Limerick travel guide

County Limerick is located in the province of Munster in south-west Ireland and is named after its principal city. Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the second largest in the Munster region after Cork.

Tourism is one of the main industries in the city of Limerick and its surrounding area, with holidaymakers visiting the region to see attractions such as Castle Oliver, Lough Gur and St Mary's Cathedral.

With several operators now offering ferries to Ireland, crossing the Irish Sea to explore this historic, hospitable and fascinating county has never been easier for travellers.

Getting there

One option for travellers planning to visit Limerick is catching ferries to Rosslare, which are available from Fishguard with Stena Line and from Pembroke with Irish Ferries. Rosslare is located in south-east Ireland, a short drive away from the Munster region.

LD Lines links southern Ireland to France via its new Cherbourg to Rosslare ferry service, while Brittany Ferries operates a Roscoff to Cork ferry route.

People based in northern England or north Wales can reach Ireland by using the Holyhead to Dublin ferry route served by Irish Ferries and Stena Line, or by taking a ferry to Dublin from Liverpool with P&O Ferries or Norfolkline Irish Sea.

Ferries to Ireland timetablesThings to do

Sports fans will find plenty to do in Limerick, with the Limerick County and Dromoland Castle golf clubs and the Patrickswell racecourse among the most popular attractions. Racing events take place at Patrickswell throughout the year, with the Guinness Christmas Racing Festival in the winter one of the most high-profile meetings.

The region also provides plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy nature. Curraghchase Forest Park is a woodland estate that is based around Curraghchase House, an 18th century property that once belonged to the poet Aubrey de Vere. Visitors can explore 313 hectares of forest, follow 8km of marked trails on foot or by bicycle and look out for sights such as the park's lake and arboretum. Holidaymakers who enjoy outdoor pursuits can also walk the Ballyhoura Way, which is part of the O'Sullivan Beara Trail stretching from north Cork to County Tipperary, taking in glens, woodland and other natural features along the way.

Travellers visiting Limerick will also have the opportunity to visit Adare, one of the region's most picturesque and charming villages. Located beside the river Maigue, the town boasts beautiful gardens, medieval churches, Tudor-style houses and old-fashioned cottages with thatched roofs. There is also a heritage centre that provides a fascinating insight into Adare's history.

Another destination worth visiting is the city of Limerick, which is home to attractions including the renowned Hunt Museum, which houses a collection of artworks by Pablo Picasso, Leonardo da Vinci, Auguste Renoir and other seminal figures. Limerick also has a rich history that is represented by medieval attractions such as the 800-year-old King John's Castle.

Things to see

There are many sights to see in County Limerick, ranging from the natural to the man-made. Visitors with a passion for adventurous pursuits can plan an excursion to the Ballyhoura mountains to see one of the region's most striking outdoor settings, which encompasses a number of Stone Age monuments, parks and gardens. There are several marked walking trails around the mountain range that provide an extensive tour of the area.

Another natural spectacle worth seeing is Lough Gur, a lake in Limerick that represents one of the county's most significant archaeological sites. The area is home to megalithic remains dating back thousands of years, including Grange stone circle and at least three crannogs - artificial islands that were used as dwelling places in prehistoric and medieval times. The ruins of Black Castle, a Norman fort, can be reached by taking a hillside walk along the east side of Lough Gur.

Holidaymakers more interested in seeing inner-city sights can head to the centre of Limerick. One of the destination's most popular attractions is King John's Castle, an Anglo-Norman fort that overlooks the Shannon. Located at the centre of Limerick's medieval heritage precinct, the structure is thought to be more than 800 years old. Another historic landmark worth visiting in the city is St Mary's Cathedral, which has stood in its current location since the late 12th century.

Other tourist activities on offer in Limerick include a walking tour based on Frank McCourt's Pulitzer Prize-winning book Angela's Ashes and a visit to the Limerick City Gallery of Art.

Places to stay

There are several three-star accommodation options for travellers to choose from in Limerick, such as the Woodfield House Hotel, which is located on the upmarket Ennis Road just a short walk away from the city centre. The Best Western Perys Hotel in the historic Georgian quarter and the Jurys Inn Limerick on the banks of the Shannon also boast a three-star rating.

Visitors planning to push the boat out and enjoy some time at a four-star property can choose from options such as the George Boutique Hotel, which provides easy access to the local nightlife and shopping centres. The Clarion Hotel Limerick combines an excellent location on Steamboat Quay with high-quality service, while the Limerick Strand Hotel is positioned within easy reach of the city centre and offers facilities including a riverside restaurant, a health club and a heated pool.

Written by Mark Robinson