Out on the Limerick Greenway, an old rail line turned into a bike path, you’ll find a moving postcard of Irish scenery — rolling green hills and farms punctuated by historic rail stations.
“It’s pure digital detox,” says Andy Smith, owner of Like Bikes, a bike rental shop. “You have to switch off your phones, observe nature, hear the birds. You’re forced to relax.”
That’s the idea. Limerick, Ireland, is experiencing a quiet sustainability revolution. From its castles to its museums to its new bike paths, tourism officials are betting that visitors will come here for a green vacation—and maybe a little digital detox, too.
While this city on Ireland’s west coast may not have the same green reputation as Belfast or Dublin, it is catching up fast. You can see it lean into the green in its historic landmarks and innovative businesses and hear it when you talk to residents.
Docent Jackie Shannon shows off a pottery collection at the Hunt Museum in Limerick, Ireland. Photo by Christopher Elliott
A museum that’s always been sustainable
The Hunt Museum is one of Limerick’s sustainability leaders. It contains the collection of John and Gertrude Hunt, including pieces by Picasso, Renoir and Gauguin, and extensive religious artifacts from the early Christian period.
“The Hunts were very much into sustainability,” notes tour guide Jackie Shannon, pointing to ancient jugs used for daily tasks. “Some of the jugs are about 6,000 years old.”
The family’s use of ancient vessels in everyday life speaks to a philosophy of valuing objects, extending their lifespan, and minimizing waste. Even the museum itself—a historic Georgian-era custom house along the River Shannon—is recycled.
The museum’s commitment to education also takes a sustainable turn in its sizeable urban garden. The museum uses the garden to educate students, planting strawberries and onions, welding them, and using lady bedstraw to dye fabrics. The idea is to connect environmental issues with cultural significance, fostering a deeper understanding of sustainability’s impact on local traditions.
But it’s not the only historical building working on a sustainability project.
Daire Heffernan, the general manager of St. John’s castle in Limerick. Photo by Christopher Elliott
Can a historic castle be sustainable?
Across the city, King John’s Castle, a 13th-century Norman fortress, is grappling with a different kind of sustainability challenge.
The well-preserved castle explores Ireland’s turbulent past through interactive exhibits. Visitors can walk through the castle’s sturdy walls, towers, and gatehouse, imagining the sieges and battles that shaped its history. From the castle’s tower, they can enjoy panoramic views of the River Shannon and Limerick city.
“One of the biggest sustainability challenges at the moment is how the building is wired,” says Daire Heffernan, the castle’s general manager. “They did it so that the lights on the entire floor are either on or off.”
The castle found a workaround by installing energy-efficient LED lighting throughout its exhibits and keeping the lights off whenever it can to save energy. In fact, the castle managers have undertaken a long list of sustainability items, from recycling to improving its energy efficiency.
The latest project is a wildlife survey to assess the impact of a proposed lighting project on nesting birds and bats.
However, Heffernan’s greatest sustainability goal is obvious: keeping this landmark preserved for future generations. Ireland has strict historic building codes, so Heffernan and his team must tread carefully.
“We can’t so much as put a pin on the ground without permission,” he says. “We can’t touch anything.”
Being sustainable means balancing preservation with progress. This is a refrain you hear often in Limerick, including regarding its newest museum.
A docent checks an interactive display of historical rugby scores at the International Rugby Experience. Photo by Christopher Elliott
Limerick’s newest museum is moving toward sustainability
The International Rugby Experience is the latest example of sustainability in Limerick.
“We’re constantly moving toward sustainability,” says Emma Foote, the museum’s marketing and events manager.
The museum has an ISO 20121 sustainability certification, reflecting its comprehensive efforts, including using renewable electricity sources, promoting local artists in its gift shop, and incorporating motion-sensor lighting throughout the building.
The museum, which opened in May 2023, aims to be a spiritual home of World Rugby by celebrating the sport’s values and highlighting the achievements of legendary players. It features interactive exhibits that explore various aspects of rugby, such as the laws of the game and the importance of discipline and practice.
You can test your rugby skills with interactive challenges and assemble your dream team of legendary players. The museum also incorporates audio stories that illustrate how rugby has intersected with historical and political events, such as the sport’s unifying role in post-apartheid South Africa. There’s even a large interactive screen with the latest team standings.
But the building itself scores for sustainability. Everything from heating and cooling to recycling is done to the highest standards. Foote says it was the right thing to do. But people were also asking for it.
“We’ve heard from tour operators especially that they want a more sustainable experience, and so that’s something we were trying to do here,” she says.
That’s also true out in the countryside.
Andy Smith, owner of Like Bikes in Limerick, Ireland. Photo by Christopher Elliott
How biking is part of the green experience in Ireland
Smith, the owner of Like Bikes, sees Ireland’s Greenway project as the centrepiece of its sustainability efforts.
These dedicated bike paths, often repurposed from abandoned railway lines, wind through the Irish countryside, connecting towns and villages.
Smith says the Limerick Greenway, a new 54-kilometre bike path, offers a unique way to experience the area’s beauty while minimizing environmental impact.
“It’s an authentic Irish experience,” he says.
However, Smith’s efforts to become sustainable didn’t stop with renting bikes and e-bikes. He’s also installed solar power to charge the e-bikes at his field base. He also has ambitions to reintroduce biking to the locals in this part of Ireland, where people can use bikes to commute to work or school.
“That hasn’t taken off in Ireland yet,” he says. “But if it did, that would be something.”
Like any destination, Limerick’s journey toward sustainability is a continuous process of learning and adapting. From embracing renewable energy sources to prioritizing local sourcing and educating future generations, this part of Ireland demonstrates that a shared commitment to sustainability can create a ripple effect throughout a community. It’s transforming a city’s tourism industry and fostering a more responsible approach to environmental stewardship.
And it’s there any time you’re ready for a digital detox, of course
Written by: Christopher Elliott
BIO:
Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and the Elliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can reach him here or email him at [email protected].
