MY JULY 2025 STAY AT THE ABSOLUTE HOTEL
My July 2025 visit to Limerick was challenging. The weather was dreadful, dominated by a persistent, misty rain that hung in the air like a dense fog, making street photography nearly impossible. This was compounded by a significant gear gamble. I had decided that the Fuji GFX100RF would be my main camera and that a loan Sony A7R5 would be my spare. For the Sony, I only brought one lens, the FE 24-105mm F4, which proved to be a fortunate choice.
I knew the weather would be bad, but it was worse than expected. I did not fully appreciate the problem until I returned home: the Fuji GFX100RF does not perform well in such poor light, and the A7R5 had outperformed it by a huge margin.
Despite the rain and disappointing camera results, the trip was saved by my choice of base. Compared with previous visits, I discovered The Absolute Hotel made life much easier. Its location made short, one-hour photographic sessions viable, allowing me to dash out between the downpours in a way that simply wouldn't have been possible from a different starting point.
Choosing a Base: How Your Hotel Changes How You See a City
I’ve realised that your "base" fundamentally changes your perception of a city or town. Where you start and end your day frames your entire experience of the urban landscape. My time in Limerick is a perfect case study.
For many years, The George Hotel was my go-to. Its location is its key strength—right on O'Connell Street, placing you in the absolute heart of the modern, retail core. You step out of the lobby and you are in the city's commercial centre. I liked it, but as its popularity grew, so did its prices.
So this year, I tried something new. I booked a full week at The Absolute Hotel. And honestly? I thought it was much better. The hotel itself—the room, the comfort, the service—was a significant step up. The only trade-off is the location, though 'trade-off' is perhaps the wrong word; it is simply different. It's set in the city's medieval quarter, by the Abbey River. This isn't a bad location, it's just a different one. You're five minutes from King John's Castle and St. Mary's Cathedral. You're starting your day in "old" Limerick, which gives you a completely different feel for the city's built heritage.
The Next Experiment: Changing Perspectives Again
I had decided to use The Absolute for all my future Limerick trips, but for my upcoming visit in March 2026, I couldn't get a room for my preferred dates. Instead, I've booked The Clayton Hotel. I managed to get a very good deal for three nights. While this is shorter than my new four or five-night preference, it plays perfectly into my new strategy of trying a variety of hotels. As a follow up, or backup, I have a week long booking at the Absolute for September 2026.
The Clayton will offer a third, distinct perspective on Limerick: it's a high-rise, landmark building, and my experience will be defined by those wide, panoramic views of the River Shannon. Ironically, it has all the leisure facilities I'll never use, but the location and the deal make it a fascinating next step. I'm beginning to think this "multi-hotel" approach is the best way to understand a city's different personalities. Going forward, I may even consider renting apartments... but that’s a thought for another day.
I knew the weather would be bad, but it was worse than expected. I did not fully appreciate the problem until I returned home: the Fuji GFX100RF does not perform well in such poor light, and the A7R5 had outperformed it by a huge margin.
Despite the rain and disappointing camera results, the trip was saved by my choice of base. Compared with previous visits, I discovered The Absolute Hotel made life much easier. Its location made short, one-hour photographic sessions viable, allowing me to dash out between the downpours in a way that simply wouldn't have been possible from a different starting point.
Choosing a Base: How Your Hotel Changes How You See a City
I’ve realised that your "base" fundamentally changes your perception of a city or town. Where you start and end your day frames your entire experience of the urban landscape. My time in Limerick is a perfect case study.
For many years, The George Hotel was my go-to. Its location is its key strength—right on O'Connell Street, placing you in the absolute heart of the modern, retail core. You step out of the lobby and you are in the city's commercial centre. I liked it, but as its popularity grew, so did its prices.
So this year, I tried something new. I booked a full week at The Absolute Hotel. And honestly? I thought it was much better. The hotel itself—the room, the comfort, the service—was a significant step up. The only trade-off is the location, though 'trade-off' is perhaps the wrong word; it is simply different. It's set in the city's medieval quarter, by the Abbey River. This isn't a bad location, it's just a different one. You're five minutes from King John's Castle and St. Mary's Cathedral. You're starting your day in "old" Limerick, which gives you a completely different feel for the city's built heritage.
The Next Experiment: Changing Perspectives Again
I had decided to use The Absolute for all my future Limerick trips, but for my upcoming visit in March 2026, I couldn't get a room for my preferred dates. Instead, I've booked The Clayton Hotel. I managed to get a very good deal for three nights. While this is shorter than my new four or five-night preference, it plays perfectly into my new strategy of trying a variety of hotels. As a follow up, or backup, I have a week long booking at the Absolute for September 2026.
The Clayton will offer a third, distinct perspective on Limerick: it's a high-rise, landmark building, and my experience will be defined by those wide, panoramic views of the River Shannon. Ironically, it has all the leisure facilities I'll never use, but the location and the deal make it a fascinating next step. I'm beginning to think this "multi-hotel" approach is the best way to understand a city's different personalities. Going forward, I may even consider renting apartments... but that’s a thought for another day.