Page 118 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Ireland

116 BACK ROADS IRELAND

5 Limerick City
Co Limerick
Limerick city centre has two distinct areas, divided by the Abbey
River. North of the river is King’s Island, the medieval quarter
clustered around the 12th-century castle, and south is the Georgian
development of Newtown Pery, laid out in the 18th century on a
grid plan by the Italian architect Davis Ducart.
A two-hour walking tour Continue to Nicholas Street and turn
Start at the Tourist Information Centre left into it, passing King John’s Castle
1, where you can pick up maps and (open daily) 6 on the left. Dating from
details of events in the city. Continue 1210, this is one of Ireland’s most
up O’Connell Street and along Rutland impressive Anglo-Norman castles.
Street to the Hunt Museum (open Guided tours take in the extant walls
daily) 2. Occupying the 18th-century and towers. Cross Castle Street onto
Customs House, this private museum the Parade. On the left corner is the
is crammed with antiquities and art, Neo-Classical façade of the old
from Neolithic bronze artifacts to Bishop’s Palace (open Mon–Fri) 7.
Above The medieval tollgate on Thomond works by Picasso, Renoir and Henry Visitors are free to enter. Adjacent is
Bridge in Limerick Moore. From the museum, turn left St Munchin’s Garden 8 (part of St
across Matthew Bridge, over the Munchin’s Protestant Church), the
Abbey River, and left into Merchant’s picturesque graveyard of Church of
Quay. Here you’ll find the Limerick Ireland St Munchin’s church, with some
Museum (open Mon–Fri) 3, which very old tombstones. It has fine views
VISITING LIMERICK
relates Limerick’s history. Further down to Villiner’s Alms Houses below.
along the quay is the glass-and-steel Leaving the palace, turn right
Tourist Information
20 O’Connell St; 061 317 522; City Hall and Civic Centre 4. Walk down Castle Street, cross Thomond
www.limerick.ie; open Mon–Sat through its foyer to the courtyard, Bridge to the west bank and turn left
year-round which leads onto an embankment onto Clancy’s Strand and the riverside
Parking with river views. walkway. On the corner of the bridge
The best place to park in is in Arthur’s Return to Merchant’s Quay and is Catholic St Munchin’s Church 9.
Quay Centre, a multi-storey car park turn left up St Augustine’s Place. On Further along the walkway is the
on Arthur’s Quay, just off Patrick Street. the right the 12th-century St Mary’s prodigious bulk of the Treaty Stone
For on-street parking, discs are
available from shops and service Cathedral (open Jun–Aug: daily; Sep– 0, on which the treaty that ended
stations. May: am only) 5 has exquisite barrel- the Second Siege of Limerick was
vaulted ceilings, fine stained-glass signed in 1691. It promised religious
windows and, in the Jebb Chapel, freedom to the Irish Catholics, but
WHERE TO STAY IN LIMERICK
CITY Ireland’s only surviving misericords. within two months England reneged
Railway Hotel inexpensive Bishop’s
Traditional family-run hotel opposite St Munchin’s Garden Palace 0 metres 300
the railway station. Comfortable CASTLE ST I SLA N D ROA D
standard accommodation and friendly St Munchin’s Thomond 0 yards 300
Bridge
atmosphere. All rooms en-suite. Church King John’s
Parnell St; 061 413 653; Treaty Stone Castle NICHOLAS ST
www.railwayhotel.ie ATHLUNKARD ST
Curragower St Mary’s
Absolute Hotel moderate Seafood Bar City Hall and Cathedral
Overlooking the confluence of the Civic Centre MERCHANTS
Abbey and Shannon rivers, this stylish C L A N C Y S T R A N D Limerick QUAY BRIDGE ST
modern hotel has a waterside bar and MARY STREET
restaurant with an outside terrace. For Matthew GEORGE’S QUAY
Bridge
a small premium, guests have access River Shannon Museum Abbey River
Hunt
to the spa. Museum R UTLAND ST CHARLOTTE QUAY CLARE ST
Sir Harry’s Mall; 061 463 600;
www.absolutehotel.com MIC HAEL STREET BROAD ST OLD CLARE STREET
PATRICK ST
No 1 Pery Square Hotel and Spa Sarsfield ARTHUR’S QUAY
moderate–expensive Bridge HO NAN’S QUAY ELLEN STREET
Luxurious boutique hotel (20 rooms)
in an immaculately restored 18th- HARVEY'S QUAY SARSFIELD ST
century property on one of Limerick’s O’CONNELL ST
finest squares. On-site parking. Tourist
1 Pery Square; 061 402 402; Information
www.oneperysquare.com Centre
Where to Stay: inexpensive, under €100; moderate, €100–€200; expensive, over €200
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