Limerick, An Emerging Destination In Ireland
It is one of the cities that receives more and more tourists in Ireland, and the truth is that any visitor who comes to Limerick discovers a fascinating city, with a history full of interesting episodes that have also bequeathed an outstanding artistic heritage. But besides that, Limerick is also interesting for lovers of literary tourism. And as if that were not enough, its surroundings are of great interest.
How easy it is to get to Limerick!
The main reason for the enormous increase in tourism in Limerick is the extraordinary proximity of Shannon Airport, which is served by many low-cost airline flights. In addition, the trip to Limerick can also be easily done by train departing from the large Irish cities of Dublin or Cork.
A piece of Irish history
A trip to Limerick allows you to discover much of the peculiar history of Ireland, since here you can trace the traces of very important events in the past centuries. For example, Limerick is a Viking foundation, since these settlers from Scandinavia would settle here at the beginning of the 9th century.
Later, around the 12th century, the Normans would appear in Limerick, to whom we owe the presence of two of the most emblematic monuments of the city, such as King John’s castle or the Cathedral of Santa María. And it is precisely here that some of the key treaties for the English occupation of Ireland were signed, during the seventeenth century.
Limerick heritage
We have already mentioned the two great monuments of Limerick. The first, the castle of King John, traces its origins to the beginning of the 13th century, when it was built to reflect Norman rule in the place. Today it can be visited, and above all it is worth ascending to its towers to contemplate the entire city and the channel of the River Shannon from above.
And as for the Cathedral of Santa María, it is a little earlier, when it was founded in 1168, replacing a palace that existed on this same site, and from which various elements were used. The visit to the temple is interesting, and it is also very inspiring to walk the cobbled and cross-lined path that leads to the nearby cemetery.
More interesting places in Limerick
Other very attractive places in the Irish city are its traditional open-air market, the Milk Market, which originated in the 19th century and continues to be a meeting and shopping point every weekend. So we recommend you come to him on Friday, Saturday or Sunday morning.
Also the visit to Limerick has to take you to the square of San Juan, opened in the eighteenth century and where the church with the invocation of that saint stands. A church that has the tallest tower in Ireland.
And in addition to walking, if the day is good, we also recommend you embark on a river walk along the River Shannon, to enjoy a different view of the city.
Angela’s ashes
At the end of the 90s the book The Ashes of Angela was published , an autobiographical memoir by its author Frank McCourt that tells how his family of emigrants decided to return from New York to their homeland Limerick. This novel received several awards, the affection of the public and soon a film was made with its plot.
Well, this story and the subsequent film have also helped to place Limerick on the map, and many have wanted to know it for that reason. In fact, there are routes through the city that pass through the scenarios mentioned in this best seller .
Adare, very close to Limerick
Limerick’s growing hotel offering makes it an ideal place to stay for a few days and discover its surroundings from there. And of course if you do that, you have to go to Adare, a small village located about 20 kilometers from the city, and for many it is the most beautiful town in all of Ireland.
