Limerick City Gallery of Art

Limerick City Gallery of Art has just re-opened having enjoyed a multi-million euro makeover which includes a stunning glass walled sculpture gallery overlooking the People’s Park. Admission is free to all areas of the this superbly curated collection of Irish and International Art and Sculpture as well as some exciting new pieces by upcoming local artists.
The first thing to catch my eye, was a large old antiquarian style ledger, the Assessions Register from 1948-1985 which listed the acquisitions and donations of several hundred works of art, including those of local artist Sean Keating who famously described the Limerick people as having ‘a vivid imagination’, which is the title of the current exhibition.

All of the exhibits were chosen by locals, friends, artists and patrons of the gallery including Anthony Hickey who worked as a porter at the gallery for 20 years and chose ‘Rising Swan’ on the basis of it being the children’s favourite. Another ‘child’ whose was captivated once upon a time was the artist John Shinnors who remembers 'lifting up his dog so that he could smell the fish' in the Still Life , 'Herring' by St John Hare.

Each piece is similarly lovingly described with intriguing captions composed by each of the selectors which are proving to be engaging and charming conversation openers....A lady from Belfast and I had a great old chat about a certain Ms Russell, whose portrait was chosen by the writer Mary Coll as she considered her ‘something of a personal friend’ having ‘visited’ many times over the years...

It’s a surprisingly nice social element, I have never come across in a gallery which are normally, stonily silent and with the addition of the new café Zest, an open invitation to carry on the experience (I am delighted to say) over a normally priced coffee! All of the food is locally sourced and fresh as a daisy with innovative salads and delicious homebaking, again at reasonable prices, so thumbs up to Zest and the Limerick City Gallery of Art.

Admission is free, the Limerick City Gallery of Art is open all day monday-saturday and sunday afternoon.

10 Other Things To Do and See near the Limerick City Gallery of Art are...

1 Peoples Park take a leisurely stroll through this green oasis of peace and tranquility in the heart of bustling Limerick City.

2 Pery Square admire one of the prettiest squares in Ireland with some of the finest Georgian architecture including No1 an hotel and No2 a museum, unfortunately closed at the moment.

3 Tait's Clock check the time at this monument to Limericks former Lord Mayor a successful entrepreneur and a most colourful & flambuoyant character by all accounts.

4 St Saviour's Church say a prayer or light a candle in this very old and much loved Domician Friars church, Glenworth Street.

5 Frank McCourt Museum housed in a wonderful old building on Harstonge St it celebrates the life and times of the Pulitzer Prize winning author Frank McCourt for his memoir Angelas Ashes.

6 Belltable Arts Centre established over 30 years ago to promote the arts in Limerick and surrounding areas, it always has a lively, original program of events on offer.

7 Chocolat Restaurant extremely popular (there's always a queue) restaurant on O'Connell Street great place for coffee, snacks, lunch or a full course evening meal.

8 Texas Steakout we've been going to this downstairs restaurant on O'Connell Street for years, a good old reliable, great steak & burgers & friendly service, plus the cowboy & indian decor of course.

9 Savoy Hotel every bit as posh as the name suggests, what's not to love from the designer decor to best magazines to read unlimited editions of Vogue with lunch!

10 Hamptons Grill next door to the Savoy Hotel on Henry St, descend this marble staircase to decadence! Enjoy dinner here, with B&B above for €75 pps sharing, now that's an offer not to be refused!

For about the Limerick City Gallery of Art please click here

For more Things To Do and See in Limerick please click here