Limerick city: 5 things to do

Speak nicely to Anne Lloyd from Anne Lloyd’s Market Griddle and she’ll fry some Celtic eggs and black pudding for you at the fabulous Milk Market. The eggs are wrapped with sausage meat, rolled in breadcrumbs and deep fried. “Tourists taste them with trepidation,” she laughs, “but they love them and can’t get enough.”

The Milk Market has been in operation since 1852, and now runs from Friday to Sunday. Saturday morning is the best time to capture the fusion of flavour, music and good-natured banter in this old stone building that was once a corn market. With its grand canopy, it’s a hive of activity that attracts traders from all over the region.

It’s all about promoting the best of local seasonal produce, so pick up lip-smacking spelt breads, fish from West Cork, fruit and vegetables from County Kerry and a mouth-watering selection of organic sausages, olives, jams, pastries and local chocolates. Simply delicious.

The Limerick City Gallery of Art is home to a superb collection of Irish paintings. It’s big enough that you can while away a few hours here without a problem, but a good starting point is to look for Chairoplanes, Jack B Yeats’s portrayal of a fairground amusement. The gallery is also home to work by Seán Keating, another of Ireland’s famous artists.

The next stop on your cultural trail of Limerick? Try the impressive Hunt Museum and its outstanding displays. It’s home to one of the finest collections of Celtic and medieval treasures outside Dublin, as well as works from Picasso, Renoir and Henry Moore. There’s also a children’s treasure trail, a gift shop, and a wonderful café overlooking the River Shannon. A day of artistic discovery sounds pretty good to us…

The Irish President himself, Michael D Higgins – a Limerick man by birth – has recited his poetry in The White House, the city’s oldest pub and a long time haunt of poets, writers and wits. If you’re lucky, you may even hear a “Limerick” (a short, witty poem) being delivered. The poetry is a great outlet for the people of Limerick. So if you’ve got a writer’s soul, this is the place to be…

The pub scene in Limerick is lively and fun with a great atmosphere to boot. You’ll find any number of people propped up on the bar, from all walks of life, having good-natured debates on life, love and, of course, sport. So pull up a stool, and join in!

King John’s Castle is an unmistakeable part of Limerick city’s skyline. This medieval marvel has been part of the city for over 1,000 years, and is thought to have been built on an earlier Viking site. Perched on King’s Island by Ireland’s longest river, the River Shannon, the exhibitions inside are just as impressive as the outside.

Visitors can expect interactive multimedia exhibitions including 3D models and ghostly projections which go into detail of its 800-year-history, focusing on life inside and outside the castle walls, the various attacks and sieges on the castle and city, as well as the many owners and characters associated with the castle.

Limerick city's Thomond Park is iconic – simple as. After all, it was here that rugby history was made when Munster beat the All Blacks 12-0 in 1978. The stadium holds a special place in the hearts of Limerick’s sporting fans, and the atmosphere during a match is second to none – crowds roar, then fall silent as soon as a pivotal play is made.

A tour of the hallowed ground is a great way to get a feel for Limerick’s sporting culture. Take a guided tour, see the dugout, visit the Munster Experience Museum, and feel the power of Limerick’s love for sport: it’s all here for the taking.