The museum collection was officially donated to the people of Ireland by the Hunt family in 1974.
The Custom House building was constructed in 1769 and is considered one of the finest examples of 18th-century architecture in Limerick.
The collection includes an original bronze horse sketch attributed to Leonardo da Vinci.
The museum holds significant items related to Irish history, including the 1916 Rising and the Irish Civil War.
The building was designed by the Italian architect Davis Ducart, who was a prominent figure in Irish 18th-century architecture.
The collection contains a rare 15th-century Limoges enamel casket.
It is one of the few places in Ireland to hold a dedicated collection of ethnographic artifacts from around the world.
The Hunt Museum houses the personal collection of John and Gertrude Hunt, featuring over 2,000 works of art and antiquities. The museum is located within the Custom House, a protected 18th-century Palladian-style building on the banks of the River Shannon. Notable holdings include pieces by Pablo Picasso, Jack B. Yeats, and Renoir, alongside significant archaeological artifacts. The collection spans from the Neolithic period to the 20th century. It features one of the most comprehensive assemblages of medieval and modern art in Ireland. The building itself is historically significant, serving as the city's original customs office designed by Davis Ducart. The museum actively uses its collection to support educational initiatives and public exhibitions. It is centrally positioned within Limerick's medieval core.
The riverside facade of the Custom House, which provides a clean shot of the Palladian architecture against the River Shannon.
Check the museum's rotating temporary exhibition calendar online before visiting as they frequently host contemporary local art.
Use the audio guide provided at the front desk to understand the provenance of the more obscure archaeological finds.
Take time to visit the museum garden, which features outdoor sculpture installations overlooking the river.
Do not skip the upper floors, as many visitors focus only on the ground floor, missing the extensive fine art gallery upstairs.
Closed on Mondays during the winter season; open daily during summer months.
