Limerick Travel Guide

In such a tiny country, a population approaching 80,000 is enough to make gritty Limerick the third-largest city in the Republic. Strategically located on the banks of the River Shannon, the town was founded as a Viking settlement in the 10th century and grew in importance over the centuries. For many years, it struggled with endemic poverty, but today it is a busy place with a serious focus on business, and its shiny new office buildings stand as evidence. It is working hard to throw off the grim legacy bestowed by Frank McCourt's best-selling book Angela's Ashes, which described in excruciating detail his miserable childhood there. Limerick City has long wrestled with a crime problem (its knife crime is such that its nickname within Ireland is "Stab City") and struggles to control gang activity. It certainly has the feel of a tough old town, and the area around where its most impressive sights are located—the riverside Medieval Heritage Precinct dominated by the 13th-century King John's Castle—is no exception. Frankly, this is the kind of town where I spend all my time worrying about whether somebody is breaking into my car. Given that major sights are few, there's little to keep you here unless you're doing business. However, should you find some hours to spare, you can peruse the scant offerings of the castle, or stop by the Hunt Museum, which houses a strong collection of Bronze Age, Celtic, and medieval treasures. Read More

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