I had hoped by now to have information for you on some of the events happening around Limerick for next year as the City of Culture – hopefully in the near future I will have lots of such information – to help you to plan your holiday to Ireland and Limerick in 2014.
So for now I will just mention some of the many historical attractions that you will visit around the city.
Limerick is known as the ‘Treaty City’ – after the treaty signed here on October 3rd 1691. The stone on which this was signed stands by the River Shannon at the end of Thomond Bridge.
King John’s Castle commands the site at the other end of the bridge on the banks of the River Shannon and this is the centrepiece of King’s Island Medieval Quarter. Built in the 13th century this is one of the oldest examples of medieval architecture in Ireland, with rounded gate towers and curtain walls. A stunning new exhibition here brings to life over 800 years of history.
Across the road from the castle you can visit the Bishop’s Palace, now home to the Limerick Civic Trust and nearby is one of my favourite buildings in Limerick – the Toll Gate.
St. Mary’s Cathedral, built in 1172 faces towards the new part of Limerick City, across the Abbey River and the cathedral plays hosts to concerts throughout the year.
Close by to St. Mary’s Cathedral, in teh restored Old Custom House, is the Hunt Museum. Here you can enjoy one of Ireland’s greatest private collections and offers visitors access to 2,000 original works of art and antiquity.
There is a lot more to Limerick that I have just mentioned so I will be back to you in time to talk about same.