Free (donations appreciated) and entertaining, the Galway City Museum has more than just history of…read morethe city of Galway. It was interesting to learn about shipwrecks and seabed mapping, some human biology and the history of medical devices, and really, what Irish museum would be complete without a history of the Irish Free State and the Troubles. Objects on display are tiny and massive, including the oldest Claddagh ring in existence (dating from circa 1700!) and a sailboat. The museum has stairs and a lift, making it fully handicapped accessible. There are a number of exhibits that are interactive and can be touched. Expect at least an hour to appreciate this museum, two if you're a reader. [Review 1948 of 2024 - 130 in Republic of Ireland - 22970 overall]

Free admission! We visited around 11am on a very rainy day and the museum was quite busy. It is…read more a small museum but does have some interesting displays. There is a lot of reading involved, being a busy day it was hard to get close to the reading materials. The aisles were quite crowded. We enjoyed the boating and fishing displays. They also have a section on ancient instruments.

This was quite the delightful museum in one of the main churches in downtown Kilkenny. We made an…read moreappointment for a tour, a couple weeks ahead of time, it had a very nice time seeing the grounds. As with most places in Ireland, there is an incredible amount of history that had occurred just in the immediate vicinity. We learned about the history of the church, the area, the people who had built it, and the people who have kept it running. There were some pretty amazing artifacts that had come from the grounds, primarily during renovations, and some incredibly ornate headstones. The whole tour lasted about an hour, was contained within the church and the courtyard, and there were also some fun Legos that were hidden throughout the place that kept our kids entertained. Don't forget to go in the upper room. It has a beautiful view out to the city! All in all, this is a great spot and well worth your time.

My sister and I popped into the museum and were greeted by two of the kindest gentlemen working…read morethere, Joe and John. They took over 30 minutes out of their day to tell us the history of Kilkenny and about the architectural features of the city. The museum itself was incredible and did a great job modernizing the facility while respecting and honoring the history. Joe and John made the museum the highlight of our Kilkenny day trip!

What a great find in Limerick. We had no idea where we're gonna be able to run wild in an old Irish…read morecastle! We were able to go up into all the towers and look down from the murder room. We learned a lot, and we loved every minute of this impromptu visit While we were in Limerick for just one night after visiting the cliffs of Mohre

The first castle I've ever toured!…read more We paid €10.50 (student pricing) to get in. We gave ourselves about an hour but I definitely wish we came earlier for more time. There is so much to learn, watch, and interact with in the castle. It was super neat learning the history & even neater taking in the views. I could have easily spent 2+ hours just exploring every nook and cranny. There is a car park across the street that is free if you are going to the castle. The only downside is that the castle does close quite early, but I noticed everything in the city does. The hours for when we were there on a Saturday was 0930-1700. The car park closes when the castle closes. If you're into history & castles, I'd definitely recommend at least 2 hours to give a good visit here.

Nice, small museum. Perfect to watch on a rainy day. Has collections from different time periods,…read morewhich the Hunt Couple gatheted. Full walk takes about 90-120 minutes. Adult: 5 Euro

Not a very big museum but good day out though. Even has a cafe shop inside if you are tired of…read morestanding, you can do some people wanting.

Excellent exhibits. A must visit for all ages. Cafeteria…read morelunch is also good, though lines could be a little long.

Birr Castle was built in 1620 and replaced an earlier one built in 1170. Unlike many other Irish…read morecastles, Birr Castle is still used as a residence, by the family of the seventh earl of Rosse. While the castle isn't open to the public, the grounds include extensive gardens and the Historic Science Centre, a museum of Ireland's historic scientists and their contributions to both astronomy and botany. The walled gardens include box hedges that are more than 300 years old. They are also noted in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's tallest hedge.

What can I say - a fabulous experience! The grounds are…read moregorgeous. I went for a fabulous walk, and now that the plants can grow freely, the place is a wildlife wonderland! I saw small, red butterflies in abundance, ones I'd never seen before! They were everywhere! The gift shop is also lovely, with some perfect souvenirs! I recommend the playground to all parents as it is such a fun experience for the little ones! The telescope and science museum were amazing also, I learned so much! I particularly enjoyed the part where one of the Earl's wife was talking about photography and her dark room. It was an amazing display! I recommend this trip highly, as it is so cheap to come in and such a wonderful experience!

I've worn a claddagh ring for as long as I can remember, so I thought it would be special to get…read moreone from Galway as a souvenir during my visit. Thomas Dillon is the original maker, so I figured I'd buy from the best. They have such high quality jewelry and beautiful claddagh rings. Women's are 50 euros, men 60, for just the silver. Maybe a little pricier than other spots, but they have a lifetime guarantee and an original stamp on the inside. They have other jewelry as well and a section in the back full of historical articles and the worlds smallest claddagh ring, which is super funny! I love my new ring and the woman helping us was so knowledgeable and kind! I'd highly recommend Thomas Dillin.

I was very excited to visit this place and buy a ring but the sales associate was so rude. She was…read morecondescending when I said I didn't have a boyfriend. She rolled her eyes. She was aggressively shoving rings over my knuckles while telling me to relax. Overall, not very welcoming. I would recommend going to heart and hand a few stores down!

Loved my visit to the museum! Angela's Ashes is one of my favorite books, and I'll always recommend…read moreit to everyone. Visiting the museum was something I've always wanted to do, so my very first visit to Ireland had to include Limerick. The museum shows two rooms upstairs (a kitchen and bedroom). Downstairs has a classroom which is really wonderful. It displays some of Frank's personal items. Volunteers working there were amazing, such nice people. I highly recommend visiting the museum. The visit costs 4 euros per person.

This is a must see! If you are flying into Shannon, take a detour into Limerick to see this place…read more The owner Una Heaton, built the Museum from the ground up. She has spent many years collecting artifacts and stories about Frank McCourt. Even if you did not read his books or are not a fan of his work, the Museum provides a glimpse to what life was like in Limerick during the World Depression in the 1930's. It shows the harsh reality of growing up poor in Ireland and motives the soul as you see him and his school mates become great successes after such a rough childhood. Plus, the owner is very knowable and has designed the entire museum herself. She has a great hand made art work and has utilized her skills to create authentic scenes from Mr. McCourt's life. Afterwards you can go to South's Pub for a pint.

If you are a lover of James Joyce's writings, you might want to stop here and visit his wife and…read moremuse's childhood home. Nora Barnacle met Joyce in Dublin on June 10, 1903 and arranged to go on a date on 14th, but she blew him off saying she couldn't get away. Never a quitter, Joyce arranged for a follow up on June 16th and this time went to pick her up. For readers of Joyce's classic tome "Ulysses", June 16th will forever be known as Bloomsday. Nora's famous quote of Joyce lives on: "I mistook him for a Swedish sailor - His electric blue eyes, yachting cap and plimsolls. But when he spoke, well then, I knew him at once for just another Dublin jackeen chatting up a country girl." Though it should be noted, it took them 28 years to tie the knot and it annoyed Joyce that the media of the day made such a big deal of it. But they never got tired of celebrating June 16th! True love, eh?

Fantastic little museum! Very personal, detail oriented, with a generous guide. Highly recommend…read morevisiting for a quick stop to learn more about an interesting lady and her family!

Our first day tour stop on the way to Galway was the Clonmacnoise Monastic Site, another Irish…read morelocation loaded with History. As we pulled in, a derelict Norman Castle greeted us from the parking lot. St Ciarán founded his monastery on the banks of the River Shannon in the 6th Century. The monastery flourished and became a great seat of learning, a University of its time with students from all over Europe. It was also noted for its illuminated manuscripts and skilled craftsmanship. The monastic ruins were abandoned in the 13th Century. The ruins include a Cathedral, two round Towers, three high crosses, nine Churches and over 700 Early Christian grave slabs. The original high crosses, including the magnificent 10th century Cross of the Scriptures are on display in a purpose built visitor centre adjacent to the monastic enclosure. The visitor centre is a must, with the introduction video recommended. One thing I picked up here was learning the difference between a cemetery and a graveyards, of which the latter are always linked to the adjacent Church. Another attraction (beside the pretty view of the River) is the small pavilion where Pope John Paul II hosted Mass in September of 1979. There was a certain peace to this place as Gayle and I walked along.

It's wild to think about just how old this site is...my mind can barely fathom it. But the…read morebeautiful remains of old churches, lookout towers and grave markings all tell a story. There is a lot of history here and absolutely worthy of a visit and some respect for the people who have lived and died here. The tour guides will share some interesting stories and facts; all worth hearing and appreciating. Be sure to visit the museum to learn a little more and to see the original crosses (replicas replaced them outside to protect them from weather).