Ireland's Empty Towns: Social changes have hollowed out County Limerick's market towns

Social and economic changes have allowed a deep-rooted rot of dereliction to spread through towns and villages across the country. In part three of the Irish Examiner’s Ireland’s Empty Towns series, Ryan O’Rourke visits Co Limerick

Ballywilliam Close, a derelict housing estate in Rathkeale, Co Limerick. Picture: Darren Faul

Abbeyfeale, Rathkeale, and Bruff were once key gathering points in the rolling hills of Limerick's rich farmland, but the speed at which people and goods have moved away from the traditional market town has left its mark. 

Throughout Co Limerick, once-prestigious premises in towns and village centres lie empty, surrounded by one-off housing, and impacted by the sprawl of the city.