These are the top three places in the annual tidy towns competition in Ireland’s county Limerick
- 1st Place: Adare – Frequently named Ireland’s prettiest village, Adare is a picture-perfect destination with thatched-roof cottages, romantic medieval ruins like Desmond Castle and Adare Abbey, and the stunning Adare Manor estate with its world-class golf course and luxury hotel. It is the epitome of heritage and elegance.
- 2nd Place: Galbally – A friendly, tidy village sitting at the very foot of the breathtaking Galtee Mountains, making it a premier gateway for hillwalking and outdoor adventure. Its strong community spirit is evident, and key attractions include the nearby historic Mitchelstown Cave and the serene Glen of Aherlow.
- 3rd Place: Castleconnell – A charming and prosperous village on the majestic River Shannon, renowned for its fishing, elegant Georgian architecture, and scenic riverside walks. It’s a haven for outdoor pursuits, from kayaking to golf, and its traditional pubs and restaurants offer warm hospitality in a beautiful setting.
The 2025 Irish Restaurant Award winners for county Limerick
- Overall: 1826 Adare
- Café: Café Rosé
- Casual Dining: Hook & Ladder
- Chef: Angel Pirev of The Mustard Seed at Echo Lodge
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: The East Room Restaurant
- Customer Service: Cornstore Limerick
- Employee Excellence Award: Milan Gautam of The Savoy Hotel
- Gastro Pub: Collins Bar Dooradoyle
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: The Oak Room at Adare Manor
- Innovator: 1314 Limerick
- Local Food Hero: Julius Fako, Republic of Grill
- Newcomer: The Olive Tree Restaurant
- Pub: The Creamery
- Restaurant Manager: John Edward Joyce of The Mustard Seed at Echo Lodge
- Sustainable Practices: Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel & Spa
- Use of Social Media: 101 Limerick
- Wine Experience: The Copper Room
- World Cuisine: Dasco DeLi
Awards
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Restaurant awards
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Limerick:
Introduction – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Camping – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Gardens – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells – Hotels – Hotels8 – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Musicians – Name – New – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints – Spas – Sports – Sunsets– Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers – 1837 – 1846 – 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –
Limerick combines historic landmarks with riverside charm, with Limerick City’s King John’s Castle offering insights into medieval history along the Shannon. The Hunt Museum showcases an eclectic art collection, while Adare’s thatched cottages and historic manor add picturesque appeal. Other attractions include the nearby Ballyhoura Mountains’ cycling trails. Limerick is Ireland’s tenth largest county by size (2,686 sq km), and ninth largest by population (209,536). Population peaked at 330,029 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 133,339 in 1971. In terms of hospitality, Limerick is Ireland’s seventh most visited tourist county with around 420,000 international visitors per year.
2025 Irish Restaurant awards by county:
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
