Why The Hunt Museum Should Be On Your Radar When Visiting Limerick 

The Hunt Museum is well worth a visit if you’re in Limerick City.

The museum boasts the collection of John and Getrude hunt who amassed over 2,000 works of art during their lifetime.

Below, you’ll find info on the exhibitions, the collections and everything you need to know before visitng.

Some quick need-to-knows about The Hunt Museum

Although a visit to the Hunt Museum is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

1. Location

The Hunt Museum is located in the centre of Limerick City, overlooking the River Shannon, on Rutland Street, around a 5-minute stroll from the Milk Market.

2. Opening hours

The Hunt Museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm, from Tuesday to Saturday, and from 11 am to 5 pm on Sunday. The Museum is closed on Monday. 

3. Admission

An adult ticket will cost you €7.50 while student and senior tickets are €5.50. Children under the age of 16 don’t go free and you can also get a discount for groups of five or more adults. Buy your tickets online here (affiliate link).

4. The tours

There are three different tours available at the Hunt Museum. You won’t have to pay an extra charge to join in and they last about one hour. Each tour explores a different area of the museum from modern art paintings to artefacts dating back to the Middle Ages.

About The Hunt Museum 

The Hunt Museum is a collection of approximately 2,000 objects and works of art collected by John and Getrude Hunt.

John Hunt was born in England while Gertrude Hartman was from Mannheim in Germany. The couple shared a passion for all things history and art.

The early days

John worked with international museum and famous art collectors, buying and selling works of art. In 1934, he opened an antique shop and art gallery in London.

At the same time, the couple travelled extensively, buying works of art along the way. A couple of years later, in 1940, they moved to Lough Gur in Limerick – an area steeped in history.

John began working with the team who were conducting excavations in the area and he became an expect in archaeological finds.

Later years

The couple continued to grow their already impressive collection and in 1954 they left Limerick and moved to Dublin.

Many years later, in 1976, they made the decision to donate their collection to the people of Ireland. However, the Irish Government declined the offer which resulted in the creation of The Hunt Museum Trust.

In 1996, The Hunt Museum opened its doors and it has been welcoming locals and tourists alike ever since.

Things to do at The Hunt Museum

There’s plenty to discover at The Hunt Museum during your visit. Here’s a speedy insight into what you can expect:

1. The exhibitions

The Hunt Museum hosts a number of temporary exhibitions that change every few months. In order to access the exhibitions, you’ll need to get a specific ticket, so make sure to check the official website for prices.

Some of the previous exhibitions displayed at the Hunt Museum include: ‘Lavery & Osborne: observing life’ featuring works from Sir John Lavery and Frederick Osborne, two 19th century Irish artists, and ‘Best Costume Goes To…’ showcasing costumes from Irish movies and television productions. 

2. The collections

The permanent collections at the Hunt Museum feature a huge number of works of art and antiquities collected by John and Gertrude Hunt.

The Hunt Museum, is home to several artefacts from Greece, Italy, Egypt and the Olmec civilisation, a pre-Columbian civilisation from Mesoamerica.

Here you will also find a variety of Irish Prehistoric archeological material with pieces from the Mesolithic, the Iron Age and the Bronze Age.

The Hunt Museum also features early Christian artefacts, such as a collection of monastic bells and a unique 9th-century Antrim Cross.

3. Events

The Hunt Museum also hosts a number of events, especially during the summer months when the outside garden can be accessed. Make sure to check their calendar to see the latest ones and pre-book your ticket online.

Some of the previous events held here include jazz sessions as well as games of chess, quoits and boules held in the outside garden. This museum also organises tours of the Custom House, the 19th-century building where the Hunt Museum is currently located. 

4. The guided tour

At the Hunt Museum, you will also get the chance to participate in one of the many guided tours free of charge lasting approximately one hour.

Every guided tour focuses on a particular area of the collection and during your visit, your guide will tell you everything there is to know about the different pieces of art exposed as well as the lives of the collectors.

You can choose whether to focus on modern art paintings or visit the ancient weapons and tools from the Celtic period.

Things to do near The Hunt Museum

One of the beauties of the museum is that it’s a short spin away from many of the best places to visit in Limerick.

Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from the Hunt Museum (plus places to eat and where to grab a post-adventure pint!).

1. King John’s Castle (5-minute walk)

King John’s Castle dates back to the late 12th-century and was built to protect the city of Limerick. The tour here is excellent and it’s arguably one of the most impressive castles in Limerick.

2. St Mary’s Cathedral (5-minute walk)

St Mary’s Cathedral is located on Bridge Street and it was founded in 1168. It is the oldest building in Limerick which still maintains its original function to this day. During its 850 years of history, this building has witnessed sieges, wars, famines and invasions. 

3. The Milk Market (5-minute walk)

The Milk Market is located on Cornmarket Row and is the perfect spot for a bite-to-eat. There’s also heaps of great trad pubs in Limerick if you fancy a pint!

4. St John’s Cathedral (10-minute walk)

St John’s Cathedral is located in the heart of Limerick City and it boasts one of the tallest spires in Ireland. It has an impressive interior and exterior and it’s well worth a visit.

FAQs about the Hunt Museum

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘How much is it in?’ to ‘Where do you park?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.