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Coat of arms for Limerick City |
Coat of arms for County Limerick |
King John's Castle at night time, Limerick city
Trying to forget for a moment that Co. Limerick's name means "barren spot of land", Limerick isn't all bad. In fact, it's really quite a beautiful place filled with history, quaint cottages and gorgeous mountains, as well as the River Shannon. Idolised Irish writer, Frank McCourt immortalised the squalor and poverty of life in Limerick City during the 1930s and '40s in his enduring novel, Angela's Ashes - and Limerick has been battling the negative image ever since.
In truth, most of Co. Limerick is a haven of peace and quiet, with a rather underrated spread of landscape and historical sites. The Ardagh Chalice, an 8th-century silver cup that, along with the Book of Kells, is considered to be one of the finest pieces of Celtic art in existence. Though now on display in the National Museum in Dublin, the chalice was uncovered in Ardagh, Co. Limerick by two potato-diggers in the 1860s.
The Ardagh Chalice
Credit: created by Kglavin, modified Aug 2007 by Mike Christie
Further afield, the town of Adare is widely considered to be one of the most picturesque villages in Ireland, with several wonderful examples of thatched-roof cottages. Likewise, Lough Gur is a pre-Celtic archaeological site with stone circles and megalithic tomb. Covering a large part of the Shannon Estuary, Limerick is also a popular place for boating and sailing.Every county in Ireland has its own festival and these run from January through to December. Among the highlights on the Wild Atlantic Way are I.NY, and the Richard Harris Festival, held in Limerick in October. These are part of the Global Irish Festival Series, a Government initiative celebrating stories, theatre, film and music, both homegrown and created by members of the Irish Diaspora with deep roots in this country.
Cruising down the River Shannon, County Limerick
Among Limerick's most famous sons and daughters are Éamon de Valera, one of the founding fathers of the Republic of Ireland, who was raised in Brulee, and Dolores O'Riordan, lead singer of The Cranberries.
A set dancing event in County Limerick
Our team of researchers and genealogists at has put together the following '101-Must-Visit' locations and trips for you for Limerick. We only pick the best locations to visit, dine in or stay at, and the best ancestral research resources we can find in that area. Enjoy!
Limerick has really turned around its old image and is now a hugely vibrant City with lots of things to do, from sporting events to festivals, and plenty of attractions for all the family. Limerick City and County Council are one of the most progressive regions in Ireland when it comes to Diaspora engagement...so if you have roots from this county, be sure to connect with their council. Just sign up for our updates and will keep you posted.
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