Visit the Hunt Museum to see a fascinating collection of art and antiques within Limerick’s Custom House, a heritage waterfront building. The Hunt Museum holds about 2,000 objects personally collected by local historians and antiquarians John and Gertrude Hunt from all over the world and throughout the ages.
Admire the magnificent Palladian architecture and limestone façade of Custom House before entering through its grand main doors. Begin your exploration at your own pace or join one of the museum’s regular guided tours. View artworks by Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Jack Butler Yeats, as well as clothing by Irish designer Sybil Connolly. Investigate Celtic weapons, Bronze Age tools, Greek decorative arts and relics from the medieval period. See the displays of local folk art and traditional dress.
Visit the Treasury Room to discover one of the Hunt Museum’s most notable exhibits. The display of early Christian art includes significant relics from around Europe, the most famous of which is the Greek coin thought to be one of the 30 pieces of silver rewarded to Judas for the betrayal of Jesus Christ.
Docent guides are available throughout the galleries to answer any queries you might have about the artifacts, the collection and the history of the Hunt family. Check out the displays in the temporary exhibition halls and stop at the gift shop to pick up souvenirs and specialty books on antiques and fine arts. The Hunt Museum also has a café.
Reach the Hunt Museum by strolling along the riverfront to the confluence of the River Abbey and the River Shannon in the heart of the city of Limerick. There is an entry fee, except on Sundays when admission is free. The museum is closed on Good Friday, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and St. Stephen’s Day. Free tours of the collection and exhibitions are offered daily. Shannon Airport is a 30-minute drive away. Reach the Hunt Museum with a 15-minute walk from Limerick’s main bus and rail hub, Colbert Station.
