What to see in Limerick

Limerick

Ireland It has some really beautiful landscapes and also an ancient history, so a trip there combines many interesting things. Also, it is a small country so it is not difficult at all to get around.

An interesting destination is in the west of Ireland and is called Limerick, an elegant and century-old city that rests on the banks of the River Shannon. let's meet today what to see in Limerick.

Limerick

limerick center

It is on the banks of the River Shannon and its history goes back at least to the Vikings, who arrived to colonize the area around the year 800 AD. Later, the Normans would pass by, leaving clear and important architectural traces, and of course, in the long run, the English. It is a modest sized city and country It is the third city in number of inhabitants.

Ireland has a history of poverty and Limerick has been no exception, seeing some development and growth in the '90s. Today, although it is not among the most visited destinations in the country, I believe that it should not be missed.

What to see in Limerick

thomond park

What do we start our list with? what to see in Limerick? Knowing that the most important thing in the city is located in the center so you have everything at hand. We talk about architectural and heritage legacy left throughout history. Here you will find, for example, the elegant King John Castle, built in 1212, the Limerick City Museum, St. Mary's Cathedral from 1168, the University of Limerick, some Georgian houses, gardens, the Treaty Stone and the hunting museum

limerick castle

Let's go in parts, then. He King John's Castle it has to do with the infamous King John from the stories we know about Robin Hood. It was built in the thirteenth century and is the medieval heart of the city. It is a beautiful and very well preserved norman castle, perhaps one of the best in Europe, recently renovated with some exhibits and interactive activities.

You can participate in medieval games, archery and cavalry, take a walk inside or have a coffee in the friendly cafeteria or take the best photos from its walls. The visit lasts around two hours and is usually open from 9:30 am to 5 pm.

hunt museum

El hunt museum It has quite an eclectic collection drawn from the amassed collection of John and Gertrude Hunt. You will see old things Greece and Rome, modern art and Irish relics from the Neolithic, including the famous antrim cross. And it has a great restaurant with views of the city and the river. Closed on Mondays and open the rest of the days from 10 am to 5 pm.

La Cathedral of Santa María It was founded in 1168 in a palace that was donated by the King of Munster, Donald Mor O'Brien. It is said that the west gate of the temple was part of that old palace. The truth is that a beautiful building that you can visit for free at noon.

Cathedral of Santa María

If you are a fan of beer you can visit the Treaty Distillery on Nocholas street. It is a micro distillery and everything is made with local ingredients. Another site related to local gastronomy is el Milk Market, a true local institution that is organized every weekend and where you can see and try fresh fish, dairy products, sauces and even see and buy various things, as a flea market is added.

St Foynes Maritime Museum

El Foynes Flying Boat Maritime Museum is on the outskirts of the city and takes you right back to the 30s and 40s when that town, Foynes, was a center of transatlantic transport. You will see the replica of a Boeing 314 seaplane. It is also the place where the famous “irish coffee” was born, since it was prepared for the passengers who were waiting, cold, to take one of those planes.

Another museum is the limerick museum, which brings together a large collection of the city's past with more than 6 archaeological objects, including a mummified cat and a segment of the largest meteorite that fell in Great Britain. Open Monday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm and closes at noon from 1 to 2 pm. It is free entry.

limerick murals

Walking through the city itself is something you must do because it is the best way to observe and learn about it. You will come across, for example, the route of the Street Art Trail, a street famous because here artists leave their mark in eclectic murals.

If you go with children, it is recommended to download the Adventure Walks application which gives us a collection of treasure hunts One to two kilometer long designed for mini explorers aged 4-15 through 12 locations in Limerick.

limerick museum

If you like landscapes then you cannot miss the views and walks around the Lough Gur, walk in which you will run into megalithic tombs, forts, ancient burial grounds and menhirs. The people of Limerick say that here lives the king of fairies on Knockadoon Hill, but you can learn it all at the Lough Gur Visitor Centre, shaped like a crannog.

ballyhoura

If you have a bike, motorbike or car you can follow the Ballyhoura Way, a 90 kilometer route which is part of the famous O'Sullivan Trail, a dangerous route that the O Sùileabhàin Bhèara clan used to escape their enemies after the Battle of Kinsale. It starts at the train station, goes past Liscarroll Castle and is beautiful.

For green landscapes, so typically Irish, there is the Curraghase Forest Park, 313 hectares of forests, parks and lakes. It was once the property of the poet Sir Aubrey de Vere and today has a 8-mile trail to enjoy.

Lough Gur

And just half an hour from Limerick is the historic village of adare on the banks of the Maigue River. There is no visit to Limerick without knowing Adare as it is a postcard village. There's the glorious XNUMXth century Adare Manor, with terraced cottages where the manor's workers once lived, the ruins of three old monasteries and the Adare Historic Centre. Adare is said to be the prettiest village in Ireland.

Adare

On the outskirts you can also see the Desmond Castle and Banqueting Hall, in Newcastle West, once the home of the Dukes of Esmond, beautiful and well preserved. Admission is free. And if you like boating you can always do a boat trip on the Shannon estuary. This walk connects Limerick, Kerry and Clare and covers 207 kilometres. lets you see three counties in one day.

Finally, if your idea is to know a lot then you can buy the Discover Limerick Pass. There are three versions, one, two or three days: 45, 55 and 65 euros per adult.


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