Follow the TR AI L TO LI M E RICK m any othe rs are As a respected travel blog recently and rightly stated, “there’s something in the air in Limerick”. There is, indeed, and it’s a very strong whiff of new-found confidence.
Y THERE’S PLENTY ALSO TO S E RV E T H E ADRENALIN JUNKIE, FROM THE B A L LY H O U R A M O U N TA I N BIKE TR AILS TO F O R E S T CLIMBS.
ou see, Limerick has never really
villages; golf-courses, fantastic
that has a new-found and edgy
had any reason to be anything
eateries, five star and other hotels.
mojo. Over the past five years, it
other than confident and proud
There’s its rich culture, spanning
has risen from the ashes of difficult
about its tourism asset base. Yet,
everything from sport – it
times to become a melting pot of
it’s a cache that, for a variety
makes a strong case as Ireland’s
culture, influences and ethnicities.
of reasons – neighbouring
sporting capital – to food
This enables Limerick to retain the
counties shouting louder, lack of
and theatre to live music.
best of the old whilst welcoming
coherent messaging – Limerick
There’s plenty also to serve
in the freshness of the new.
has largely remained hidden.
the adrenalin junkie, from the
All within walking distance, you can
Ballyhoura Mountain Bike
explore the remarkable and recently
But, to some extent, aren’t we
Trails to forest climbs. For the
restored King John’s Castle, historic
ever so grateful that it has kept
younger generations, there’s
not just in a local and national
its light under a bushel. It’s like
any amount of activities from
context but also international in
we’ve just been given a whole new
pet farms to ‘play worlds’.
that it remains one of the best
county to explore and enjoy.
The list goes on but another head-
preserved Norman Castles in Europe.
So what does this best kept
turning characteristic for sure
Nearby there’s St. Mary’s Cathedral,
secret of Irish tourism offer?
worth mentioning is its extremely
the oldest building in Limerick
Firstly it’s at the heart of the Golden
competitive price-wise compared
in daily use today. It dates back
Vale, the best agricultural land in
with other better known tourist
to the 12th century and has seen
Ireland and amongst the best in the
counties. And for international
off famines and wars. It even has
world. There are rolling hills, rivers;
tourists, it has an airport with direct
a curious ‘Leper’s Squint’ – a
great buildings, including castles and
links to the US, UK and mainland
hole in the wall for lepers in
cathedrals; historic sites, timeless
Europe just 20 minutes away.
medieval times to view mass from
towns and sleepy, picturesque
At the heart of it all, then, is a city
outside the Cathedral’s Walls.
Go Wild Magazine - Summer Edition 2016
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