Sustainable Ireland: Here's how Limerick is becoming green

Out on the Limerick Greenway, an old rail line turned into a bike path, you'll find a moving postcard of Irish scenery -- rolling green hills and farms punctuated by historic rail stations.

"It's pure digital detox," says Andy Smith, owner of Like Bikes, a bike rental shop. "You have to switch off your phones, observe nature, hear the birds. You're forced to relax."

That's the idea. There's a quiet sustainability revolution happening in Limerick, Ireland. From its castles to its museums to its new bike paths, tourism officials are betting that visitors will come here for a green vacation -- and maybe a little digital detox, too.?

While this city on Ireland's west coast may not have the same sustainable reputation as Belfast or Dublin, it is catching up fast. You can see it lean into the green in its historic landmarks and innovative businesses, and you can hear it when you talk to residents.

A museum in Limerick that's always been sustainable

The Hunt Museum is one of Limerick's sustainability leaders. It contains the collection of John and Gertrude Hunt, including pieces by Picasso, Renoir and Gauguin, as well as extensive religious artifacts from the early Christian period.

"The Hunts were very much into sustainability," notes tour guide Jackie Shannon, pointing to ancient jugs used for daily tasks. "Some of the jugs are about 6,000 years old."?

The family's use of even ancient vessels in their everyday life speaks to a philosophy of valuing objects, extending their lifespan, and minimizing waste. Even the museum itself is recycled -- a historic Georgian-era custom house along the River Shannon.

The museum's commitment to education also takes a sustainable turn in its large urban garden. The museum uses the garden to educate students, planting strawberries and onions, as well as weld and lady bedstraw, which are used for dyeing fabrics. The idea is to connect environmental issues with cultural significance, fostering a deeper understanding of sustainability's impact on local traditions.?

But it's not the only historical building working on a sustainability project.

Can a historic Irish castle be sustainable?

Across the city, King John's Castle, a 13th-century Norman fortress, is grappling with a different kind of sustainability challenge.

The well-preserved castle explores Ireland's turbulent past through interactive exhibits. You can walk through the castle's sturdy walls, towers, and gatehouse, imagining the sieges and battles that shaped its history. From the castle's tower, you can enjoy panoramic views of the River Shannon and Limerick city. (Related: How an Irish luxury luggage manufacturer became sustainable.)

"One of the biggest sustainability challenges at the moment is the way the building is wired," says Daire Heffernan, the general manager of the castle. "They did it in such a way that the lights on the entire floor are either on or off."

The castle found a workaround, installing energy-efficient LED lighting throughout its exhibits, and it keeps the lights off whenever it can to save energy. In fact, there's a long list of sustainability items the castle managers have undertaken, from recycling to improving its energy efficiency.

The latest project is a wildlife survey to assess the impact of a proposed lighting project on nesting birds and bats.

But Heffernan's greatest sustainability goal is obvious: keeping this landmark preserved for future generations. Ireland has strict historic building codes, so Heffernan and his team must tread carefully.

"We can't so much as put a pin on the ground without permission," he says. "We can't touch anything."

Being sustainable means balancing preservation with progress. It's a refrain you hear a lot in Limerick, including in relation to its newest museum.

The misadventures of Limerick's newest museum

Sustainability is not always easy. Take the International Rugby Experience, for example.

"We're constantly moving toward sustainability," Emma Foote, the museum's marketing and events manager, told me when I visited Limerick last fall.

The museum had an ISO 20121 sustainability certification, reflecting its comprehensive efforts, including the use of renewable electricity sources, promoting local artists in its gift shop, and incorporating motion-sensor lighting throughout the building.?(Related: How do you make an Irish castle sustainable? Like this.)

The Rugby Experience, which opened in May 2023, aimed to be a spiritual home of World Rugby by celebrating the sport's values and highlighting the achievements of legendary players. It featured interactive exhibits that explored various aspects of rugby, such as the laws of the game and the importance of discipline and practice.?

Unfortunately, the museum closed shortly after I visited, underscoring the challenge of creating a sustainable museum in a place like Limerick.

How biking is part of the sustainability in Limerick experience

Smith, the owner of Like Bikes, sees Ireland's Greenway project as the centerpiece of its sustainability efforts.

These dedicated bike paths, often repurposed from abandoned railway lines, wind through the Irish countryside, connecting towns and villages.?

Smith says the Limerick Greenway, a new 54-kilometer bike path, offers a unique way to experience the beauty of the area while minimizing environmental impact.?(Here is everything you need to know before planning your next trip.)

"It's an authentic Irish experience," he says.

But Smith's efforts to become sustainable didn't stop with renting bikes and e-bikes. He's also installed solar power for charging the e-bikes at his field base. And he has ambitions to reintroduce biking to the locals in this part of Ireland, where people can use bikes for commuting to work or school.

"That hasn't taken off in Ireland yet," he says. "But if it did, that would be something."

Limerick's journey toward sustainability, like that of any destination, is a continuous process of learning and adapting. From embracing renewable energy sources to prioritizing local sourcing and educating future generations, this part of Ireland demonstrates that a shared commitment to sustainability can create a ripple effect throughout a community. It's transforming a city’s tourism industry and fostering a more responsible approach to environmental stewardship.?

And it's there any time you're ready for a digital detox, of course.

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers consumers to solve their problems and helps those who can’t. He’s the author of numerous books on consumer advocacy and writes three nationally syndicated columns. He also publishes the Elliott Report, a news site for consumers, and Elliott Confidential, a critically acclaimed newsletter about customer service. If you have a consumer problem you can’t solve, contact him directly through his advocacy website. You can also follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, or sign up for his daily newsletter.

This story originally appeared in the Elliott Report under the headline, Sustainable Ireland: Here’s how Limerick is becoming green.