The building was originally a Carnegie library (he built several in Ireland). It has been upgraded over the years with lovely light-filled galleries and a café that actually makes good coffee. The mandate is for shows by contemporary artists, in conjunction with in-house or visiting curators. It also maintains a collection of Irish art of historical importance, but unfortunately only a small selection of this is on show at any one time. Do not visit looking for oil paintings from the nineteenth century. But do visit if you wish to be surprised by how cutting edge Limerick is on the arts scene. There is no shop, but catalogues are available for purchase if you ask at the front desk.