U18 Girls Interprovincial Rugby Finals Day

Mullingar RFC’s Shay Murtagh Park hosts Finals Day of the U18 Girls Interprovincial Series on Saturday, 30 August 2026, bringing Leinster, Munster, Ulster and Connacht to Westmeath for the climax of the underage rugby season. The Interprovincial Series is the top representative competition below full Ireland underage honours, and Finals Day gathers the four provincial squads at one venue after weeks of round-robin fixtures played across the country. Mullingar has hosted the finale before and returns as host club for 2026, giving the county a rare look at some of the country’s best young rugby talent on home ground.

What to expect

With four provinces involved, Finals Day typically runs to more than one match across the afternoon, working through to a final placing, so there is a full programme of rugby rather than a single fixture. The standard on show is well above club underage level: these are girls already inside provincial development pathways, many of whom will go on to interprovincial or full underage international honours. Mullingar RFC’s grounds at Shay Murtagh Park have hosted senior AIL rugby and underage finals before, so the clubhouse, pitch-side viewing and catering are all set up for a busy representative fixture day. Expect a strong turnout of families, club coaches and IRFU officials, along with an atmosphere that leans more towards development and encouragement than the partisan edge of a club derby, since all four teams are drawn from clubs the length and breadth of the country.

Getting there

Shay Murtagh Park is on the Castlepollard Road in Cullion, on the northern edge of Mullingar town, with parking available at the grounds. Mullingar railway station has Intercity services from Dublin Connolly and Sligo, and Bus Éireann routes serve the town centre, from where the ground is a short drive.

While you’re in Mullingar

Mullingar is the county town of Westmeath, with the Royal Canal greenway and Belvedere House both within easy reach if you want to build a day out around the rugby. The town centre has plenty of cafes and restaurants for before or after the games. There is more to see in Mullingar and across Co. Westmeath.

Good to know

• Date: Saturday, 30 August 2026
• Kick-off times: various across the day, to be confirmed by the IRFU closer to the date
• Venue: Mullingar RFC, Shay Murtagh Park, Castlepollard Road, Cullion, Mullingar
• Price: gate admission, exact price not published
• Competition: IRFU U18 Girls Interprovincial Series, Finals Day