Immerse yourself in a medieval tour of Limerick

Limerick is a fascinating city that guards the mouth of the River Shannon and overlooks Ireland’s spectacular Wild Atlantic Way. It is steeped in a history that stretches back over 1,000 years and is written into the city’s buildings and streets.

A stroll around its compact Medieval Quarter will take you to some of the city’s most remarkable buildings and reveal key events in its captivating history. 

Make first for the majestic, twelfth-century Saint Mary’s Cathedral – one of the oldest buildings in Limerick and originally the Royal Palace for the Kings of Thomond. With a story that spans more than 900 years, St Mary’s has witnessed invasions, sieges, battles, wars, famine, unrest and peace.

Explore the cathedral’s history with a self-guided tour or, to better appreciate the cathedral’s treasures – which include fifteenth-century misericords that are the only pre-Elizabethan carvings in existence – book a guided tour.

Two further tour options have recently been added to the cathedral experience. The first is a private behind-the-scenes tour with cathedral expert, Noreen Ellerker. Noreen shares her knowledge of the cathedral and of the history of Limerick.

The platinum cathedral experience is afternoon tea and a tour in the company of Dean Niall J. Sloane, the sixty-third Dean of Limerick, who gives unique insights into the cathedral’s history, architecture and religious significance.

Another unmissable medieval landmark is King John’s Castle, built on the orders of King John in the year 1200. Stop in to see the stunning immersive exhibition, which brings to life over 800 years of local history. Beside the castle is the impressive, eighteenth-century Bishop’s Palace and nearby are the Alms Houses dating from 1691, which housed widows of royal soldiers. 

Wonderful medieval artefacts are to be found in the Hunt Museum, where you can view one of the finest collections of Celtic and medieval treasures outside Dublin.

Your medieval tour would not be complete without seeing the Treaty Stone, upon which the 1691 Treaty of Limerick is said to have been signed. It is a rough-hewn limestone block raised on a pedestal standing across the river from King John's Castle.  

A great way to end your immersion in medieval Limerick is with a visit to the Treaty City Brewery located in the heart of the Medieval Quarter. 

The city has a strong brewing pedigree; in the eighteenth century breweries were the most registered businesses in the city. A tour of the artisan brewery reveals the process of creating the craft beer and, of course, the chance to sample a glass or two.

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