24km (15 miles) E of Shannon Airport, 198km (123 miles) SW of Dublin, 105km (65 miles) N of Cork, 111km (69 miles) NE of Killarney, 105km (65 miles) S of Galway

The majority of County Limerick is peaceful, pleasant farmland. The picture-postcard village of Adare is definitely worth a visit (although you’ll likely see it amidst a row of tourist buses), and the number of good restaurants and hotels nearby make it a good choice for an overnight base. Lough Gur is also well worth a visit, with its lovely lakeside scenery and intriguing ancient sites. Sadly the same cannot be said of Limerick City; despite the valiant efforts of the Tourist Board to shake up its image, the city is a rather gritty, unpleasant place. Things have improved a little since the late 2000s, most notably with the recent redevelopment of the visitor center at King John’s Castle, but unless you’re really trying to see everything this island has to offer, Limerick needn’t demand much of your time.