London Irish are back in action at the Madejski Stadium for the 19th instalment of the iconic St Patrick’s Party fixture on Saturday 28 March. Northampton Saints will be the visitors for the last ever occasion of its kind in the Thames Valley.
With non-stop entertainment in the supporter village before and after the game, the day has become a standout event in the rugby calendar, attracting people from all over Britain and Ireland to come and enjoy the craic!
Here’s some handy information and a taste of what to expect on the day:
SUPPORTER VILLAGE
The Supporter Village will be situated in the Blue (VIP) car park, opposite the Ticket Office and hospitality reception. The village will be open from midday.
Food & Drink
- Guinness bar
- Heineken bar
- West Berkshire Brewery Ale
- A variety of street food vendors
- St Patrick’s Distillery Irish coffees and bottles for sale
- Fines Master Gin ‘Sin Bin’, selling G&T’s and bottles
- Sweet Dreams Pick n Mix
- Hot drinks and soft drinks available from the concourse bars in the North Stand
Entertainment
There’s something for everyone with a host of activities and entertainment for all ages.
- TrackStars Electric Karting
- The MacManus Brothers and Fionnghuala Devereaux performing live before the match, with Miracle Cure performing after the match
- Sets from DJ Minty
- Full motion simulator with Red Arrows, Rally Car and Rollercoaster rides
- Giveaways and competitions
- Face painting and glitter tattoos
- Tricky the Twister balloon modelling
- Inflatables including bungee run, rodeo rugby ball and bouncy castle
- Rugby skills and games including Speed Cage and Passing Challenge
- Meet and greet with first team players
- Merchandise unit with a huge BLK sale and the exclusive St Patrick’s Party shirt on sale
In the stadium
As well as the Round 15 Gallagher Premiership clash against Northampton Saints, you can look forward to the following entertainment from the comfort of your seat:
- Fields of Athenry performed by the St Patrick’s Community Choir and led by Ronan MacManus in the build up to kick-off
- Performance from the Viv O’Gara School of Irish Dance at half-time
- Zorb racing
TICKETS
- Tickets are available from £32 for adults and £9 for kids if you book in advance by clicking here or calling 0118 968 1016
- Family tickets are available from just £54 for two adults and two concessions, working out at only £13.50 each.
- There is a group booking discount of 20% for ten or more adults who book together. The discount will automatically apply online if the criteria is met.
- All ticket prices increase by £3 on the day.
- Places in hospitality are extremely limited, contact the team via [email protected] to find out what’s still available.
GET INVOLVED
- If you would like a message displayed on the big screen, please email [email protected] on or before Wednesday 25 March.
- Ever wanted to try zorbing?! Here’s your chance! If you and a friend want to take part in zorb race at half-time, email [email protected] on or before Monday 23 March with your names and ages to enter!
TRAVEL
At present there are no major roadworks or planned engineering works on the trains that will affect routes to Reading. The club is keeping an eye on all major networks and will update supporters of any potential travel disruptions.
By car
Parking is available to purchase on arrival at a cost of £10, subject to availability. Pre-booked parking is available in the Red Zone online, and will go off sale three working days before each fixture to allow enough time to post your permit. To pre-book parking, please call 0118 968 1016 or click here.
The Madejski Stadium can be approached from the A33 Reading Relief Road which links to the M4 Motorway. Exit the M4 at Junction 11 heading for Reading on the A33. At the first roundabout, take the 2nd left onto the Reading Relief Road, passing the Stadium on your left. At the next roundabout (past McDonalds) take the first left onto Northern Way and follow signs to car parks. Click here for a map.
Park & Ride
The Mereoak Park & Ride operates from just south of Junction 11 on the M4. Buses accept contactless payment and the fares are £4.50 for an adult, £2.20 for a child and £5.50 for a family ticket (up to five people). The cost of parking is included in your bus ticket.
By public transport
Reading Buses operate a frequent R1 service between the Southwest Interchange bus station by Reading Station and the Madejski Stadium on match days.
Buses depart from the Southwest Interchange up to 3 hours before kick-off and work as a frequent service until roughly 20 minutes before kick-off.
Returning from the Madejski, services depart from Northern Way after full-time and operate for around two and a half hours.
SECURITY
Please be aware stewards will be carrying out bag checks on entry to the stadium. We encourage you to only bring a bag if necessary and to leave extra time to enter the stadium. Please note that alcohol is not permitted to be brought into the stadium.
Ad Space