What are the best things to see and do in and around Limerick, Ireland (aside from drink)?

I'd like to see some of the best sights in Western Ireland, and I heard I can around Limerick. But with so much to choose from, it's hard to know what's the best places are!

There are loads of lovely places to see around Limerick.
Loch Gur is a beautiful lake out the county, with a huge hill that is a challenge to climb, there are loads of stone rings there, Curraghchase is also beautiful,dont know if im spelling that right, but out there is the ruins of a rich families mansion,and a lovely forest walk. The Clare Glens is out the Newport side of Limerick, theres 2 types of walks there,a nature walk and an adventure walk, there are steep hills, a lot of rock and a beautiful waterfall at the end, its like something out of a fantasy novel. Also, in the city you have the Hunt Museum and King Johns castle, and dont forget Bunratty Castle,which is a few miles out the Ennis Road, more like County Clare.
You also have Glenstal Abbey which is run by the monks and their gardens are gorgeous.
Do a search on any of these,and go see the statue of Richard Harris in the city centre!

It depends where you're from. If your American, you may be impressed by Bunratty Castle and King John's Castle. You can go to the medieval banquet at Bunratty.

Nearby there are the cliffs of Mohar and Adare

I hate the way people always make a comment about the Irish drinking.
Go to Limerick IT.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g...

Right, in Limerick city itself is St John's Castle, the Hunt Museum, Limerick City Gallery, and many smaller art galleries around. There are also many good restaurants - one of my favourite is the Sage Cafe on Catherine Street, it's only open during the day. A really nice (if pricey) place is Moll D'Arby's on George's Quay.

Outside of Limerick city on the Clare side is Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, and while it's pricey to get in, it's very interesting.

On the County Limerick side, there are plenty of gems. Lough Gur is the location of Neolithic ruins, with an interpretive centre, and this is right beside Bouchier Castle, which is supposed to be haunted. Near Lough Gur is the Stone Circle at Grange, open to visitors free of charge, please be respectful of people's private property and leave only footprints.

Bruree and Kilmallock are very close together, Kilmallock has a tiny but lively arts centre at Friar's Gate, and a mediaeval monastery and some very interesting gate towers from the middle ages. Bruree is best known for its links with Republican leader Eamonn De Valera, and has a museum dedicated to him.

Over the road is Newcastle West, which as its Banqueting Hall on the town square, but I think the nicest part of the town is the Desmesne, or park with was part of the castle grounds but is now the town park, and very nice. I'd recommend driving to the tiny village of Drumcollogher, then turning to Broadford and taking that way to Tournafulla, it's got some twisty little roads but it's off the beaten track and you will pass Glenquin castle, an old Hiberno-Norman Tower house that you can still visit, but I'm not sure which of the neighbouring houses has the key to get in. Tournafulla is one of Limerick's prettiest hidden villages, and from there you can head over the hills to Mountcollins or go straight to Abbeyfeale and from there on to Glin, the town on the side of the Estuary. Glin Castle is beautiful, but it's a private luxury hotel, so I don't know if they will let you in at all. If you go to Glin, take the N 69 back towards Limerick and stop off at the Flying Boat Museum in Foynes (where Irish Coffee was invented), and near Pallaskenry is the castle where the film High Spirits was filmed during the 1980s (featuring a very hot young actor named Liam Neeson). There is also Curraghchase, which was home to one of the great Anglo-Irish writers but unfortunately I forget which one, and if you like gardens there's the Celtic garden nearby, and Curraghchase park is lovely, and the ruins of the Great House are also very imposing over the artificial lake, lots of locals walk their dogs there. Just before Clarina you can also turn off to the left and you will see Carrigogunnell Castle, which are ruins that could come straight out of Thomas Hardy novel, and from this location the view down the Shannon Estuary is only superb.

By the way, if you want to experience set-dancing and would like to participate in a lesson, on Tuesday nights in the Ballintemple Inn, Newcastle West, there are set-dancing classes with a very experienced teacher. It's just a few euros and there's a bar, and it's a lot of fun.