked, “Why is Limerick the sporting capital of Ireland, sure ye never win anything?” It was only when I started to ream off sports in Limerick which have been successful, did the reporter in question stop me to apologise for his lack of knowledge.

You see, Limerick, the sporting city, is a tag line that Limerick people have given to their own patch. It is not a label that has been presented to us. It is not an award that we have to submit for every year. It is just fact.

It is easy to look at inter county GAA teams, FAI Soccer teams and Munster rugby and say that success is limited. What some people, even in this city do not realise, is that there are far more strings to this city’s bow that we will ever know.

One of the more daunting parts of my job is to try and cover all the sports that are out there. This of course is impossible. Looking at this week’s club corner alone shows the variety of sport that Limerick people contest on a weekly basis.

With the Special Olympics coming here in June, a Heineken Cup quarter final here in April, the JP Mc Manus Pro-Am in July, The European Strongman League in June, the Limerick FC season starting in March, the hurling and football championships kicking off in May, the Triahtlons, the Great Limerick run, the Powerlifting Championship, the Weightlifing  contests, the athletics, the basketball, the golf. . .

I could go on and on. With more shop closures and job losses in the city and county again this week, maybe the government should take a look at what Limerick is good at. Sport. Maybe when they get around to helping the people out, they should make this the true sporting capital and invest some capital.