Limerick Junction railway station is both a stop on the Dublin Heuston–Cork InterCity route and a remarkable railway complex: original features, ashlar stone and brickwork point to the heyday of rail travel in the 19th century. Connections to Limerick are available. This means different interests can inform your choice of destination: railway architecture, horse racing and a long-distance walking trail that ends at Limerick Junction.
Railway history at the station
The station and its associated railway administration building were built in 1848. The station retains original features and elaborate ashlar stone and brick detailing. As part of a historically significant railway group at an important railway junction, it recalls the heyday of rail travel in the 19th century.
The former stationmaster’s house also dates from 1848. It retains many original features and is part of this historically significant railway group; today, it is a private residence. The signal box is an integral part of the station and was built around 1850. Its features include a slate roof, limestone walls, a timber-clad porch and an external steel staircase. Together, the buildings show different aspects of railway architecture, from the station and administration building to the signal box.
Limerick Junction is served by the Dublin Heuston–Cork InterCity route; connections to Limerick are available. Timetables and service patterns may change, so check the connection for your travel date if rail travel is important to your plans.
Racecourse and ringfort nearby
Tipperary Racecourse is beside a railway station and is about a five-minute walk from Limerick Junction station. The first Tipperary Races meeting was held in March 1848. Racing has taken place at the current site in Limerick Junction since September 1916. The racecourse hosts both Flat and National Hunt racing. Race meetings may be affected by redevelopment work or changes to the schedule. If you are planning a visit around a race, check the event dates.
Carron Ringfort lies around two kilometres east of Limerick Junction. It is a state-owned National Monument managed by the Office of Public Works. The ringfort is oval and measures 36 m × 32 m; its features include an embankment, ditches, and inner and outer banks. The term “trivallate ringfort” refers to sites with three banks or ditches. Visits are unguided; take care around the monument.
The Ballyhoura Way as a walking trail
The Ballyhoura Way is an 89 km waymarked long-distance walking trail running from John’s Bridge in the north of County Cork to Limerick Junction in County Tipperary. Limerick Junction is the route’s endpoint. The trail follows in the footsteps of Donal Cam O’Sullivan Beare, leader of the O’Sullivan clan in the 17th century. The route thus combines a specific trail with a historical story; visitors interested in the walking trail can take both aspects into account when planning their trip.
The route includes paved roads, forestry tracks, open moorland and field paths. It also passes through pastureland and along rivers. The varied surfaces and landscapes give a diverse impression of the trail, with no suggestion that every section is alike. Conditions can vary by season, so take this into account when planning your walk. The 89 km distance describes the long-distance trail, not the duration of a single visit to Limerick Junction.
Golf hotel near Limerick Junction
The Great National Ballykisteen Golf Hotel is near Limerick Junction. The hotel has an 18-hole, par-72 championship golf course designed by Des Smyth and Associates. The grounds cover 170 acres, near the Galtee Mountains and the Glen of Aherlow. Lakes and streams feature on twelve holes. This gives you a specific golf-related option to consider when choosing accommodation in the area, distinct from the railway buildings and the long-distance walking trail.
Discover more destinations: Ninemilehouse, Dundrum, Cashel, Kilsheelan, Ballinderry, Tipperary, Bansha, Ardfinnan
For the wider travel overview: South Tipperary.
