Along Limerick Greenway, you’ll walk through a Victorian Era railway tunnel, visit ancient castles and abbeys, bask in the solitude of a native forest, and meet the people that make Limerick unique. Make sure not to miss these key discovery points!
Rathkeale Station
Rathkeale is a thriving market town and was an essential stop on the old Limerick to Tralee railway line. Its old railway station, opened in 1867, still stands to this day – just not in the same place. To accommodate the expanding road network of the late 20th century, it was moved stone by stone to its current location, protecting a piece of Limerick heritage.
Ardagh Station
Ardagh Station was served by its first train in 1867, just a year before the discovery of the iconic Ardagh Chalice. Part of a hoard of early Christian art, the chalice is on display in the National Museum in Dublin, and a replica can be seen at the Hunt Museum in Limerick.
Ferguson’s Viaduct
Ferguson’s Viaduct is a testament to the ingenuity of Victorian engineering, bridging the line for almost a century and still standing today. Built in cast iron, the bridge is one of the best surviving examples of 19th century railway architecture in Ireland.
Barnagh Tunnel
Opened in 1880, the Barnagh Tunnel was dug using explosives and pick axes, and runs 100-metres underground through the most difficult terrain of the old Limerick to Tralee line. Visitors can now walk or cycle through the tunnel and see the details of the architecture up close.
Barnagh Viewing Point
From the Barnagh Viewing Point, 164 metres above sea level, you can see the fertile pastures of the Golden Vale, towns like Newcastle West, Abbeyfeale, Adare and Askeaton, and even as far as neighbouring counties Clare and Cork. With a picnic area, the viewing point is also the perfect stop for a rest after a gentle climb to reach the top.
Barnagh Station
This station marked the steepest point of the Limerick to Tralee Railway line, as the plains of Limerick met the mountainous area of the Sliabh Luachra on the border with Cork and Kerry. It was an essential stop for steam locomotives to replenish their coal and water so they could continue the journey.
Tullig Wood
The natural tranquillity of Tullig Wood stands out from the vibrant market towns and open plains that dominate the Limerick Greenway. The forest is made up of mostly native trees and wildflowers, and is an important wildlife habitat for birds, badgers, and butterflies.
Port Castle
On the banks of the Feale sits the ruins of Port Castle, known locally as ‘Purt Castle’, which once defended the approach to Abbeyfeale. Built by the Earls of Desmond in the 1400s, it was originally known as ‘Caisleán Phort Trí Namhad’, Irish for ‘Port Castle of The Three Enemies’, and later as ‘Portrinard Castle’.