Name: The Hunt Museum
Rating: 5.0

The Hunt Museum

The Hunt Museum, Hunt Museum, Rutland Street, Prior's-Land, Limerick, Ireland

1-90 Years

Paid

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Description

The Hunt Museum is an exceptional, world-class cultural attraction located in the heart of Limerick City Centre that provides a memorable educational journey for families. If you are looking for the best things to do with kids in Limerick City, this historic landmark offers a fascinating window into global history, ancient civilisations, and fine art. Housed inside the magnificent 18th-century Palladian Custom House on Rutland Street, the museum allows children to travel through time and discover a collection of over 2,000 antiquities spanning four millennia.

Admission to the permanent galleries is highly budget-friendly for families, with children under 16 entering completely free of charge. For adults, tickets to explore the full collection are priced at €12.50, making it an affordable and high-value cultural destination.

If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids, The Hunt Museum serves up a perfect combination of hands-on interactive education and local storytelling. It provides an ideal setting for an educational morning or afternoon of exploring ancient treasures, enjoying creative family crafts, and relaxing by the banks of the River Shannon.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: No

Features

Key Features

Interactive Cultural Education: Unlike static traditional museum galleries, the displays offer unique hands-on experiences with replica items designed for children to touch.
Creative Family Workshops: The museum develops drop-in arts, crafts, and creative activities for kids throughout the year to foster imagination.
Architectural Masterpiece: A gorgeous historic riverfront building boasting soaring ceilings, limestone facades, and panoramic views of the water.

Detailed Highlights

The Ancient Civilization Vaults: An incredible collection of priceless historical objects tracking 5,000 years of global human history. Children will love investigating the real Egyptian mummy case, ancient Greek bronze works, and primitive Stone Age tool sets.
The Picasso & Renoir Fine Art Gallery: A beautifully laid-out exhibition space presenting works by legendary world-class artists. Teenagers and older children can view original masterpieces by Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Jack Butler Yeats up close.
The Sybil Connolly Sketchbook Display: A spectacular display highlighting traditional Irish design heritage. Visitors can learn about Ireland's most famous fashion designer, who famously crafted luxury garments using fine Limerick lace and pleated linen for clients like Jacqueline Kennedy.
The Medieval Weaponry Collection: A thrilling exhibit area featuring authentic historical tools and armor from the Middle Ages. Kids can study real Celtic weapons and Bronze Age axes while learning about Ireland's ancient military and defensive history.
The Riverside Cafe Terrace: A delightful on-site dining space located on the ground floor of the historic Custom House. Families can relax together while overlooking the confluence of the River Abbey, the River Shannon, and the Curragower Falls.

Detailed Inventory

The Palladian Custom House: The elegant, historic 1765 limestone building designed by Italian architect Davis Ducarte.
The Tactile Replica Hub: Dedicated interactive stations where children are encouraged to physically handle historically accurate model artifacts.
The Hunt Collection Galleries: The core museum rooms housing the 2,000 objects personally collected by John and Gertrude Hunt.
The Outdoor Marina Quay: The scenic paved waterfront walking zone immediately bordering the museum grounds.
The Local Folk Art Exhibit: Displays showcasing historic regional traditional dress, everyday items, and Irish domestic history.

Facilities

Toilets & Accessibility: Clean public restrooms are available on-site, and full wheelchair or stroller access is provided via a passenger lift to all gallery floors.
The Gift Shop: A wonderfully stocked souvenir outlet selling educational puzzles, eco-friendly wooden toys, and local history books.
The Museum Cafe Kitchen: A fully licensed eatery serving locally sourced dishes, vegetable soups, and child-friendly snacks with plant milk options.

What to see

What Visitors Love

The completely free admission tier for children under 16, offering incredible value for large families.
The interactive replica exhibits that keep high-energy children engaged without the fear of breaking fragile antiquities.
The excellent riverside terrace views from the cafe, making it an incredibly relaxing lunch spot for parents.
The full lift accessibility across multiple floors, allowing double strollers to navigate the Georgian building comfortably.

What Visitors Don't Like

The original 18th-century staircases can be tiring for families moving between galleries without using the lifts.
On-site parking directly outside the main gates is highly restricted and requires tracking down local public city parking lots.
Some of the temporary specialized exhibition halls may carry independent, separate ticket pricing fees.

Pro-Tips

Visit on a Sunday: While standard weekday entry requires an adult fee, admission to the main permanent collection is completely free for everyone on Sundays.
Book a Guided Tour: Take advantage of the 90-minute daily guided tours led by passionate docent volunteers to unlock the most exciting stories behind the artifacts.
Combine Your Heritage Passes: Consider purchasing a combined Limerick Heritage Pass if you intend to visit nearby sites like King John's Castle on the same day.

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Adult: €12.50
Concession (Over 65s, Student, Unemployed): €10
U16s: Go Free (This rate does not apply to schools or youth groups. One adult with maximum of four children)
Adult Group (5+ adults): €10 pp

Pricing URL: https://www.huntmuseum.com/visit/book-tickets/

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Monday: Closed
Tuesday to Saturday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday: 11:00 am to 5:00 pm

Note: The museum is closed annually on Good Friday, Christmas Day, St. Stephen's Day, and New Year's Day.

Address: The Hunt Museum, Hunt Museum, Rutland Street, Prior's-Land, Limerick, Ireland

Post Code: V94 EV8A

Council: Limerick City and Co

County: Limerick

By Bus & Train: The museum sits a comfortable 15-minute walk north from Colbert Station, the city's central public transport hub.
By Car: Navigate into Limerick City Centre towards the riverfront quays at Rutland Street near the confluence of the Shannon and Abbey rivers.
Car Parking: There is no dedicated visitor parking directly on the museum grounds. Families can use pay-and-display street parking or nearby multi-storey public garages including Arthur's Quay, Euro Car Parks on Charlotte's Quay, and Q-Park on Cruises Street.