Limerick City, Capital of the Shannon Region, has a colorful and fascinating
history with Castles, ancient walls and museums testament to its past. Its City
Charter is older than that of London's, granted to the city in 1197 by King John.
1691 saw the capture of the city and the signing of the Treaty of Limerick. The
1800s, among other things saw the construction of St. John's Cathedral(1856) which
took over 3 years to complete. Originally built in gothic style, it has a dramatic
spire which was constructed in 1883. Throughout the late 1800s and much of the
early and middle 20th century, Limerick went through some difficult periods, times
which have been described so famously in Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes. However,
the opening of the University of Limerick, the first university established since
the independence, marked a change in the fortunes of Limerick. Many multinational
companies were attracted to the city with Dell Computers being the biggest, today
employing thousands of people from the city and county.
The Limerick of the 21st century is a busy and progressive city which is also
a seat of learning, housing the 8000 students of the University of Limerick. It
is a city of contrasts in that it has a Medieval core and an intriguing history
and yet is also a thriving commercial and tourist centre.
What to see
The Limerick City Gallery of Art: Features a permanent collection of 18th-20th
century Irish Art. An extensive temporary exhibition programme of over 40 exhibitions
a year. Open all year.
Lough Gur Stone Age Centre: This is the most important Stone Age site in Ireland.
The visitor centre, on its lakeside site, contains a display and audio-visual
show presenting the site's history. The archaeology of the area provides evidence
of the activities of the first farmers in the region. Open:1 May- 30 Sept.
King John's Castle, Located on King's Island, a visit guides the visitor from
pre-Norman times to the present day. The excavated, early defences and house sites
of pre-Norman Limerick are presented in situ and are graphically interpreted for
the visitor. The massive gate house, battlements and corner towers await exploration,
while the war machines lie silent in the courtyard. The state-of-the-art interpretation
shows how this magnificent castle operated as a centre of royal authority and
defence. Open daily, April to October, and Sundays from November to March.
deValera Museum & Bruree Heritage Centre, Bruree. Famous as the place in which
Eamon de Valera spent his boyhood. Academic, freedom-fighter, politician, statesman
and one of the outstanding figures in 20th century Ireland, deValera lived here
from the age of two and a half years. The Museum and Heritage Centre uses audio-visuals,
graphic panels, set pieces and displays of personal memorabilia to tell the story
of the village's greatest son and of the area credited with forming his character.
Open all year.
The Hunt Museum: Home to one of Ireland's greatest private collections of
art and antiquities. The collection reflects our Celtic past as well as masterpieces
by Da Vinci, Yeats and Renoir. Open: All Year
