Irish Palatine Heritage Centre
Small heritage centre in the old railway buildings at Rathkeale telling the story of the Palatine settlers from the Rhineland in Ireland.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Irish Palatine Heritage Centre belongs to the Irish Palatine Association, which was founded in 1989 to preserve the heritage of the Palatines and to reconnect their descendants with the Palatinate in Germany. The Palatines were Protestant refugees from the Rhineland who settled in Ireland, mainly around Rathkeale in County Limerick, in the early eighteenth century.
The centre is housed in the old railway buildings in Rathkeale, on the route of the Limerick Greenway. Its exhibition follows the Palatine experience from their German places of origin, through their settlement in Ireland, to their later spread across the English-speaking world, with artefacts, photographs and graphics. It gives special attention to their contribution to Irish farming and to the growth of Methodism.
Besides the exhibition, the centre has a library and archive for family research, a tea-room and a small gift selection.
Highlights
- Exhibition on the Palatine settlers from the Rhineland in Ireland
- Artefacts, photographs and graphics
- Contribution of the Palatines to Irish farming and Methodism
- Archive and library for family research
- Housed in the old station buildings on the Limerick Greenway
Permanent exhibition
- The Irish Palatine experience – An exhibition on the Palatines from their German origins to their settlement around Rathkeale and their spread across the English-speaking world.
- Operated by
- Irish Palatine Association
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €8 |
|---|
Adult admission is €8 according to Limerick City and County Council. An older page of the Irish Palatine Association lists lower prices for adults, students and families.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The centre is in the old railway buildings at Rathkeale, just off the N21 Limerick–Tralee road at the eastern end of the town and on the Limerick Greenway.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant: not available
- Museum shop
Tea-room, gift selection, library and archive; car and bus parking is mentioned in an older listing.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
