The Best 26 Things to See and Do in Limerick, Ireland

This 510-seat, state-of-the-art theatre is at the heart of Limerick’s vibrant theatre scene. Situated on a college campus in the far south of the city, the Lime Tree plays host to drama, live music, comedy and film. Since opening in 2012, its eclectic offerings have given a huge boost to Limerick’s cultural scene. It stages both intimate and big-scale shows, and its line-up strikes a balance between local and international talent. Look out for art and crafts workshops if you want to get involved yourself.

Munster, the iconic rugby team representing Ireland’s south province, plays the majority of its home games at this smart modern stadium. Thomond Park also hosts the occasional gig for non-event days. Munster is at the very core of Limerick life, making this an essential stop-off.

Adare is a tiny picture-postcard village with a population of less than 3,000, designated as a heritage town due to the sheer volume of beautiful thatched cottages and spectacular old architecture lining its streets. Attractions include a crumbling 12th-century castle, the ornate Adare Manor (now a newly renovated hotel), two churches that date back between 600 and 800 years and a traditionally spiritual ‘fairy (ring) fort’. You’ll also find a large number of impressive little craft shops to explore.

Just outside the town of Adare (which we recommend in its own right, see below) Adare Desmond Castle is a 13th-century riverside fortress, now in ruins, sat right next to an ancient ring fort. Regular tours during the summer give an insight into the spot’s revolutionary history while an exhibition gives a sense of life at the castle through the Middle Ages.

The mythical side of Irish life (which is still fairly widely loved, if perhaps seen locally as a little clichéd) is one of the great Irish experiences for many people. Terra Nova is a magical garden that contains an ancient fairy fort dating back thousands of years, though the addition of modern fairy statues and magical touches will probably entice most visitors. Atmospheric, to say the least.

A sprawling 13th-century complex overlooking the Shannon River, King John’s Castle has a history of sieges, trade and rebellion that sits right at the heart of most of the important moments in Limerick’s past. Revamped in recent years into an impressive interactive museum, it’s a great spot designed to connect visitors with ancient life here, taking in anything from a medieval campaign tent to the sounds of the 17th Century siege on the city.

One of the city’s most prominent green spaces, the People’s Park is the place for a breather after a busy day exploring Limerick. Unveiled in 1877, the park takes after Dublin’s elegant Mountjoy Square, complete with elaborate drinking fountains, a bandstand, and trees with elephantine trunks. Perfectly located in the city centre, the park is a stone’s throw from the Newtown Pery shopping district. If you want to see it at its prettiest, stop by in spring, when the cherry and crab-apple trees are in full bloom.

Gaelic games (in particular hurling) are big in Limerick, but the real sporting passion of the county is served up by their red-clad rugby team. Munster play in a multi-national league containing teams from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy and South Africa (and often at European Championship level too). Their supporters are renowned for their passion and knowledge of the game, though their performances have been a little indifferent in recent years. The history is sensational though and includes an almost mythical ’70s contest in which the Munstermen overcame a New Zealand national team widely seen as almost invincible.

Ireland is famous for its rugged natural beauty, and the Cliffs of Moher are among the country’s finest sights. At their highest, these staggeringly dramatic cliffs reach 214 metres, and they stretch for 8km along the Atlantic coast. It might be windy at the top, but it’s worth it for the view – from here, you can see the Aran Islands, Galway Bay, as well as The Twelve Pins, the Maumturk Mountains in Connemara and Loop Head to the South. They’re also a haven for wildlife, with a colony of seabirds nesting here. The cliffs are a one-hour-and-twenty-minute drive from Limerick, and plenty of tour operators in the city offer affordable day trips.

Limerick’s most iconic shopping spot, the Milk Market, is a far cry from its conventional main streets, featuring mainly craft-loving traders, tiny playful stores, live music and a few farmers selling fruit and vegetables. A large square building with a massive tented courtyard, it has the slightly rugged feel of a mellow local hub, but, as one of the oldest markets in Ireland, its flagship Saturday foodie offerings and seasonal events are unmissable.

Boasting one of the largest collections of any Irish museum, the Limerick City Museum is a treasure-trove for anyone wanting to get to know the city’s story. Going strong since 1916, the museum has amassed an incredible 60,000 objects, including archaeological artefacts, Limerick silver, Limerick lace, examples of local printing, military artefacts and much more. The aim is simple: to tell the story of Limerick and its people. There is no charge for admission.

Limerick has a particular love of horses (in fact, there are plenty of rural spots around the city that specialise in riding, with options for lessons or trekking). Horse-drawn carriage rides, though, are one of the best ways to see the place, complete with heavily accented drivers telling stories galore as you trot about. Slow-travel heaven.

One of Limerick’s true undiscovered gems, the ancient tangled forests of Ballyhoura bustle with local hikers and bikers (the motor-free, fitness-obsessed kind) every weekend, with the lengthy trails and great places to get stuck into the surprisingly impressive local BMXing scene. With 98 kilometres of twisting routes to explore (more than anywhere else in Ireland, including the popular spots in County Wicklow), you can also rent all the equipment you need on the spot, making it a great casual adventure stop off.

This sprawling forest park lies 20km away from Limerick centre, but it’s a world away from bustling city life. Dense woodland, spanning 313 hectares, with trails for hikers and cyclists, as well as camping sites, Curraghchase is the perfect place to escape from modern life for a day or two. The entrance fee of 5 euros per car is beyond reasonable, considering the well-kept amenities on site. Be sure to check opening hours when you make your visit – gates close at 9pm in summer and 6.30pm in winter.

Not an overly impressive sight in its own right, Limerick’s Treaty Stone symbolises an agreement that ended the Williamite War. The truce didn’t last for long, and the events that led to it still echo on. It’s not an overly impressive relic in its own right, but it has fantastic views, a plaque explaining the history (which dates back to 1691) and offers a real sense of stepping back in time.

Lough Gur is not one of Ireland’s more impressive lakes, but with more than 6,000 years of history to be uncovered right on its banks, the area more than makes up for it. Local heritage and folklore here dates back to the Stone Age, and, walking around, you’ll come across two mysterious stone circles thought to date all the way back to the Neolithic period. A collection of crumbling buildings that make up a tiny old village, the great night views provided by a local ‘dark skies’ organisation and the Honey Fitz theatre are all worth exploring too.

The diverse collection of things on offer in the town of Foynes are in some senses so disparate they seem to come completely out of left field, but they’re well worth a trip. The town claims to be the original home of Irish coffee (and celebrates by serving you lots of it). It also hides a Flying Boat Museum, including a full-sized replica, in which you can explore the time of Atlantic crossings being made in shaky planes that cost a fortune. There’s also a 1940s-style afternoon tea on offer.

A garden with glorious water features in the south of County Limerick, Coolwater is inspired by mountains and Alpine flowers grow happily here. It’s not big, but anyone into quiet spots or gardening will find plenty to enjoy, from water lily ponds to serene pagodas. Nearby Rockstown Castle — visible from the garden — is worth a stop too.

This 12th Century landmark in the heart of Limerick City has essentially seen the western hub build up around it and has an astonishing depth of history to explore. St Mary’s looks a bit different now than it did 800 years ago, but you can really feel the history, especially around one door, where the marks left by besieged soldiers sharpening their swords are still clearly visible on the walls. The cathedral also sits on a former Viking meeting spot, and the tales of the famine — a devastating period of Irish history at its worst in the west — are still heart-wrenching.

An unusual little museum in Bruff, Old Irish Ways is a collection of things from the past hosted by a man with a clear passion for what he does. Curator Dennis’ oddities include an old phone box, countless branded items that have disappeared from Irish shelves, concert posters, road signs and even an entire reconstructed yesteryear pub.

Not that we’re trying to discredit Angela’s Ashes author Frank McCourt, of course, but his famous tales of Limerick in award-winning memoir Angela’s Ashes are widely disputed locally. It’s not the poverty of McCourt’s upbringing that locals take issue with (you’ll learn plenty about that, and it’s shocking), but the harshness with which he describes the Limerick community of his time. Uncover it all at the Frank McCourt Museum, which includes his former classroom.

Sat right next to St John’s Castle, Bishop’s Place is the former home of the Protestant Bishop of Limerick city and now home to the Limerick Civic Trust. That makes it both one of the main draws for those looking to learn about local architecture and one of the key sites in any such tour in its own right. Drop in to chat about buildings or grab advice on other spots to see.

As the Limerick music hub, Dolan’s is nothing short of an institution, hosting a high-quality collection of Irish and international acts passing through its doors, with almost every night featuring something new. While most of the music here is of a distinctly indie-rock or modern folk-leaning variety, there’s something for everyone. A growing recent hip-hop scene and aging trad scene happily co-exist in this vibrant bar-meets-venue. We suggest you explore the various aspects whilst sampling the substantial mix of craft beer behind the bar (or Guinness, naturally).

A decent-sized, contemporary gallery that’s free to enter, Limerick City Gallery of Art hosts a series of exhibitions spotlighting a mix of local and international talent. The permanent collection leans more heavily towards Irish talent. It’s a great spot to see the Michael O’Connor poster collection or the work of artist Jack B Yeats, brother of the poet WB Yeats.

A locally themed museum with changing displays, the Hunt Museum houses the largest private collection in Ireland, with a mixture of art, antiques and objects from early history and the establishment of the Christian church in the country. There’s a strong collection from Greece and Italy too, but it’s the local history, covered in detail through eclectic items ranging from tribal drinking horns to Celtic cross carvings, that’s the must-see.

An 1840s riverside structure that looks like a castle, the Toll House is a faux defensive structure and was designed simply to collect a payment from those travelling into the city on the river. It’s just a building, but one quirky and well located enough to be worth the stroll down the banks of the Shannon for a visit.