Overview
Askeaton (Irish: Eas Géitine, ‘Waterfall of Géitine’) sits on a bend of the River Deel, about 27 km west of Limerick city, and is reckoned the oldest town in the county. Two medieval monuments define it: Desmond Castle, on a rock in the river, and the Franciscan friary just beyond the main street. The castle is the more famous, but it’s closed to visitors at the moment – so the friary, one of the most complete medieval abbeys in Ireland, is the one to build a stop around.
The Franciscan friary
Founded in 1389 by Gerald FitzGerald, 4th Earl of Desmond, the friary survives far better than most Irish monastic ruins. Its cloister still stands, arch after arch, and among the carvings is a rare medieval figure of St Francis showing the stigmata. It was an unguided site last we knew, open daily from 9am to 6.30pm, and free – you can wander the cloister walk at your own pace. If you want the history filled in, tours can be arranged through the local tourist office (087 4438521) or guide Anthony Sheehy (086 0850174). Morning or late afternoon is the time to photograph the cloister, when the light comes through the arches.
Desmond Castle
The castle dates from 1199, when William de Burgo built it on a rock in the Deel. After 1348 it became the power base of the Fitzgerald Earls of Desmond, and its banqueting hall is rated one of the finest medieval secular buildings in Ireland. In 1579 it held out against a siege by the English general Sir Nicholas Malby, one of the flashpoints of the Second Desmond Rebellion.
One thing to know before you go: the castle is currently closed to the public for conservation, and Heritage Ireland lists it as external view only. You can still see it well from the bridge and riverbank – it’s hard to miss, sitting mid-river in the centre of town. On its grounds stand the red-brick remains of a Hell Fire Gentlemen’s Club, built around 1740, an unexpected 18th-century footnote to the medieval fortress. For the full castle history, see the separate Askeaton Castle guide.
Churches and the burial ground
The Catholic church of St Mary’s was built in 1851 of local limestone, replacing an earlier building destroyed by fire in 1847, and has stained-glass windows worth a look inside. A short way off is the Reilig Mhuire burial ground, an old parish cemetery still in use, with a quiet space for a pause; the paths are uneven, so wear sturdy shoes.
Practical information
- Getting there: the N69 runs through Askeaton. Bus Éireann route 314 connects the town with Limerick city.
- Parking: on-street parking is available in the town centre.
- Coral Leisure (Askeaton Pool & Leisure): temporarily closed since 2023 for capital works, with plans to reopen – check locally before relying on it.
- Access: the friary and castle grounds have uneven, historic surfaces; the riverside paths and main street are more manageable.
Nearby
- Curraghchase Forest Park – 313 hectares of woodland and lakeside trails, about 8 km of walking, a short drive east.
- Adare – the thatched-cottage village, roughly 15 km on.
- Foynes – the Flying Boat Museum, along the Shannon Estuary to the west.
- Abbeyfeale – a market town on the River Feale, and a jumping-on point for the Limerick Greenway (accessible at nearby Rathkeale).
Time your visit for the morning: the friary is at its best in early light, and you’ll have the cloister largely to yourself.