King John's Castle

About this place

King John's Castle (Irish: Caisleán Luimnigh) also known as Limerick Castle is a 13th-century castle located on King's Island in Limerick, Ireland, next to the River Shannon. Although the site dates back to 922 when the Vikings lived on the Island, the castle itself was built on the orders of King John of England in 1200. Some of the external walls, towers and fortifications remain, and the site is open for visitors. The remains of a Viking settlement were uncovered during archaeological excavations at the site in 1900. The castle experienced five sieges during the 17th century. The walls were severely damaged during the 1642 siege when the castle was occupied by Protestants fleeing the Irish Rebellion of 1641 and was besieged by an Irish Confederate force under Garret Barry. Between 2011 and 2013, the castle underwent a €5.7 million redevelopment to improve the visitor facilities of the castle. Among the improvements were a modern visitor centre, interactive exhibitions with computer generated animations, and a cafe.

Visitor Information

Opening hours

Mo-Su 09:30-18:00

Heritage status

Protected Heritage Site

Getting There & Parking

King John's Castle is located in County Limerick, roughly 1 km (5 min drive) from Limerick and 224 km (3h 20m) from Dublin. The nearest public car park is 110 m away. Nearby highlights within a short drive include The North Munster Masonic Centre (0.0 km away).