Limerick: A guide to living and working in this city

Based in the mid-west of The Republic of Ireland, Limerick has a population of 191,809. Plus, it’s the country’s third biggest city behind Dublin and Cork. Its 18th century Georgian housing with the River Shannon flowing closeby makes this city one of the most attractive places to live and work in the country.

Limerick’s latest development plan, Limerick 2030, is part of the council’s determination to boost the area’s retail and education sectors. The building will generate 1.4 million square feet of office space. And, this will lead to another 5,000 jobs for locals in the next five years.

With that said, now could be the ideal time to move to Limerick! So let’s take a look at what it’s like to live and work in this city.

Working in Limerick

Key sectors

You’ll be pleased to know that the local economy is expanding across all sectors. In 2016, the mid-west experienced the country’s highest rate of employment growth. In fact, employment rose by 7.4%. The city is keen to drive investment and with Limerick 2030 in the works, it’s already heading in the right direction.

If you’re interested in the pharmaceutical sector your next destination could be the National Technology Park. Built in 1984 across from the R445 in Castleroy, the building holds 3,000 professionals across 80 companies. This makes it a real driver for local business. Particularly in the research and development of new medicinal products.

And if you thought Dublin was the only hotspot in the country for technology, think again. Many of the biggest technology companies in the world have offices in Limerick.

Employers to note

The Republic of Ireland’s Minister for Employment and Small Business, Pat Breen, credited Limerick’s growing employment rate to local trade as well as multi-national businesses. For instance, Virgin Media recently created 120 new jobs at its Limerick office.

Virgin Media bases customer care, sales, and back office finance in Limerick. And, it’s made plans to connect 10,000 more local homes to its home and broadband networks.

Other local companies in the mobile sector include Three and Vodafone.

Those looking for a career in the pharmaceutical industry will be well at home in Limerick. In fact, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Vistakon, and Fleming Medical are all in the city.

BD, another giant in the sector, has also made plans to open a research centre in Limerick. Its expansion will create 100 new jobs for research professionals in fields such as microbiology and cellular research analysis.

But if technology is your thing, Limerick also features Dell, Kemp Technologies, and Microsoft.

Did you know?

Limerick will always be proud of its rugby league team, Munster. One of the most famous clubs on the continent, the team has an impressive trophy cabinet. That includes three Guinness Pro 12 titles, two European Champions Cups, one Celtic cup, and one British & Irish Cup.

You can catch a game at their 25,000-seater Thomond Park ground which is a short walk away from Colbert station. Works on the stadium were completed in September 2008, and the local faithful certainly make for a raucous atmosphere. The club was keen to focus on the matchday experience when developing the arena. So, now fans can enjoy the Munster Experience Museum before kick-off.

Living in Limerick

Life in Limerick

The locals are a welcoming bunch and take a lot of pride in their city. In fact, the city even entered the 2020 European Capital of Culture competition. It narrowly lostout to Rijeka, Croatia, and Galway, located on the west coast of The Republic of Ireland between the River Corrib and the Atlantic Ocean.

Limerick’s bid aimed to support and grow the local creative industries. It was part of a strategy to drive professionals involved in theatre, art, and music to the city.

One of the programme’s most impressive features was the Sonic Union Festival. This is a week-long event showcasing the latest classical music. The festival featured events at Limerick’s University Concert Hall, Ireland’s first ever purpose-built concert hall. As well as performances from the Irish Chamber Orchestra.

In that sense, Limerick has plenty to keep you busy if you’re interested in culture.

The Hunt Museum sits at the heart of the city. Nestled between The River Shannon and O’Brien’s Park. Opened in 1978, the museum houses 2,000 works of art and antiques collected by the Hunt family, a group of antique dealers who chose to store their collection there before they died.

Elsewhere, you can tap into more history with King John’s Castle. This boasts a range of art, gardens, and restored villages dating back to when the castle first opened in the 13th century.

If it’s retail therapy you’re looking for, Dooradoyle, one of the city’s newest suburbs, is home to The Crescent Shopping Centre, offering free parking, Ominplex Cinemas, and H&M. On the other hand Parkway Shopping Centre, located in Groody Hill by The University of Limerick, should keep you busy with CEX, Game Stop, and Dunnes.

Meanwhile, the area’s pubs such as Nancy Blakes and The Copper Room are known for their character, while the most popular nightclub in town is Trinity Rooms.

Transport in Limerick

If you need to drive between Limerick and any of the country’s main destinations, the town connects to Dublin via the N7, Cork via the N20, and Ennis and Galway via the N18.

For more local journeys Bus Éireann proves 12 services at only €2.20 for an adult single. The city’s train service, operated by Irish Rail, provides frequent journeys from Colbert station to Dublin, Cork, Ellis, and Galway.

Housing in Limerick

Another piece of good news if you’re considering moving to Limerick—it’s one of the world’s cheapest places to live according to the 12th Annual Demographia International Housing Survey, with an average house costing only €92,800.

On top of that, the locals earn an average household income of €51,200. Limerick is also one of only three cities in the country whose residents earn over the average disposable income of €18,707.

Schooling in Limerick

With Limerick 2030 aiming to drive business in the city, educating the area’s next generation will of course be a priority. The city features 33 primary schools and 15 secondary schools. Indeed, one of the area’s primary schools, Corpus Christi School in Moyross, made headlines earlier this year when it introduced mindfulness to its curriculum.

The University of Limerick specialises in business, education, health sciences, and engineering. Munster train at the university’s sports centre, UL Sports, which also features full-size football pitches and tennis courts.

If you’re wondering how to get into the education sector Limerick 2030 will also provide a range of new university buildings.

Now you have a picture of what it’s like to live and work in this city, take a look at the latest jobs in Limerick.