Located close to Shannon Airport, and just a little over an hour from both Cork and Galway, Limerick has experienced something of a resurgence in recent years after it was hit hard by the recession.
Students are part of the lifeblood of the city; which is home to the University of Limerick; Limerick Institute of Technology; and Limerick School of Art and Design, while major global companies including Dell, Analog Devices, Northern Trust and Uber can also be found there.
Both blue collar workers and professionals commute to Limerick for construction projects, to visit their outlets in the area, to make sales, visit clients for meetings or to meet with the major companies that are headquartered there about future opportunities.
If you’re visiting Limerick for work, we’ve put together this guide so that you can explore the city once you’ve clocked off.
Read: Are you still booking business travel like personal travel?
What to do
- Watch a game: If you’re a sports fanatic, Limerick won’t disappoint. The city is considered the home of Munster rugby, while an estimated 90,000 people lined the streets for the hurling team’s 2018 homecoming after they beat Galway in the All-Ireland final. Tour Thomond Park, or catch a club level game midweek.
- Go fishing: If you’re a fan of fishing, wind down after work by grabbing your rod and catching your own dinner. There’s plenty of pike to be caught, and you can find out where at this link.
- Find your local: Limerick has a thriving social scene with plenty of spots for an after-work pint. Whether you’re a music lover, a sports fanatic, or simply after a quiet drink in an old man pub, Limerick has a venue just for you.
Where to eat
When you’re travelling for work, cheap and cheerful food you can enjoy with your colleagues is a must. Here are some of our favourite casual dining options in Limerick.
- If you’re a fan of Italian food, check out La Cucina Centro, or grab some colleagues and head for some delicious pizza at Milano, which stays open until 10pm on weeknights.
- Coqbull is an ideal spot to wind down after a long day’s work - the menu comprises beef burgers and rotisserie chicken, with plenty of craft beers and tasty cocktails to wash them down.
- Seafood lovers will adore the Curragower, which serves up fresh seafood until 9pm daily - with plenty of options on the menu for those who would prefer food from the land. As an added bonus, the restaurant has a fabulous view of King John’s Castle.
Read: 8 ways to avoid top business travel problems
How to meet people
Limerick once had a bit of a notorious reputation and it is one that it truly does not deserve - the people in the city are among the most friendly, humble and helpful you’ll find in Ireland.
Here are some easy ways to meet new people in Limerick:
- Meetup: Limerick’s MeetUp calendar hosts an impressively diverse calendar of events you can get involved with midweek; from yoga and knitting, to artificial intelligence talks and pub crawls.
- Find your GirlCrew: GirlCrew is a great way for female professionals to establish new networks in new places. It’s a social media site where users post events they would like to attend and invite others to join them.
- Get involved with local events: Keep an eye on Limerick’s What’s On page and the Limerick Leader’s events listings for updates on things to do and what’s happening in the city. Don’t be afraid to go alone; it’s often easier to get talking to new people that way.
Whether you visit a city for one night a week, or you spend your Monday to Friday there, it becomes your home for the time you spend in it - take the opportunity to explore it and make new friends.
What are the challenges and advantages of working away from home in a new city? Leave a comment below and let us know. Do you have any other tips for travellers working in Limerick during the week?
