About Limerick City

History

Limerick City is famous for many reasons some good, and some less than savoury. Founded by the Vikings and sitting at the mouth of the Shannon River, Limerick boasts a proud history and tradition. Once a walled city, Limerick endured two major sieges in the latter part of 1600's. Music, particularly military and band music, has a long association with Limerick and today this is manifest with many of the younger population learning instruments and being involved in organised music at all levels and genres. Much of this love of music came about through the tradition of marching bands in Limerick. This began primarily with the British troops stationed in what is now Sarsfield Barracks.

Rugby too is bred into the Limerick psyche; with six senior sides in the city and a myriad of junior teams, the city is justifiably proud of its reputation as the rugby hotbed of Ireland. It is the city where class does not enter into the equation once you don a rugby jersey and where the "docker and doctor" combine to attain the elusive Holy Grail for the good of club, or province. In literature too, Limerick has produced many great luminaries. Going back to the Maigue poets and Michael Hogan the Bard of Thomond and forward through the centuries to Kate O'Brien, Jim Kemmy, Seamus O'Cinneide, Maureen Sparling and the controversial Frank McCourt who made us look at ourselves and our past in a different light.

 

Limerick Today

Limerick is a vibrant city, with a good range of restaurants, cinemas, sports venues, pubs and nightclubs to suit most tastes. Limericks Hunt Museum is located on the rivers edge, at the lower end of Patrick St, in the old city custom house and is free on Sundays between 2 and 5pm. The civic museum off Pery Square is always free and well worth a look. Limericks theatrical home is the Bell Table Theatre at 69 O'Connell St, home to everything from visual art to theatre and film. Check out the links section on this website for further info.

 

Nightlife

Limerick has a  large number of clubs and pubs that are likely to attract you through their doors during your time in Limerick. If you like the best that mainstream Limerick has to offer check out Trinity Rooms, the Icon or Angel Lane. They are the Big Three and cater for a variety of different tastes while keeping it fairly mainstream. Flannerys, the old Quarter, Nancys, Mollys and Charlies are all on the same side of town and you might want to stop if for a pint or two before the club.

 

If your are looking for something a bit different try out Bakers Place at Pery Square. This complex includes Bakers Bar, The Wicked Chicken and the Underground at Bakers. Music and crowd vary from night to night but if your looking for a night out that stands out i highly recommend trying here. 

 

Mickey Martins is a old favourite, as is Costellos - its an experience. While Aubars caters for a more sophisticated crowd it also hosts the weekly PSA night out - The Release Party at Aubars. Dolans is your best place for Trad and general music gigs and theres loads more for you to discover on a night out in Limerick.