Limerick: History, Markets and Green Breaks

Limerick combines medieval history with culture, park life and different ways to discover the city. When choosing a holiday rental, it is worth deciding on your priorities first: should your trip focus mainly on city experiences, or would you also like to include destinations in the wider Limerick area? The city and its surrounding region offer a range of themes to shape your holiday.

History and routes around the city

King John’s Castle in the medieval quarter brings more than 800 years of local history to life. King’s Island, the medieval heart of the city, is also a focus of self-guided tours of Limerick. Ways to experience the medieval sights include walks, carriage rides and kayaking tours—offering different perspectives on the city, depending on the kind of exploration that interests you.

The “Explore Limerick: Stories, Streets & Heritage” tour is a 90-minute walk through the city centre and covers a variety of surfaces. You can factor its duration into your plans for the day; the changing terrain is also worth bearing in mind when planning this walk. Thomond Park offers a different kind of insight: behind-the-scenes tours give visitors access to areas normally reserved for players and coaches. The experience also includes an interactive Thomond Park Museum. As the availability of individual tours may change, it is advisable to check the latest details before visiting.

The park and market as city experiences in their own right

The People’s Park, Limerick’s central park, is ideal for picnics and walks and has a children’s playground. Spending time outdoors adds another way to enjoy the city, alongside its historic and guided experiences.

With almost 50 stalls and 21 shop units, the Limerick Milk Market offers a glimpse of market life. Its offerings include fresh local produce, artisan foods and crafts. The mix of stalls may change. Your plans here can therefore focus on different interests than at the castle, on a tour or in the park: local produce and crafts.

The wider Limerick area

Beyond the city, the wider Limerick area offers landscapes and destinations for day trips, each with its own character. The 40-kilometre, car-free Limerick Greenway is suitable for walking and cycling. It connects the landscape of West Limerick with Rathkeale, Ardagh, Newcastle West, Templeglantine and Abbeyfeale and can be reached via several access points. As the access arrangements may change, check the current access points when planning your visit. Along the Greenway, Barnagh Tunnel is 115 metres long, and Ferguson’s Viaduct is a cast-iron viaduct.

For more landscape experiences, Curraghchase Forest Park has more than 300 hectares of rolling parkland, mixed woodland and lakes. For cyclists, the Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Trails in the south of County Limerick offer 98 kilometres of trails. These are different options: a car-free route for walking and cycling, and a network of mountain bike trails.

Culture and archaeology also shape the regional offering. Lough Gur is of international importance for its rich archaeology and environment. At Lakeshore Park, you can take guided or self-guided tours of the exhibition, as well as individually arranged guided tours of the archaeological monuments; tour arrangements may change. In Newcastle West, Desmond Banqueting Hall is one of the most impressive surviving medieval halls in western Limerick. At Adare, access to Desmond Castle is only available on a guided tour departing from the Adare Heritage Centre; check the latest arrangements in advance.

The Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum explores Foynes’ role in establishing commercial transatlantic passenger flights. A 3D hologram show recreates the evening in 1943 when Irish Coffee was first served in Foynes. You can also try the drink at its original location.

Choose the right focus for your holiday rental

If you want your trip to focus on city history, the market and the park, tailor your search for a holiday rental to Limerick as a city destination. If the Greenway, landscapes or regional culture are your main interests, include these destinations when considering the right focus for your holiday. This way, your decision starts with the experiences that interest you, rather than with a general idea of where you should stay.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Croom, Rathkeale, Tuogh, Abbeyfeale, Bruff, Templeglantine, Adare, Galbally

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