Limerick, Ireland – Capital of the Shannon Region

Limerick

Limerick City is the Capital of the Shannon Region and is an excellent centre for shopping. Limerick is also known as Sports City and is considered to be the sporting capital of Ireland, with excellent facilities and passionate followers of all sporting activities. Limerick is also an excellent holiday base and is just 30 minutes from Shannon International Airport, and less than 20 minutes from attractions such as world-famous Bunratty Castle and Folk Park.

County Limerick, contrasting with the City, is a place of quiet beauty and rural charm. Its gentle undulating landscape is pleasing to the eye from rural mountains of Ballyhoura, the beautiful Golden Vale in the east of the County through to the tidal estuary of the River Shannon.

Things to Do

1. Thomond Park

No trip to Limerick would be complete with a trip to the newly and dramatically renovated Thomond Park in Limerick city. Since the unveiling of the design for the redevelopment of Thomond Park in 2006, rugby supporters have eagerly monitored the building progress of the stadium that has changed the skyline in Limerick forever. Now the province has a multi-purpose stadium facility to rival any modern stadia across Europe and one everyone is justifiably proud of. If Rugby is not your thing then take in a concert at this amazing venue.

View of Thomond Park from King Johns Castle, Limerick. ©Fáilte Ireland/Tourism Ireland | Courtesy Luke Myers

2. Walking in the the Shannon Region

Walking is truly the best way to experience the beauty of the Shannon Region. A network of quiet country roads and lanes, forest paths and mountain trails will take you to the heart of the beautiful, rural countryside. For serious walkers, there are many well-organized routes in the loveliest areas, which are clearly signposted at all junctions with standard way-markers. A number of national, long-distance walking trails traverse the Region’s most interesting scenery.

Canon Sheehan Loop Walking Trail, Co. Limerick

3. Attractions

Co. Limerick has a whole range of visitor attractions that are well worth exploring. Some of these include the Adare Heritage Centre on Adare’s pretty main street; the Foynes Flying Boat Museum – once the center of the aviation world where Irish coffee was invented; Celtic Park and Gardens; Curraghchase Forest Park and Lough Gur, habitat of Neolithic Man and one of Ireland’s most important archaeological sites.

4. Limerick City – Just Rocking!

Limerick City proudly stands beside any city in Ireland when it comes to live music and the venues to cater for it. At any time, you can find the smallest local act to the biggest international one, stepping on to a Limerick stage. From Thomond Park to the University Concert Hall to intimate Gigs in Dolans Warehouse you will find it in Limerick. Whether you feel like a night out on the town or a meal in a great restaurant, the city offers a variety of theatres, clubs, cafes and bars from which to choose.

5. Adare Village

Adare, probably Ireland’s prettiest village owes its reputation to its setting in the woods among rich quiet farmlands by the River Maigue that runs through Ireland’s Golden Vale. Thatched cottages line broad streets. With the town’s quality restaurants and pubs, its three ruined abbeys, its plentiful fishing areas, its annual festivals, Adare draws overseas and Irish tourists alike.

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