Parks

There are approximately 350 acres of public spaces in Limerick City, part of which is maintained as public parklands by Limerick City Council. Other public spaces are being developed as wildlife sanctuaries or urban forestry, for example at the Children’s Oak Wood at Shannon Fields, Corbally. Tree planting takes place on an annual basis between December and March. Each summer the ‘Bridges in Bloom’ project is continued, with hanging baskets of colourful flowers placed along Sarsfield Bridge, Thomond Bridge, Mathew Bridge and Baal’s Bridge.

Thomond Bridge

Photo of Thomond Bridge in Limerick city. The first Thomond Bridge collapsed, causing the deaths of over eighty workers in the thirteenth century. The second bridge was prone to flooding. The present structure was completed in 1840. Designed by the Pain Brothers, it leads directly to King John's Castle from Thomondgate.

© Limerick Studies Collection.

Thomond Bridge
© Limerick Studies Collection.

Thomond Bridge

Photo of Thomond Bridge in Limerick city. The first Thomond Bridge collapsed, causing the deaths of over eighty workers in the thirteenth century. The second bridge was prone to flooding. The present structure was completed in 1840. Designed by the Pain Brothers, it leads directly to King John's Castle from Thomondgate.

© Limerick Studies Collection.

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The People’s Park in Pery Square is the main park of the Limerick City. It was formally opened in 1877 and was dedicated to the memory of local businessman Richard Russell. The park is full of colour with flowers during the summertime, attracting plenty of bees and insects, and also contains a selection of mature deciduous and evergreen trees. Examples include ash, beech, birch, elm, Flowering Cherry, Flowering Crab, hawthorn, holly, hornbeam, lime and many others. In 2003, the People’s Park won the Best Local Park Special Category Award in a City Neighbourhood Competition that was run by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.

Another popular park in Limerick City is Arthur’s Quay Park, which is built on reclaimed land from the Shannon. The river is the central focus of the park and the views of Curragour Falls and Clare Hills give it a peaceful atmosphere. A weir allows boats access between Abbey River and the Shannon Esturary. The city riverside walk passes through the park, where lime trees are the main species.

Across the River Shannon from Arthur’s Quay Park is the small Curragour Park, opened in 1992. Custom House Park and O’Brien Park are the two other parks within the city, each with a good range of tree species: Horse Chestnut, maple, sycamore, alder, ash, beech, birch, Flowering Crab, hornbeam, Holly, Horse Chestnut, Lime, Maple, Mountain Ash.