Shannon and the Midlands:Layout 1 02/05/2007 16:26 Page 153
CO. LIMERICK the last King of Munster, the original plan of the church was in the
Limerick borders Ireland’s scenic form of a Latin Cross. The cathedral is filled with relics of the past,
southern and western regions and including several splendidly carved misericords, unique in Ireland as
there’s plenty to interest the visitor the only pre-Elizabethan carvings and probably date from around
en route. With Kerry to the south and 1480. Between the castle and the cathedral you will find the Limerick
Foynes
LIMERICK
Adare
the Galtee Mountains to the south City Museum, which houses archaeological and historical items that
Rathkeale
east, Limerick is primarily an explore Limerick’s past. Tel: (061) 417826. Also in the area is the
Newcastle West
Kilmallock
agricultural county – low, undulating Poet’s Corner, where the famous five-line “Limerick” poems are celebrated.
farmland famous for its bacon and The Pulitzer Prize-winning book Angela’s Ashes, by local author
ham. The county is also renowned for Frank McCourt, has brought fame to the city in recent years. Explore
its strong sporting heritage, including the truth behind the book in an exhibition devoted to the story. The
rugby favourites Young Munster and exhibition is housed in the mews building of 2 Pery Square. The main
Garryowen. County Limerick is steeped in history – the 17th century house is one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the
Jacobite Siege of Limerick was a pivotal event in the struggle country; the interior has been restored to show what life was like for
between Ireland and England and, to this day, the imposing remains of the wealthy in those days. Tel: (061) 314130. Visitors can also
the city’s castle stand as testament to it. South of the city, there is a experience the Angela’s Ashes walking tours, Tel: (061) 317522.
host of fascinating historic and prehistoric sites. No trip to Limerick would be complete without a trip to the Hunt
Museum. The museum houses an internationally important collection
LIMERICK CITY of some 2,000 original works, selected according to their design,
The riverside city of Limerick is one of the largest in Ireland and is the craftsmanship and artistic merit. The works range in period from the
principal town of the county. The city was first established by the Stone Age through to the 20th century and include such treasures as
Vikings in the 10th century. They used it as a base from which the personal seal of Charles I of England, the Queen Mary of
to plunder the surrounding areas. They were eventually Scots Cross, a coin revered to be one of the “30 pieces of
driven out of the county by the great High King Brian silver”, and a bronze horse by Leonardo da Vinci. Tel:
Ború. The city was granted its charter by King John in (061) 312833.
1197 and he ordered the building of a castle on Limerick not only holds a wealth of historical
Kings Island in the heart of Medieval Limerick significance; it is also a vibrant modern city and
overlooking the Shannon. The castle remains to this stands as a dynamic educational, economic, social
day and is the highlight of this heritage precinct and recreational base for the mid-western region. The
allowing visitors to explore 800 years of history in city has a renowned university and is also famed for
an imaginative exhibition. Across the river from the its passion for sport, with innumerable playing fields
castle you can visit the Treaty Stone on which the for football and hurling, golf clubs, horse and
treaty was signed with the last defence of the city greyhound tracks and boating. It is also the base for
against the Williamites in 1691. Staying on the the successful Munster Rugby team.
historical track, the Romanesque St. Mary’s
Cathedral was the ecclesiastical centre of the Limerick City Church, and above, a view of King John's
fortress for hundreds of years and is the city’s oldest Castle in Limerick City.
building. Erected in 1172 by Donal Mor O’Brien,
shannon and the midlands 153
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203 |
Page 204 |
Page 205 |
Page 206 |
Page 207 |
Page 208 |
Page 209 |
Page 210 |
Page 211 |
Page 212 |
Page 213 |
Page 214 |
Page 215 |
Page 216 |
Page 217 |
Page 218 |
Page 219 |
Page 220 |
Page 221 |
Page 222 |
Page 223 |
Page 224 |
Page 225 |
Page 226 |
Page 227 |
Page 228 |
Page 229 |
Page 230 |
Page 231 |
Page 232 |
Page 233 |
Page 234 |
Page 235 |
Page 236 |
Page 237 |
Page 238 |
Page 239 |
Page 240 |
Page 241