Vandals hunted after Thomond pitch destroyed
The hunt was on today for two vandals who destroyed the playing surface of one of the world’s most famous rugby grounds, Thomond Park in Limerick, where Munster conquered the mighty All Blacks.
The pitch was left in tatters after two youths scaled the stadium walls and spent an hour ripping up sods of turf and digging hundreds of holes.
The pair, dressed in hooded tops, used spades to dig 300 holes on one half of the pitch, leaving it totally unplayable.
The youths, who were caught on CCTV, broke into the ground between 5pm and 6pm yesterday evening. It is understood they gained access over the back walls of the stadium.
A Garda spokesman said the video clips had been examined and officers were confident the culprits would be caught.
Thomond Park holds great memories for rugby fans, not just in Ireland, but around the world. In 1978 it staged one of the most famous upsets, when Munster conquered the mighty All Blacks.
A spokesman for the Irish Rugby Football Union said it could take up to five days to repair the hundreds of holes, but Munster’s home game against Llanelli tomorrow week is not expected to be affected.
Pat Geraghty, Munster IRFU branch spokesman, said: “It just seems like one of those unexpected mindless acts of violence. It is a senseless act of vandalism.
“We are not aware of anything that could have happened that would lead me to believe that it was some dispute. There’s no reason we can think of, or anybody with any grudges against us, or the branch, or an individual.”
The IRFU spokesman said staff and supporters across the province had been left baffled by the attack.
“It is a disgraceful act of vandalism, it beggars belief really as to why someone would do this.
"Everyone in the Munster branch is mystified and everyone is determined to catch those responsible,” he said.
“We are gobsmacked as to why anyone would do this. It’s very unfortunate that they would do something like this to a ground like this which is steeped in history.”
The first indications the vandalism had taken place came after members of the Munster branch of the IRFU arrived at the ground last night for a special reception.
