I moved from Cork to Limerick around 40 years ago. But I haven’t got around to visiting King John’s castle yet. I did attend a Paul Weller concert in the grounds in July 2024. And I frequently observe the outside of the castle.
But I haven’t gone into the visitor’s centre or explored the towers or walls. In fact, there are a few nearby places, such as the Limerick museum and the Hunt museum which I’ve yet to visit. Perhaps I’ll spend a week as a Limerick tourist sometime soon😀. I can buy a sightseeing pass.
The castle was constructed around 1200–1210 on the orders of King John of England.
He’s the bad guy in Robin Hood, the younger brother of Richard the Lionheart.
I don’t think John himself ever visited Limerick.
It’s said to have been opened to the public in 1975, but I remember little about it until a new ultra‑modern visitor centre opened around 2013. Previously, I associated it with one of the rougher, scarier areas of Limerick, where you’d hear stories of drug gangs, murders etc. But the immediate area seems to be getting more gentrified now.
And another tourist attraction, Saint Mary’s cathedral is 5 minutes walk from it, as is the famous treaty stone. Saint Mary’s cathedral goes back to around 1168, built on the site of a Viking meeting house and an earlier royal palace.
When I meet visitors to Ireland, I generally suggest that they go the Kerry, particularly Killarney. Cork, my hometown is popular, as is Dublin and the nearby bay and coastline. In the vicinity of Limerick, my favourite places include Bunratty castle, Adare, Curragh Chase, Foynes flying boat museum, and the Burren and Cliffs of Moher in nearby Country Clare.
Bunratty castle includes a little park area with farm animals, old Irish cottages and a little reconstructed 19th Century village. I have fond memories of bringing the kids there when they were young.
As for music, here are four acts associated with Limerick:
Denise Chaila is from Zambia but based in Limerick. She’s one of several amazing hip hop musicians that move in the same circles, the other two being God Knows and MuRli.
I’ve met all three in church here in Limerick, believe it or not 😀. Their music is secular though – nothing wrong with that.
In the Christian music scene, the Irish artists are generally from Northern Ireland. Here are a couple of examples:
Hibernia Gospel 