Leinster on tour, having a laugh

Neil3030

The thought just struck me there, why do Leinster only play home games in Dublin? Imo if they were to play a few games around the province each year it would do wonders to bolster province wide support, and reduce the degree to which rugby fans and players from the likes of Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois etc feel disenfranchised from what many perceive as a solely Dublin-oriented organisation.

Yeah yeah, many of the Leinster people who support Munster are only jumping on a bandwagon, but I sympathise with genuine rugby fans who just don’t perceive Leinster as making any effort to let them feel as if they are part of the team in any way.

Keep in mind also that Shaggy and Kearney are from Louth, D’Arcy’s from Wexford, Heaslip’s from Kildare (well, born in Israel, but that’d be pushing it) and Jackman and O’Brien are from Carlow. So it’s not like the team is not critically dependant on talent from outside of Dublin.

Podge_irl

They do some pre-season training sessions and meet and greet days around the provinces, but where would they play matches? Are there any suitable stadia around the province? Dublin has the biggest support base and is the easiest place to get to for most of the province, its the transport hub after all. More to the point, it home advantage is an important factor in games and Leinster would be loathe to give that up (many teams have moved one-off games with rather poor consequences).

remus808

Neil3030 wrote: »

The thought just struck me there, why do Leinster only play home games in Dublin? Imo if they were to play a few games around the province each year it would do wonders to bolster province wide support, and reduce the degree to which rugby fans and players from the likes of Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois etc feel disenfranchised from what many perceive as a solely Dublin-oriented organisation.

Yeah yeah, many of the Leinster people who support Munster are only jumping on a bandwagon, but I sympathise with genuine rugby fans who just don’t perceive Leinster as making any effort to let them feel as if they are part of the team in any way.

Keep in mind also that Shaggy and Kearney are from Louth, D’Arcy’s from Wexford, Heaslip’s from Kildare (well, born in Israel, but that’d be pushing it) and Jackman and O’Brien are from Carlow. So it’s not like the team is not critically dependant on talent from outside of Dublin.

Off the top of my head, the first reason is it's not financially viable.

joey54

Essentially Leinster Rugby is a business and for them to go touring around the province just wouldn't achieve anything in the greater scheme of things, it would probably end up costing them money.

Rics

Agreed, it is the transport hub and the eaasiest to get to for the majority of fans. Perhaps there are other ways they could increase their support province wide?

thehighground

I could never understand why they didn't move to Clondalkin (the IRFU has land there) which would have made for easy access from the rest of the province and right next door to Tallaght (pop. 100,000) which is greater than Limerick.

Paulw

If there was a suitable stadium, then maybe they would.

The RDS is a fairly good venue - transport links (bus, rail), in Dublin (central to the province) and already has a large population base.

Can't really see a good reason for them to need to consider moving around.

Darlie

No stadium elsewhere in Leinster could cater for even the most irrelevant of Magners matches. They do a trip around the province for a couple of pre season training sessions, but often on weekdays where the only publicity surrounding it is in the actual clubs themselves.
And its the very same clubs who can point out the reasons behind the apathy that many show towards 'brand Leinster'. This was highlighted in the build up to the semi final - the supporters club members of Leinster Rugby were given 6 tickets, with what was left distributed amongst the clubs. The senior clubs, regardless of playing numbers or membership figures, receiving the lions share and the rest divvied out to the backwaters. In Munster, supporters club members got one ticket, then the clubs got their share. In my opinion, one provincial branch acknowledged the value of maintaining genuine links with clubs around the province, one didn't. The the bigwigs in Leinster then notified the clubs that their international allocation would be cut if a Munster supporter was found sitting in one of that clubs allocated seats!!
As you can guess, I'm a member of one of these Leinster clubs, and we have had to put up with basic discrimination from the Leinster Branch for years. To have the gall to then lament why rugby fans around the province aren't buying into their brand shows how far from reality they are.

Gelio

In fairness they do sometimes train in different places around Leinster

ALH-06

Leinster is now one of the top 5 best supported teams in Europe, whose support is growing steadily year on year. Moving matches out to other counties where there is little support for rugby / to where genuine fans cannot easily travel would be absolutely devastating to the club culture, and coffers.

Irish people make loads of trips around the country / over to UK supporting their GAA & soccer teams - if they're not prepared to do the same for rugby, that's their choice.

anonymous_joe

thehighground wrote: »

I could never understand why they didn't move to Clondalkin (the IRFU has land there) which would have made for easy access from the rest of the province and right next door to Tallaght (pop. 100,000) which is greater than Limerick.

How the fúck do you get to Clondalkin at rush hour on a Friday night?

Donnybrook, the RDS and Lansdowne are all accessible enough if you live in Dublin and close to the support base.

Do Munster play outside of Musgrave or Thomond? You play near your fans and where you've a stadium.

thehighground

anonymous_joe wrote: »

How the fúck do you get to Clondalkin at rush hour on a Friday night?

Luas, Bus, car - like everyone else in Leinster who doesn't live in Dublin 2/4.
Probably more people live in Tallaght/Clondalkin than in Dublin 2/4. Certainly would have a lot of younger people.

Donnybrook, the RDS and Lansdowne are all accessible enough if you live in Dublin and close to the support base.

So its a South Dublin team then?

Do Munster play outside of Musgrave or Thomond? You play near your fans and where you've a stadium.

Munster play in 2 venues at opposite end of the province. No one has suggested that Leinster do more than that.


You trying to wind people up here ?

Podge_irl

thehighground wrote: »

So its a South Dublin team then?

The RDS is easy to get to from North Dublin - far bloody easier then Clondalkin from where I live anyway.

There is no valid reason why Leinster should move.

thehighground

Podge_irl wrote: »

The RDS is easy to get to from North Dublin - far bloody easier then Clondalkin from where I live anyway.

The same level of difficulty applies for people from Clondalkin/Tallaght trying to get to Dublin 2/4 from Clondalkin/Tallaght.

There is no valid reason why Leinster should move.

With that attitude, don't be surprised if Leinster doesn't get the full support of the entire Province.

Royal Seahawk

Neil3030 wrote: »

The thought just struck me there, why do Leinster only play home games in Dublin? Imo if they were to play a few games around the province each year it would do wonders to bolster province wide support, and reduce the degree to which rugby fans and players from the likes of Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois etc feel disenfranchised from what many perceive as a solely Dublin-oriented organisation.

Yeah yeah, many of the Leinster people who support Munster are only jumping on a bandwagon, but I sympathise with genuine rugby fans who just don’t perceive Leinster as making any effort to let them feel as if they are part of the team in any way.

Keep in mind also that Shaggy and Kearney are from Louth, D’Arcy’s from Wexford, Heaslip’s from Kildare (well, born in Israel, but that’d be pushing it) and Jackman and O’Brien are from Carlow. So it’s not like the team is not critically dependant on talent from outside of Dublin.

It's simple really, the interest isn't there. Btw, Shane Horgan is from Meath.

Podge_irl

thehighground wrote: »

With that attitude, don't be surprised if Leinster doesn't get the full support of the entire Province.

Go on so, give me one valid reason why Leinster should move their ground to Clondalkin.

The same level of difficulty applies for people from Clondalkin/Tallaght trying to get to Dublin 2/4 from Clondalkin/Tallaght.

Not really. I would wager its easier for them to get to D4 then it is for me to get to Clondalkin (me not living anywhere near D4). The RDS is on the DART line which opens it up to a huge number of people. Clondalkin is a pain in the hole to get to and doesn't have the proper transport links.

anonymous_joe

thehighground wrote: »

Luas, Bus, car - like everyone else in Leinster who doesn't live in Dublin 2/4.
Probably more people live in Tallaght/Clondalkin than in Dublin 2/4. Certainly would have a lot of younger people.

Large population of people. Low population of rugby fans methinks.

So its a South Dublin team then?

Yeah. And I hate poor people. Fúck them.

Of course it's fúcking not. It's in a location near town, with ready access to public transport, (just) acceptable parking, plenty of pubs. Pretty much perfect.

Munster play in 2 venues at opposite end of the province. No one has suggested that Leinster do more than that.


You trying to wind people up here ?

Munster play in Limerick and Cork. Why aren't they preaching to the unwashed masses of Kerry. (And I've family from Kerry I'm allowed complain about how little the Munster team does to embrace Kerry. And I know that's a crock of shít, but it's the kind of groundless bullshít people make up so they can justify supporting a winning team at the expense of their own team.

thehighground wrote: »

The same level of difficulty applies for people from Clondalkin/Tallaght trying to get to Dublin 2/4 from Clondalkin/Tallaght.

Clondalkin/Tallaght is not the only part of Dublin. The Dart line goes near the stadiums Leinster play in. There's regular busses from town and too town, and it's also in easy walking distance from town.

With that attitude, don't be surprised if Leinster doesn't get the full support of the entire Province.

Where would you like Leinster to play? Wexford? Westmeath? Munster has two major population centres, Leinster has one. Like all regional teams they play in their population centre. This is like criticising the Waratahs for playing in Sydney, or the Reds for playing in Brisbane.

Photojoe

Clondalkin...jesus wept. The RDS is fine. City venues are always much nicer. Easier to access for the 1million plus who live in and around the city.

Plus there is the fact that so many knobs on the outer reaches of Leinster refuse to support the team, so they are hardly going to accomodate the rest of them.

[Jackass]

Kildare GAA were / are planning on building a shiny new stadium of 12 - 15k as far as I know (if not more) which I always hoped to see Leinster play in. Geographically it's a big province (just like the other 3) and I think they should have 2 bases to reflect this.

Dublin is sorted with Donnybrook, RDS & Lansdowne to facilitate games of every nature, but I do think Kildare, Meath, Wexford or Kilkenny should have a sports ground developed to facilitate Leinster games also!

Dodge

[Jackass] wrote: »

Kildare GAA were / are planning on building a shiny new stadium of 12 - 15k as far as I know (if not more) which I always hoped to see Leinster play in.

Hmmmm GAA ground...

Photojoe

[Jackass] wrote: »

Kildare GAA were / are planning on building a shiny new stadium of 12 - 15k as far as I know (if not more) which I always hoped to see Leinster play in. Geographically it's a big province (just like the other 3) and I think they should have 2 bases to reflect this.

Dublin is sorted with Donnybrook, RDS & Lansdowne to facilitate games of every nature, but I do think Kildare, Meath, Wexford or Kilkenny should have a sports ground developed to facilitate Leinster games also!

So we should just divert funds to build 4-5 10K stadiums that will be used 1-2 times a year. GAA grounds will always be off bounds,.

[Jackass]

Ah ya can live and hope with GAA - that might be all it is though, hope.

As for 4 or 5 stadiums, nah, there's an OR in there somewhere, any one of them would be good. 10k stadium would be nice.

Leinster need to get their sh*t together though with grounds....Donnybrook has turned out to be a white elephant (although has worked out very nicely as a training facility and home to the "A" team as well as schools rugby) and RDS lease will see us there for some time with Lansdowne our home for the bigger matches, so the timining is good to develop a hub deeper in the province.

Munster are looking down the line and doing a very nice job with Musgrave for reletivley small budget and Thomond is a fantastic job on a relevtivley small budget also.

Neil3030

I never suggested Leinster move their ground permanently, just give up one or two home games a year to play around Leinster, in places like Laois, Kilkenny, Carlow etc.

So far the attitude has been pretty much: f*** them, too expensive/not economical and how would I get there. This, to me, really sums up why Leinster have embarrassingly low levels of support in the province outside of Dublin, and why the LB were so nervous that tickets allocated to the clubs in the HC semi-final would end up going to Munster supporters.

I've news for everyone, Leinster is not an autonomous business. They, like every province, receive a grant from the IRFU (to the tune of millions) each year. The 10-15 home games in the RDS at an average attendence of 10-15k would not come close to generating the income needed to pay the squad and staff, so citing lost revenues as a reason for not having a few games outside of D4 each year is an absolute fallacy.

There is a wealth of talent to be tapped throughout this province, but with such elitist gestures like "ah sure we'll give them the odd training session or a pre-season friendly or two", I think the LB are failing miserably in generating goodwill towards Leinster, which could really serve to supplement any growing interest in the sport.

Photojoe

Neil3030 wrote: »

I never suggested Leinster move their ground permanently, just give up one or two home games a year to play around Leinster, in places like Laois, Kilkenny, Carlow etc.

So far the attitude has been pretty much: f*** them, too expensive/not economical and how would I get there. This, to me, really sums up why Leinster have embarrassingly low levels of support in the province outside of Dublin, and why the LB were so nervous that tickets allocated to the clubs in the HC semi-final would end up going to Munster supporters.

I've news for everyone, Leinster is not an autonomous business. They, like every province, receive a grant from the IRFU (to the tune of millions) each year. The 10-15 home games in the RDS at an average attendence of 10-15k would not come close to generating the income needed to pay the squad and staff, so citing lost revenues as a reason for not having a few games outside of D4 each year is an absolute fallacy.

There is a wealth of talent to be tapped throughout this province, but with such elitist gestures like "ah sure we'll give them the odd training session or a pre-season friendly or two", I think the LB are failing miserably in generating goodwill towards Leinster, which could really serve to supplement any growing interest in the sport.

Name one other province that tours outside their city base? None of them do. Its silly talk. If Leinster had some sort of stadium ready to go in the right place then you could argue for a game or two but they don't.

RuggieBear

Neil3030 wrote: »

I never suggested Leinster move their ground permanently, just give up one or two home games a year to play around Leinster, in places like Laois, Kilkenny, Carlow etc.

which grounds? where should they play?

Neil3030

Photojoe wrote: »

Name one other province that tours outside their city base? None of them do. Its silly talk. If Leinster had some sort of stadium ready to go in the right place then you could argue for a game or two but they don't.

Why the hell do we have to wait for other provinces to do something before we do??

Photojoe

Neil3030 wrote: »

Why the hell do we have to wait for other provinces to do something before we do??

Because it would add some credibilty to what appears to be a stupid idea.

Neil3030

RuggieBear wrote: »

which grounds? where should they play?

Well off the top of my head there'd be a few LOI stadia like:

Oriel Park (12k) - Dundalk
Flancare Park (10k) - Longford

Or there's Dubarry Park, or why not at least try negotiate with the GAA?

Neil3030

Photojoe wrote: »

Because it would add some credibilty to what appears to be a stupid idea.

You don't see any use whatsoever in generating goodwill towards the province outside of Dublin?

RuggieBear

Neil3030 wrote: »

Well off the top of my head there'd be a few LOI stadia like:

Oriel Park (12k) - Dundalk
Flancare Park (10k) - Longford

Or there's Dubarry Park, or why not at least try negotiate with the GAA?

the GAA is a no no.
Unfortunately most soccer pitches are too small...they tend to have walls far to close to the playing area for player safety...even the teams in england that play in soccer grounds have much much smaller pitches than are ideal. oh and Oriel park is also astro turf (played a soccer match there the other week )

I'd love to watch Leinster play around the province but i really don't think there are suitable grounds...having said that perhaps they could use an existing rugby club in one of the bigger towns and put up temporary stands (much like the RDS). I honestly don't know of any suitable grounds tho

Neil3030

RuggieBear wrote: »

the GAA is a no no.
Unfortunately most soccer pitches are too small...they tend to have walls far to close to the playing area for player safety...even the teams in england that play in soccer grounds have much much smaller pitches than are ideal. oh and Oriel park is also astro turf (played a soccer match there the other week )

I'd love to watch Leinster play around the province but i really don't think there are suitable grounds...having said that perhaps they could use an existing rugby club in one of the bigger towns and put up temporary stands (much like the RDS). I honestly don't know of any suitable grounds tho

Would any of the colleges like Maynooth, Carlow IT, Athlone IT etc be potential candidates?

danthefan

I live way over on the Northside and Clondalkin would be much much much harder for me to get to than the RDS.

Photojoe

Neil3030 wrote: »

Would any of the colleges like Maynooth, Carlow IT, Athlone IT etc be potential candidates?

No. Dubray Park would be the only real alternative and that would be massive awkard for the vast majority of Leinster.

Serenity Now!

Neil3030 wrote: »

The thought just struck me there, why do Leinster only play home games in Dublin?

Facilities and capacity in stadium.

anonymous_joe

Neil3030 wrote: »

I never suggested Leinster move their ground permanently, just give up one or two home games a year to play around Leinster, in places like Laois, Kilkenny, Carlow etc.

So far the attitude has been pretty much: f*** them, too expensive/not economical and how would I get there. This, to me, really sums up why Leinster have embarrassingly low levels of support in the province outside of Dublin, and why the LB were so nervous that tickets allocated to the clubs in the HC semi-final would end up going to Munster supporters.

I've news for everyone, Leinster is not an autonomous business. They, like every province, receive a grant from the IRFU (to the tune of millions) each year. The 10-15 home games in the RDS at an average attendence of 10-15k would not come close to generating the income needed to pay the squad and staff, so citing lost revenues as a reason for not having a few games outside of D4 each year is an absolute fallacy.

There is a wealth of talent to be tapped throughout this province, but with such elitist gestures like "ah sure we'll give them the odd training session or a pre-season friendly or two", I think the LB are failing miserably in generating goodwill towards Leinster, which could really serve to supplement any growing interest in the sport.

If Leinster could find a stadium outside Dublin that would sit 10k or so and would be full for the game, that'd make it a potentially viable prospect. That I'd have no qualms about, though I'd be a bit annoyed to miss games.

But keep one thing in mind, most Leinster fans are well used to going to games in the RDS/D4 area. It'd be a bit of a kick in the teeth for them to host matches somewhere they can't get to.

Serenity Now!

Photojoe wrote: »

No. Dubray Park would be the only real alternative and that would be massive awkard for the vast majority of Leinster.

Dubarry Pk is the home ground of Buccaneers who are in fact under the Connacht 'jurisidiction' (their junior teams play in the Connacht leagues for example).

Serenity Now!

anonymous_joe wrote: »

If Leinster could find a stadium outside Dublin that would sit 10k or so and would be full for the game, that'd make it a potentially viable prospect

10K in this day and age considering the popularity of the province would not be enough.

anonymous_joe

Serenity Now! wrote: »

10K in this day and age considering the popularity of the province would not be enough.

I'd say to be honest, if you put Leinster in Athlone or wherever you probably wouldn't get many of the season ticket holders going though.

thehighground

Podge_irl wrote: »

Go on so, give me one valid reason why Leinster should move their ground to Clondalkin.

I'll give you a couple of reason:

1. The IRFU/Leinster branch owns land out there (so not paying rent to RDS).
2. Large local population (100,000+) - who have few sporting facilities and not really involved at the moment.
3. Has Luas line close by.
4. Close to the M50.
5. Huge difference in commuting time from places like Portlaoise, Kilkenny etc. Much better parking.
6. Less talk and more action in the 'we're not a D4' / DART club.

Not really. I would wager its easier for them to get to D4 then it is for me to get to Clondalkin (me not living anywhere near D4). The RDS is on the DART line which opens it up to a huge number of people. Clondalkin is a pain in the hole to get to and doesn't have the proper transport links.

Since I live in Tereneure, the heartland of Leinster rugby, I can assure you that it actually quite awkward to get to D4 from Terenure (2 buses). At least we'd be able to drive and get parking in Clondalkin/Tallaght. 6 of one, half a dozen of another.

Maybe that why the pubs are always full on Leinster match day up this way (but generally watching soccer unless its a Heineken Cup game).

thehighground

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Munster play in Limerick and Cork. Why aren't they preaching to the unwashed masses of Kerry. (And I've family from Kerry I'm allowed complain about how little the Munster team does to embrace Kerry. And I know that's a crock of shít, but it's the kind of groundless bullshít people make up so they can justify supporting a winning team at the expense of their own team.

I've largely answered your post elsewhere - but can I point out to you that most country people are well used to travelling a bit (30-50 K really isn't a problem).

What they do like is being able to park their cars etc though.

And Gaelic football is Kerry's religion (though they have supplied a fair few rugby greats!).

anonymous_joe

thehighground wrote: »

I'll give you a couple of reason:

1. The IRFU/Leinster branch owns land out there (so not paying rent to RDS).
2. Large local population (100,000+) - who have few sporting facilities and not really involved at the moment.
3. Has Luas line close by.
4. Close to the M50.
5. Huge difference in commuting time from places like Portlaoise, Kilkenny etc. Much better parking.
6. Less talk and more action in the 'we're not a D4' / DART club.



Since I live in Tereneure, the heartland of Leinster rugby, I can assure you that it actually quite awkward to get to D4 from Terenure (2 buses). At least we'd be able to drive and get parking in Clondalkin/Tallaght. 6 of one, half a dozen of another.

Maybe that why the pubs are always full on Leinster match day up this way (but generally watching soccer unless its a Heineken Cup game).

Getting to D6 from D4 is a complete nightmare, I've a mate who lives in Rathmines and to get there is a journey worthy of Odysseus.

But for most people, D4 has better transport links than Clondalkin.

thehighground wrote: »

I've largely answered your post elsewhere - but can I point out to you that most country people are well used to travelling a bit (30-50 K really isn't a problem).

What they do like is being able to park their cars etc though.

And Gaelic football is Kerry's religion (though they have supplied a fair few rugby greats!).

Not a country person, I'm used to getting the Dart or walking to games. ^^

Parking's usually not an issue near the RDS, there's plenty of streets within walking distance to dump a car.

Sangre

You can't sell people season tickets then start moving the club around the provinence.

Bottom line is Dublin is a transport hub, it is much easier to get to. Also, what exactly do you do after the match? Where do you eat, go out or drink?

thehighground

Sangre wrote: »

You can't sell people season tickets then start moving the club around the provinence.

Bottom line is Dublin is a transport hub, it is much easier to get to. Also, what exactly do you do after the match? Where do you eat, go out or drink?

Clondalkin & Tallaght are in Dublin.

I suppose you could always go back to the Ho Show afterwards. I, myself usually leave D4 after the match and go back to the rugby heartland of Terenure for a jar / meal!

JohnJericho

As people have said, Dublin is a transport hub and therfore the first choice for Leinster regardless of whether there are facilities elsewhere.

To the poster who said the IRFU should have built in Clondalkin, how the hell would everyone get there? I'm from the north side of Dublin and have no problems getting to the RDS. It is serviced by the DART about 4 or 5 buses and its only a 20 min walk from Stephens Green. It doesn't make any sense whatsoever for Leinster to move away from the RDS.

anonymous_joe

thehighground wrote: »

Clondalkin & Tallaght are in Dublin.

I suppose you could always go back to the Ho Show afterwards. I, myself usually leave D4 after the match and go back to the rugby heartland of Terenure for a jar / meal!

Technically Tallaght and Clondalkin aren't in Dublin, but in the county.

Ballsbridge actually is in the city.

thehighground

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Getting to D6 from D4 is a complete nightmare, I've a mate who lives in Rathmines and to get there is a journey worthy of Odysseus.

But for most people, D4 has better transport links than Clondalkin.


Not a country person, I'm used to getting the Dart or walking to games. ^^

me, me , me, me, me

Parking's usually not an issue near the RDS, there's plenty of streets within walking distance to dump a car.

Are you a car driver? I know the area (d4) quite well, having lived there for a good few years, but never bring the car over. We usually walk. (wow, that would make me a better Leinster supporter than some of the 'real' Leinster supporters that pontificate here).

Podge_irl

thehighground wrote: »

I'll give you a couple of reason:

1. The IRFU/Leinster branch owns land out there (so not paying rent to RDS).
2. Large local population (100,000+) - who have few sporting facilities and not really involved at the moment.
3. Has Luas line close by.
4. Close to the M50.
5. Huge difference in commuting time from places like Portlaoise, Kilkenny etc. Much better parking.
6. Less talk and more action in the 'we're not a D4' / DART club.

1. The IRFU/branch own land and stadia in the Donnybrook area. It also facilitates a move to Lansdowne much easier if they're already situated just nearby.
2. And they'd magically become involved in Leinster rugby just because the team build a stadium out there? Alienating your core audience just to garner a potential new one is not a wise move. The branch should (and do) work with rugby clubs in areas such as Tallaght to build up support. A move there might be viable then, but I don't see the need or the point tbh.
3. DART>>>>Luas. Being close to a DART line opens up far more of Dublin for more people then the Luas could ever do.
4. I'll admit it might be easier to get to by car, but public transport is a better option when going to matches anyway.
5. Huge difference? I wouldn't say that. Driving into the south Dublin area and then availing of public transport would be just as quick I imagine.
6. Leinster aren't a D4 club and there is nothing wrong with the stadia being there, its Leinster's heartland. People would just find some other lazy stereotype to associate with Leinster. Anyway, the fact that none of the team come from D4 doesnt stop people prattling on about it, why would moving the stadium outside of there?

Since I live in Tereneure, the heartland of Leinster rugby, I can assure you that it actually quite awkward to get to D4 from Terenure (2 buses). At least we'd be able to drive and get parking in Clondalkin/Tallaght. 6 of one, half a dozen of another.

I live on the northside and its unbelieveably easier to get to the RDS. A move to Clondalking would inconvenience far more people then it would help regarding transport.


Teams don't like moving stadia if it can be avoided. There is more to consider then just the movement of fans. New stadia eliminate some of the advantage of the home team as the players won't have played there before. Leinster are unlikely to want to give up that advantage.

This, to me, really sums up why Leinster have embarrassingly low levels of support in the province outside of Dublin

Presumably the same reason no one supports Munster outside Cork and Limerick....

There is a wealth of talent to be tapped throughout this province, but with such elitist gestures like "ah sure we'll give them the odd training session or a pre-season friendly or two", I think the LB are failing miserably in generating goodwill towards Leinster, which could really serve to supplement any growing interest in the sport.

How the **** is that elitist? Its more than some teams do. Its not as simple as just upping sticks and playing a game or two in some random grounds around the province.

anonymous_joe

thehighground wrote: »

me, me , me, me, me

Never!

Are you a car driver? I know the area (d4) quite well, having lived there for a good fews, but never bring the car over. We usually walk. (wow, that would make me a better Leinster supporter than some of the 'real' Leinster supporters that pontificate here).

Eh sort of, I can just about drive, but don't really need to. Walk to college, dart/bus to town, walk to Leinster games.

And I do live in D4, so I know the area pretty well. If the RDS or the Simmonscourt parking areas are open there are loads of spaces for fans.

thehighground

JohnJericho wrote: »

As people have said, Dublin is a transport hub and therfore the first choice for Leinster regardless of whether there are facilities elsewhere.

To the poster who said the IRFU should have built in Clondalkin, how the hell would everyone get there? I'm from the north side of Dublin and have no problems getting to the RDS. It is serviced by the DART about 4 or 5 buses and its only a 20 min walk from Stephens Green. It doesn't make any sense whatsoever for Leinster to move away from the RDS.

You make a good case for the IRFU setting up a Dublin City (DART team ) and a Leinster team for who isn't on the DART line.

thehighground

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Never!


Eh sort of, I can just about drive, but don't really need to. Walk to college, dart/bus to town, walk to Leinster games.

So, I'd hazard a guess that most people along the DART have access to a car and are not reliant on public transport.

And I do live in D4, so I know the area pretty well. If the RDS or the Simmonscourt parking areas are open there are loads of spaces for fans.

So you have no idea what its like trying to drive, park etc. around the RDS when there is a match on?

anonymous_joe

thehighground wrote: »

So, I'd hazard a guess that most people along the DART have access to a car and are not reliant on public transport.

Perhaps. But most use public transport because it's infinitely more efficient and cheaper.

So you have no idea what its like trying to drive, park etc. around the RDS when there is a match on?

I do actually. Did some driving lessons in that neck of the woods during the horse show at rush hour. :pac: