USUALLY WHEN A sports person leaves a long term club – or any club if you’re Samuel Eto’o – they make a grand gesture to the fans, thanking them for their support down the years.

But in Limerick it seems to be the other way.

If you were in any doubt as to the impact Paul O’Connell has had for both Munster and his home city, Limerick City and County Council have answered it.

The council have erected a gigantic poster in the middle of the city, emblazoned with a #ThanksPaulie hashtag, and the phrase ‘Limerick Born and Red’, as the Munster legend prepares to complete his move to Toulon after the World Cup.

The poster, spanning the width of Brown Thomas, right in the heart in the city centre, was put up overnight and is sure to tug at the heartstrings of any Munster fan walking down the appropriately named O’Connell Street (Daniel, not Paul. Although I’m sure something could be arranged).

The poster has already been getting a huge reaction in the city.

We don’t know how long it’s due to stay up, but we can’t see anybody objecting to it staying there permanently.

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