Limerick

In an old stone building that was once a corn market, Saturday mornings become the best time to capture the fusion of flavours, music and nice banter. With its grand new canopy, it’s a place buzzing with activity that gives the opportunity to savour the best pastries of the city and to buy the local artisan's works.

Make your way into the Limerick City Gallery to find a superb collection of Irish painting. The selection is quite vast, but among the works that should not be missed are "Chairoplanes", Jack B. Yeats’s portrayal of an amusement ride, and Seán Keating's "Simple Folk".

Even though he was born in Brooklyn, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt was educated in Limerick and wrote the book "Angela’s Ashes", which is about his childhood in both cities. His old school is now a museum, and a classroom from the 1930s is stored inside.

In the White House, the city’s oldest pub,The Irish President Michael D. Higgins has recited his poetry. Nowadays everyone can do the same with their own works, while free snacks are served for those who listen.

A tour of Thomond Park stadium where Munster beat the All Blacks 12-0 in 1978 is a great place to visit if you're either a rugby fan or just want to experience the city's sporting culture. Tours that go through areas that can be seen only by players and a museum are also available.