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3 Stars - 62 Opinions
Denmark Street, City Centre, Limerick, 00000, Ireland
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62 Opinions
4th race - photo finish!
Pery Square, Limerick
St Mary's Cathedral
Lough Gur and Knockadoon from Grange Hill
From Limerick, We're planning a couple days for excursions in county clare. The more I read about Bunratty, Adare, etc. the more they sound like tourist traps rather than somewhere I want to spend my few precious days in Ireland. So now we're thinking maybe a day trip to Galway. It looks like a 1 1/2 hour bus ride (can anyone advise CityLink vs. Bus Eireann?)
We are more interested in people and life than in old castles (at least where it requires the better part of a day) does this seem like a reasonable use of time? Is Galway fairly compact and walkable (child and grandmother included in group)
Thanks!
I found Galway to be a small and walkable city, although it can be very busy at certain times of day of course. It's an interesting place to wander.
No real difference in buses, imo, apart from timings and journey length (and possibly fares). Just get the one which suits your convenience.
www.buseireann.ie
http://www.citylink.ie/
Have a look at the VT Galway pages to et an idea of whether it appeals:
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Ireland/County_Galway/Galway-295814/TravelGuide-Galway.html
I’m not a fan of theme parks myself but I wouldn’t necessarily dismiss Bunratty Castle and Folk Park just because they are tourist attractions – they do what they do very well. The castle is an authentic medieval tower house and fascinating to wander around – yes the medieval banquet is probably a bit kitsch and twee (I’ve never been to it) but you can wander around the castle for a pleasant visit in the morning or afternoon and get a feel for the life that was lived there over the centuries. It is a real castle after all and not a theme park reconstruction! Also the folk park recreates the life of the ordinary people in the 19th century and could be a useful history lesson for your child and a nostalgic view of the past for the adults.
After a tour of the castle and a ramble around the folk park you could head into Durty Nelly’s pub and restaurant for some refreshments.
Of course Galway is worth a visit too but you have to weigh up the travel time and energy spent getting around the city with a child and a grandmother with the convenience of staying local where you might find something for everyone (history, entertainment, photo ops and food/drink) in a concentrated location.
...lots to consider and that has me rethinking things, thanks!
Galway is a great place to visit for a day.
The city is small really and possible to walk all of it in one day.
You will find loads on info on those websites :
http://www.galway.net
http://www.galway-ireland.ie
is it an interesting and/or scenic drive between limerick and galway? That might help us to agree!
This is a general Limerick City image, just to give you an idea of what it looks like if you are partial to judging places by how they appear. This is not the main street, but they are quite similar. Please read other members tips for all other aspects. This is all I have to say about Limerick city.
After months of planning we embarked on our first trip to Ireland in May, 1999. We arrived at Shannon Airport, picked up a rental car,and headed off for the Burren. Along the way we passed this church built in the 1600s, with graveyard used thru 4 centuries.
I didn't find any identification of what church it was but it is a sample of what one might find driving along the countryside.
Limerick is surprisingly windy, so dont mess your hair and wear a woolly hat! ...a good sharp knife.... ;-) Here is a random photo of Glenstal Abbey, Murroe, Co Limerick. It's a boys boarding school for most of the year but it is very famous for its adjoining monastery, collection of Russian iconography, gardens, Midnight Christmas mass. Indeed the monks have even released an album of Gregorian chants! Limerick is usually best seen through the rear-view mirror.... ;)
World famous is the term 'Limerick'. Although primarily popularised by Edward Lear and his Victorian collections of nonsense verse the exact origins are something of a mystery.
What I can tell you is that there is plaque located on O'connell street (not telling you where, you can find it for yourself) that has this great limerick carved into its stone slab.
"The Limerick is furtive and mean
You must keep her in close quarantine
or she sneaks up to the slums
and promptly becomes
disorderly drunk and obscene"
I'm not sure of its origins, but if i read it right, it hardly seems very complimentary to the womenfolk of the town !
P.s I was going to give you my favourite Limerick, but G would kick me off for promoting sexual depravity.
Big attraction only 8 miles from Limerick City.
Bunratty Castle History
The site on which Bunratty Castle stands was in origin a Viking Trading Camp in 970. The present structure is the last of four castles to be built on the site. Robert De Muscegros, a Norman, built the first defensive fortress (an earthen mound with a strong wooden tower on top) in 1250. His lands were later granted to Thomas De Clare who built the first stone castle on the site. About this time Bunratty became a large town of 1,000 inhabitants.
The castle was restored for the King of England but was laid waste in 1332 by the Irish Chieftains of Thomond under the O'Briens and MacNamaras. It lay in ruins for 21 years until it was rebuilt by Sir Thomas Rokeby but was once again attacked by the Irish and the castle remained in Irish hands thereafter.
The powerful MacNamara family built the present structure around 1425 but by 1475 it had became the stronghold of the O'Briens, the largest clan in North Munster. They ruled the territory of North Munster and lived in great splendor. The castle was surrounded by beautiful gardens and it was reputed to have a herd of 3,000 deer.
Under Henry VIII's 'surrender and re-grant' scheme, the O'Brien's were granted the title 'Earls of Thomond' and they agreed to profess loyalty to the King of England. The reign of the O'Briens came to an end with the arrival of the Cromwellian troops and the castle and its grounds were surrendered. The O'Briens never returned to Bunratty but later they built a beautiful residence at Dromoland Castle, now a luxury 5 star hotel.
Bunratty was to return to its former splendor when Viscount Lord Gort purchased it in 1954. The extensive restoration work began in 1945 with the help of the Office of Public Works, the Irish Tourist Board and Shannon Development. It was then opened to the public in 1960 as a National Monument and is open to visitors year round. It is the most complete and authentically restored and furnished castle in Ireland.
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Q: Quickest and easiest route to Shannon airport "Will be arriving by train to Limerick/Limerick Junction from Dublin on a Sunday morning. Need to get to Shannon airport by 12:30...."
A: "You can find details about the Limerick>Shannon airport buses here: http://www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=167 Sunday services are reduced, and neither bus stops at..."
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Address: Denmark Street, City Centre, Limerick, 00000, Ireland
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