WATCH: Alarm bells go off at company on Limerick border as the heat is on
THE CRAIC has been truly mighty at one local company - which has many staff from both Limerick and Clare!
EI Electronics, based in the Shannon Industrial Estate, employs more than 1,000 people manufacturing smoke alarms.
Many hundreds of people travel on the N18 from the city to south-east Clare for their day of work.
And as the Banner prepare to face off with the Treaty this weekend, people were wearing their county colours with pride as company bosses held a special colours day among its staff.
Mick Guinee, the chairman and chief executive of EI Electronics said: “I'd say we have 40% of our staff from Limerick with the rest from Clare, so there's always a fair bit of slagging. The atmosphere is building up nicely.”
While the vast majority of staff were dressed in green or yellow, Mick cut a solitary figure in red-and-white hoops, a nod to his native Cork, who of course were vanquished by Limerick last time out.
As for his prediction?
“I reckon Clare can do it. I think Clare like that pitch (TUS Gaelic Grounds) and Limerick don't like that pitch as much,” he said.
As you can imagine, his prediction of a Clare win was met with howls of disgust from the Limerick contingent!
Norwood Park man Jordan Halvey said: “An easy Limerick win. Where have Clare finished the last couple of years?”
Jordan will watch the game in the Clare End of Tus Gaelic Grounds, saying: “You'll get whatever tickets you can get for this one!”
And Dolores Meehan of Kileely added: “Limerick for the win - I'm 100% about that!”
Sadly, she has missed out on a golden ticket, but will watch the game in a pub.
Having already dispatched Limerick once this season at the Ennis Road venue, confidence was running high among the Clare fans for a repeat.
Barry McMahon from the village of Coolmeen, a place he described as the “home of hurling” predicted a 15-point Banner win.
“It's obvious - we are going to bate Limerick and that's that,” he laughed.
His friend Gavin Marrinan from Corofin was a little more modest, forecasting a 1-2 victory.
There was a mad scramble for terrace tickets on Thursday last, but there was no such stress for Gavin, his season ticket ensuring he was “sleeping soundly” as the queues formed at shops across Limerick and Clare.
Frances Keogh from Sixmilebridge and Catherine O'Connell, who lives in Shannon, but hails from Ballynanty Beg will put their long-time friendship on hold while the game is on this Sunday.
But regardless of the outcome, they've promised that afterwards, they'll throw their arms around each other!”
Both women predicted wins for their respective counties.
Catherine said: “I'm married to a Clare man, and all my children and grandchildren are from Clare. But your loyalties are still where you were born and reared - so I'll always be a Limerick woman at heart!”
She added there is always “brilliant banter” at EI when Limerick face Clare - be it in hurling, football or tiddlywinks!