Limerick

Limerick is a city in western Ireland, found in County Limerick. It is part of the province of Munster and the Mid-West area of the Southern Region. In the 2022 census, Limerick was the third-most populous urban area in Ireland and the fourth-most populous city on the island of Ireland.

The city was started by Scandinavian settlers in 812 during the Viking Age. Today, Limerick sits on both sides of the River Shannon, with its old center on King's Island. This island is bordered by the Shannon and Abbey Rivers. Limerick is also where the Shannon Estuary begins, and the river spreads out before entering the Atlantic Ocean. The city is managed by the Limerick City and County Council, which is its local authority.

Geography and metropolitan area

Limerick is next to the River Shannon, with four main places to cross the river near the city center. To the south of the city is the Golden Vale, an area with rich land for growing food. In the past, much of the city's work came from this farming area.

In 2014, the city and county of Limerick joined to make a new area called the Metropolitan District of Limerick. This district includes the city and stretches toward Patrickswell to the west and Castleconnell to the east. However, some parts of the city in County Clare are not included. In 2016, about 104,952 people lived in this district.

History

Main article: History of Limerick

Limerick has a long and interesting history. The city's name comes from old times when it was known as Luimneach. Long ago, Vikings came to the area and built a settlement there. Important events happened here over the years, including battles and the building of famous places like King John's Castle and St Mary's Cathedral.

During tough times in the 1600s, Limerick was involved in big wars. A treaty was made that affected the rights of Catholic people in Ireland. Later, the city grew and became a busy port, trading goods with other countries. Even though there were hard times, Limerick kept developing. In the 1900s, new airports and universities helped the city grow again.

Ancient and medieval history

Late Renaissance/Early modern history

20th-century history

Demographics

Limerick is the third-largest city in Ireland, after Dublin and Cork. In 2022, the city had a population of 102,287 people. Many people in Limerick come from different backgrounds, including a large group from Poland.

The city has many homes owned by the local government. People in Limerick have many different races and religions, and most identify as Catholic.

Government and politics

Limerick city is managed by the Limerick City and County Council, which is based at City Hall, Limerick. The council takes care of local services like cleaning, planning, libraries, collecting taxes, roads, and housing. The council includes elected councillors and a full-time CEO who manages the city. Local elections happen every five years, and the councillors choose a chairperson each year.

In 2019, Limerick became the first place in Ireland to have a directly elected mayor. John Moran was chosen as the first mayor in elections held in June 2024. Before 2014, Limerick had its own city council, but it was later combined with the county council to make one larger council. This change helped improve planning and other services for the growing city.

Climate

Limerick has a mild and wet climate. The city gets about 977 millimetres of rain each year. Summers are gentle, with July’s highest average temperature around 20 °C (68 °F). Winters can be cool, with January’s lowest average temperature near 3 °C (37 °F).

Limerick is one of the cloudiest cities in Ireland, with only about 1,295 hours of sunshine each year. Weather observations are taken at Shannon Airport, located just 21 kilometres away in County Clare.

Culture

Limerick is a city full of cultural activities. In 2014, it was named Ireland's first National City of Culture, with many art and cultural events held all year.

The city has a main art gallery, the Limerick City Gallery of Art, which shows Irish art from the 1700s to the 1900s. It also holds EVA International, a big art event for artists from around the world. There are also places like Contact Studios and Ormston House that support artists.

The Lime Tree Theatre opened in 2012 and shows many types of performances, including theatre, music, and comedy. The Belltable and the University Concert Hall are other popular spots for shows and performances.

Limerick has many writers and poets, such as Frank McCourt, who wrote the book Angela's Ashes. The city holds a yearly literary festival in honor of writer Kate O'Brien.

The city is home to musical groups like The Cranberries and has a large concert hall at the University of Limerick. Each year, the Limerick International Band Championship features marching bands from around the world.

Other cultural events include Riverfest, a summer festival; the Saint Patrick's Day parade; and the Fresh Film Festival for young filmmakers.

Humorous verse

A limerick is a funny five-line poem with a special rhyme pattern: AABBA. People often connect this type of poem to the city of Limerick or County Limerick, especially with a group called the Maigue Poets. The name might come from an old game. The first known use of the name "Limerick" for this kind of poem was in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1880.

Media

Broadcasting

RTÉ lyric fm is a national classical music radio station. It broadcasts from studios in the city centre. Limerick’s local station is Live 95FM. Spin South West reaches several nearby counties. Student station Wired FM broadcasts from Mary Immaculate College. Community radio programs air on Limerick City Community Radio. There is also a hospital station for University Hospital Limerick. The national broadcaster, RTÉ, has studios in the city.

Print

Local newspapers such as The Limerick Post and The Limerick Leader are published in the city. Several magazines are also published there.

Places of interest

See also: Architecture of Limerick and List of public art in Limerick

Limerick city is about 25 km from Shannon Airport. Popular places to visit in the city centre include Limerick City Museum, King John's Castle from the year 1210, St Mary's Cathedral from 1168, the Hunt Museum, The People's Museum of Limerick, the University of Limerick, beautiful Georgian houses and gardens, and the Treaty Stone. You can take different tours, such as the Angela's Ashes walking tour, a historical walking tour, or kayaking along the River Shannon.

The city centre has different areas. “English Town” is near King John's Castle, “Irish Town” has older streets, and “Newtown Pery” is the modern business area. Newtown Pery was built in the late 1700s and has streets laid out in straight lines. The Limerick Museum is in an old church and shows the city's history.

The older part of the city has nice Georgian buildings, especially around O'Connell Street. Important buildings include St John's Cathedral, and St Mary's Cathedral, one of Ireland's oldest. The Hunt Museum is in an old custom house and has many artworks and old objects.

The main park is the People's Park, opened in 1877. It has a big tree collection and a memorial.

Limerick's centre has tall modern buildings, especially near the old docks. Many people live in the suburbs, in houses built since the 1950s.

The city has lively nightlife with clubs and pubs.

In the area around Limerick, you can visit Adare village and the Foynes Flying Boat Museum, and Bunratty Castle in nearby County Clare.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Limerick

Limerick is in a region called "the Midwest" or the "Shannon Region". This area includes County Limerick, County Clare, North County Tipperary, Northwest County Kerry, and south County Offaly. The city’s economy has grown because of places like the University of Limerick, Limerick Institute of Technology, Shannon Airport, and groups that help businesses.

Historically, Limerick was known for farming and sending goods from its port on the River Shannon. It was a major place for meat processing, making sweets, flour, and famous Limerick ham. Fishing was also important, but changed over time.

Today, many big companies have offices in Limerick, bringing jobs to the area. Even though some companies have moved away, others continue to grow and employ many people.

Retail

The Crescent Shopping Centre is the largest shopping place in Ireland outside of Dublin. It’s found in Dooradoyle and has many shops, restaurants, and a cinema. The city centre also has many shops on streets like Cruises Street, O'Connell Street, William Street, Bedford Row, and Thomas Street. Efforts were made to make these areas more friendly for walkers.

Retail parks and shopping centres

During busy growth years, many new shopping places opened around Limerick. Besides the Crescent Shopping Centre, places like Jetland Shopping Centre and Childers Road Retail Park opened. Some plans for new developments are part of the “Limerick 2030” idea.

The Milk Market

The Milk Market in the city centre sells food made locally. It was updated to work all year and was reopened in 2010.

Energy

In 2013, a plan was made to use more clean energy in the region. The goal is to cut down on certain gases while working toward using only clean energy. This plan was made with help from Aalborg University in Denmark.

Transport

Air

Shannon Airport is 20 km west of Limerick in County Clare. It is one of Ireland's main airports and can be reached from Limerick using the N18 road and the Limerick Tunnel. The airport offers flights to places in Europe and North America. There are no trains that go to the airport. Coonagh airfield, close to Caherdavin, is used for small private planes. Kerry Airport and Cork Airports are about 1.5 to 2 hours away by car. Kerry Airport can be reached by train from Limerick railway station through Farranfore railway station, and there is a bus service to Cork Airport by Irish Citylink.

Bus

Several companies provide bus services in Limerick. Bus Éireann, Ireland's main bus company, runs many routes in the city. These buses have new routes and run more often and for longer hours since changes in 2016 and 2019.

Buses also go to towns and villages around Limerick and to Shannon Airport. From Limerick Colbert railway station, there are buses to Dublin, Cork, Ennis, and Galway every hour. Some buses go to Tralee and Killarney every two hours, and there are daily trips to Waterford, Athlone, and even London by ferry from Rosslare Europort.

Other bus companies, like Dublin Coach and JJ Kavanagh, also have services between Dublin and Limerick. Citylink runs buses from Limerick to Galway, Cork, and Cork Airport from Henry Street.

Rail

Limerick Colbert station, run by Iarnród Éireann, is the main train station for Limerick and the Mid-West Region. The station opened in 1858.

From Limerick Colbert station, you can catch trains to many places:

• Limerick to Dublin Heuston: There are 16 trains each day, including 4 that go directly. Other trains need a stop at Limerick Junction or Ballybrophy railway station to get to Dublin.
• Limerick to Waterford: There are 2 trains each day but not on Sundays. You need to change trains at Limerick Junction to continue to Waterford, stopping at Tipperary, Cahir, Clonmel, and Carrick-on-Suir.
• Limerick to Galway: There are 5 trains each day. This service started again on 29 March 2010.
• Limerick to Cork: You can travel between Limerick and Cork by changing trains at Limerick Junction. There are no direct trains.
• Limerick to Killarney, Farranfore and Tralee: You can travel to these places by changing trains at Limerick Junction and then going through Mallow to get to County Kerry.

There are also 3 local train routes around Limerick:

• Limerick – Ennis stopping at Sixmilebridge
• Limerick – Nenagh stopping at Castleconnell and Birdhill (some trains go further to Cloughjordan and Roscrea and connect to trains for Dublin at Ballybrophy.)
• Limerick – Limerick Junction and Thurles

Some old train lines, like the one from Limerick to Foynes, are no longer used for passengers. Work began in 2022 to bring back freight trains on that line, with plans to finish by 2025 and start freight services in early 2026.

Road

Limerick is in a good spot for roads, with many big roads starting or ending in the city. The M7 (to Dublin), N/M18 (to Galway, Ennis, and Shannon), N/M20 (to Cork), N21 (to Tralee) and N24 (to Waterford) all meet here. The city has a ring road and a tunnel to help traffic flow. The M7 motorway finished in 2010, and improvements continue on the road to Shannon, Ennis, Galway, and Tuam, with the last part opening in 2017. Plans are also for a motorway between Cork and Limerick, expected to finish in the mid-2020s.

Waterway transport

Limerick has been an important place for water travel for a long time. Vikings used the city as a port. Being on the River Shannon helped connect Limerick to other parts of Ireland. In the 1700s, canals made it easier to travel to Dublin and other places. The Grand Canal opened to give even more access east. Some old canals near the city are no longer used. Although water travel from Limerick to Dublin declined in the 1900s, the Shannon Foynes Port is still busy today, running all marine activities in the Shannon estuary from its location downstream on the Shannon river near the Dock Road.

Education

Limerick is an important place for learning. It has many schools and colleges. The city has over 20,000 students in its higher education schools.

The University of Limerick has more than 17,000 students. It began in 1972 and became a university in 1989. The university teaches many subjects like engineering, computers, science, and music.

The Limerick Institute of Technology has about 7,000 students. It teaches subjects like business, engineering, art, and science.

Mary Immaculate College focuses on training teachers and is connected to the University of Limerick.

There are also many primary and secondary schools in Limerick for younger students.

Sport

Rugby, Gaelic football, hurling, and association football are popular sports in Limerick. The city has many tennis, athletics, cricket, and golf clubs. Limerick has hosted big sporting events like the Irish Open Golf Championships, the Irish Special Olympics, and the World Baton twirling Championships. The National Elite Swimming Club is based at The University of Limerick Arena. Former World Boxing Champion, Andy Lee, trained at St. Francis Boxing Club in Limerick.

Basketball was popular in Limerick during the 1970s and 1980s. Today, the men's UL Eagles and the women's UL Aughinish teams play in the National Leagues at the University Arena. Other teams include St. Colm's, Limerick Lakers, Taste of Europe, Limerick Celtic, and Limerick Lions.

Limerick Cricket Club plays in competitions organized by the Munster Cricket Union and has provided players for the Ireland national cricket team.

There are four rowing clubs in the city: Limerick Boat Club, Shannon Rowing Club, St Michael's Rowing Club, and Athlunkard Boat Club. St Michael's member Sam Lynch won gold medals at the World Rowing Championships.

Hurling and Gaelic football are widely played. The Limerick county hurling team has won several All-Ireland senior hurling championships recently. Na Piarsaigh is the only city club playing hurling at senior level.

There are three golf clubs in Limerick: Limerick Golf Club, Castletroy Golf Club, and Rathbane Golf Club.

Rugby union is very popular in Limerick. Munster, a top team, plays most home matches at Thomond Park. Limerick City teams have won the All-Ireland League many times.

Association football is also popular. Limerick FC was a successful club from the 1960s to the 1980s but faced financial problems. A new club, Treaty United F.C., was created, with the women's team starting in 2020 and the men's team in 2021.

Limerick Racecourse holds flat and National Hunt racing events each year. It replaced Greenpark Racecourse, which closed in 1999.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in the Republic of Ireland

Limerick is twinned with:

• A Coruña, Spain
• Austin, United States
• Limerick Township, United States
• Lowell, United States
• Quimper, France
• Santa Clara, United States
• Spokane, United States

Photos

• King John's Castle on the River Shannon

• Thomond Bridge and King John's Castle

• The quay in Limerick City

• Treaty Stone on the banks of the River Shannon

• St. Mary's Cathedral

• Limerick on the River Shannon as viewed from Bishop's Quay

• Sculpture by Antony Gormley in the Central Plaza of the University of Limerick