Bunratty
Distance from O’Connell Street, Limerick: 10.3km, nine
minutes without traffic.
Things to do: Visit Bunratty Castle, an authentic medieval
fortress built in 1425. It contains mainly 15th and 16th century
furnishings and tapestries. The Castle is surrounded by the Folk Park with more than 30
buildings including a school, doctor’s house, pawnbrokers, pub, drapery, print works, grocery,
hardware shop, pottery and a post office.
Bunratty Village Mills is a shopper’s paradise with a wide selection of Irish gifts and the best of
Irish contemporary design.
Places to eat: Durty Nelly’s, the Creamery Bar, J.P. Clarkes and Gallagher’s of Bunratty.
Fun Fact: The name Bunratty, Bun Raite (or possibly, Bun na Raite) in Irish, means the bottom
or end of the ‘Ratty’ river. This river runs alongside the castle and flows into the nearby
Shannon estuary. The last time Bunratty Castle was occupied was in 1804, by the Studdert
family. The Castle is five floors high and displays 450 antiques.
Activity Level:
Cratloe
Distance from O’Connell Street, Limerick: 7.6km, seven minutes
without traffic.
Things to do: There are a number of different woodland walks and
cycle routes. There are also picnic tables dotted along the walking
paths and children’s playgrounds.
Places to eat: Setright’s Tavern, Woodcross Bar and Restaurant
Fun Fact: Hundreds of years ago in Cratloe, Queen Mongfind, wife to the High King of Ireland,
Eochaid Mugmedon, is said to have poisoned the King of Munster and the High King, as she
wanted her own son to become king.
Activity Level:
Killaloe
Distance from O’Connell Street,
Limerick: 25.7 km, twenty-eight
minutes without traffic.
Things to do: The Sunday Killaloe Farmer’s Market (11 AM – 3 PM) is one of County Clare’s
finest and most vibrant farmers’ markets. The Killaloe market started in 2004 as part of
Killaloe’s Brian Boru Festival and has grown into one of the area’s most famous weekly
attractions.
Go on a Killaloe river cruise for a tour of the River Shannon and Lough Derg, or visit the mystical
Brian Boru Fort. Explore the Killaloe Activity Park and get involved in fun water sports. You
can also take a walk through the wooded area or have a river-front picnic.
Places to Eat: Flanagan’s, Goosers, Tuscany Bistro, Ponte Vecchio.
Fun Fact: From 1002 to 1014, Killaloe was considered the capital of Ireland, as Brian Boru, who
was the High King of Ireland at the time, took residence there.
Activity Level:
The Burren
Distance from O’Connell Street, Limerick: 56.9 km,
forty-eight minutes without traffic.
Things to do: Go on a Burren guided hill walk and hike.
Rent a bike for a day to explore the beautiful scenery of
the Burren. Visit the dramatic underworld of Aliwee caves. Visit the 8th century Dysert O’Dea
Castle and call in to the old church at Kilnaboy and see if you find the Sheela na Gig!
Places to eat: Redford House, The Tea Room, L’Arco.
Fun Fact: More than 90 megalithic tombs, portal dolmens, a Celtic high cross, a number of ringforts and a well-preserved stone fort can all be seen on a visit to the Burren.
Activity level:
Lahinch
Distance from O’Connell Street, Limerick: 65.2 km,
fifty-three minutes without traffic.
Things to do: Take a walk along the gorgeous Lahinch
beach which is surrounded by many geological features.
Visit the stunning Cliffs of Moher, which stand at 702 feet
high at their highest point and stretch for 5 miles along the Atlantic coast of County Clare.
Places to eat: O’Looney’s Bar and Waves Restaurant, Vaughan Lodge Seafood Restaurant,
Randaddy’s.
Fun Fact: On May 14, 2006, 44 surfers managed to ride one small wave at Lahinch, setting a
new world record.
Activity Level:
Cliffs of Moher walk:
Adare
Distance from O’Connell Street, Limerick: 23.4
km, seventeen minutes without traffic.
Things to do: Play golf at the prestigious Adare
Manor Golf Club. Visit Old Trinitarian Abbey.
Take a walk through Adare’s town park or visit
Curraghchase Forest Park.
Places to eat: Dunraven Arms, Old Creamery, Wild Geese Restaurant.
Fun Fact: The Trinitarian monastery, situated next to Adare Heritage Centre, is the only
recorded Trinitarian monastery in Ireland. It was originally built by the Fitzgerald clan for the
Trinitarian order of monks in the early 13th century.
Activity Level:
Murroe
Distance from O’Connell Street, Limerick:
21.4 km, twenty-five minutes without traffic
Things to do: Walk the 4km trail at Clare
Glens, which features a stunning waterfall.
Play pitch and putt at Murroe’s Glenside.
Visit Glenstal Abbey, a Norman revivalist castle. The 500-acre estate provides an excellent view
of the Galtee Mountains as well as farmland, forestry, games fields, lakes, gardens and school
and monastery buildings.
Places to eat: Croker’s Bar and restaurant.
Fun Fact: Murroe means “red plain”, and has a population of 1,000. It is surrounded by the
Slieve Felim Mountains.
Activity Level:
Clare Glens walk
Castletroy
Distance from O’Connell Street, Limerick: 11 km,
seventeen minutes without traffic
Things to do: Visit the University of Limerick
campus, take a walk around the campus, visit the
Living Bridge or walk along by the River Shannon.
Take a trip to Castletroy Park, where there is a
playground, skate park and walking route.
Places to eat: Copper and Spice, Delish, O’Connell’s.
Fun Fact: Castletroy has a population of 40,000 and is the largest suburb in Munster.
Activity Level: