New master plan will aim to transform King John’s Castle

A NEW master plan will look to transform King John’s Castle into a world-class visitor attraction.

The iconic 13th-century castle’s revamp will be devised by a multi-disciplinary design team led by international design practice Galmstrup Architects.

They will aim to create a roadmap for “maximising the potential of one of Ireland’s foremost cultural and heritage sites,” a spokesperson for Discover Limerick DAC said.

Limerick City and County Council took over the operation of the castle from Shannon Heritage in April 2022, with all business operations and staff transferred to Discover Limerick DAC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Limerick City and County Council.

Last year, €2.264 million in government funding was announced for King John’s Castle’s continued development.

“The consultants for this project have been appointed following a public procurement competition conducted through the course of 2023,” the spokesperson said.

The master plan will be expected to identify opportunities for the castle, increasing its value as a visitor attraction.

The castle is currently open to the public 362 days of the year and welcomes more than 100,000 visitors annually.

Welcoming the appointment, Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Councillor Gerald Mitchell said that King John’s Castle has been the jewel in the crown of Limerick dating back to the 13th century.

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“It was the fortress on which so much of our proud Limerick history pivots but what we are now embarking on is turning this incredible opportunity we have here on the banks of the Shannon into a truly world-class visitor attraction for the future,” he added.

Minister of State with Responsibility for Local Government and Planning, Kieran O’Donnell TD said he was delighted to have secured the €2.264m in funding for the project.

“King John’s Castle is one of the finest Irish castles with a rich history and sits on the banks of our majestic and internationally renowned River Shannon,” he added.