This is about my city and it's History I would like people to know about Limerick and come to it when they can.

2. The first evidence of settlement in Limerick is found on Kings Island,
and dates back to the Vikings of the 9th century. It was the only
river crossing then, and served as a base for raiding local
monasteries and Celtic settlements. The English took over the town
of Limerick in the late 12th Century, and in 1197 granted a charter
declaring Limerick a city. King John, who visited in 1210, ordered
that a castle and a bridge (Thomond Bridge) be constructed.
Residents of the island city turned to trade but were hampered by
access imposed by the tidal river. Exports of agricultural produce
eventually brought prosperity to the city in the 15th century.
Irishtown thrived on this trade, and Irish traders established strong
links with the merchands of Englishtown. When the faction fighting
of the surrounding districts threatened to interrupt trade, the city
walls were extended to include Irishtown.

3. Limerick city is the capital of the Shannon Region and the third largest city in the
Republic of Ireland. Its City Charter was granted in 1197. 1691 saw the capture of the
city and the signing of the Treaty of Limerick. Its colourful and fascinating history is
evident everywhere and proudly maintained. Although small enough to offer a sense
of intimacy, Limerick, with its university, museums, citadel and cathedral is
undoubtedly a cosmopolitan metropolis.
Tangible remains of the past inhabitants go back 800 years to the building of King
John's Castle. Nearby is the medieval St. Mary's Cathedral, and preserved on the
opposite bank of the river is the Treaty Stone. Limerick boasts a fine crescent of
splendid Georgian town houses built in the late 18th century. The Hunt Museum
contains a unique collection of archaeological material and works of art, which
were assembled by John Hunt, and housed in the renovated Custom House. And,
of course, a city that contains all this also provides a generous selection of the
best shops, restaurants, hotels, pubs and sporting activities.
Limerick The City I Loved So Well

4. Love the shot of the helicopter over Todd’s after the fire. The
man in it was the late Councillor Paddy Sheehy from Ballysteen,
who lived in Cloncagh for the latter part of his long and
interesting life. Paddy was the demolition contractor. He often
told me about the helicopter flight. Cromer’s jewellers were
next door to Todd’s, and they were agents for Rolex watches
which were a big deal then, as now. Cromer’s asked Paddy to
take a Rolex up in the helicopter and drop it from a great
height to test its durability, as a promotioonal stunt. This he
duly did, and the watch was retrieved and was still ticking, to
the great amazement of the assembled multitudes.
The Todd’s fire was one of the biggest fires in the Country
around that period, and fire brigades from all over munster
were sent for to try to help extinguish it. Limerick County
Council sold an old Commer petrol-engined fire appliance from
Foynes fire station yard only in the past five or six years, it
went for scrap value at about fifty euros. That Commer was the
last still-working fire engine left that had been at the Todd’s
fire.

5. Todd’s after the fire

7. O'Connell Street is from a much later era, maybe 1950's.
The building on the left with the bus outside it is Todds.

8. O'Connell Street is from a much later era,
maybe 1950's.
The building on the left with the bus outside it
is Todds

9. George Street is from the of
Cruises Hotel clearly shown on the left with a glimse of the old Cannocks .

10. Cruises Hotel

11. Peoples Park - Limerick.
Limerick in August 1906.

12. The Monument in the picture is "The Spring Rice Memorial" in the
Peoples Park, Pery Square, Limerick. Limerick in August 1906.

13. The Stella

17. George Hotel, I must have been really young but i remember that shop
Leverette and Frye ! It had the most amazing smells, It was a Jewish Deli im
fairly sure, All kinds of interesting things hanging from the ceiling and
Grapes in big Barrels full of cork.

22. Band Parade passing Cruises Hotel O'Connell St. 1960/70s (Cruises
Hotel long since demolished

23. Thomas Street to Day.

24. Henry Street.

25. O Connell Street. In 2006

26. View of Georges Street ?

27. Sarsfield St, Roches Stores and Cannocks in 1930- @ 80

28. General view of Willham Street in 1950

29. Little Catherine Street/09

30. Glentworth Street and the White House pub /09

31. A Thing of The Passed Mulgrave St.

32. Baker Place To Day 2012

33. Limerick City(1960s to 1998
Peery Square, Limerick

34. Broad St. Limerick

35. Delivering Blocks, John St. Limerick

36. The market/09 in Limerick

37. Locke Quay/09 in Limerick

38. An old House on Edward St, Limerick

39. Macs Shop, Thomondgate and the Dog, Limerick

40. The Abbey River/09

41. The Crescent/09

43. Perry Square Limerick in the 1900

44. Limerick in the 1960's.Old houses near St Mary's Cathedral,
McGuire Mills at right and old toilets. Mercedes Dealer at
right. Old Gearys Factory in former jail building to the left.
Lots of history here.

45. Old Jail and court House in Limerick

46. View of the old Ennis Road

47. The Old Docks in Limerick

49. Limerick City's most famous monument, the Treaty Stone, gets its name from the tradition
that The Treaty of Limerick was signed on the stone itself. The Stone is decorated with the
image of the castle opposite surmounted by a dome and cross, showing that Limerick was a
cathedral city.

50. Sarsfield Bridge,

51. The Big Freeze 1963 in Limerick

52. General view of the city over the River Shannon

53. A Cross The River
A TALE OF TWO CITIES

54. ABOVE: A view from Sarsfield Bridge of the New Limerick.
Riverpoint House and the Clarion Hotel have come to
symbolise our economic growth and success.
A TALE OF TWO CITIES

55. Also from 1963 taken by a Limerick Leader photographer

56. The Annual Happy Dog Sunday in the People’s
Park in Limerick City is where I decided to go
today, in my pocket my radio and it‘s
earphones to keep in touch with Munster’s
vital European Semi Final with Saracens in
Coventry. It was raining as one would say “Cats
and Dogs” a day more reminiscent from all
those rain scenes in Angela's Ashes the movie.
It did not deter those dog lovers though and
the supporters of the organisation. Limerick
Animal Welfare deserve all the support they
can get , Since it’s establishment in 1983
Limerick Animal Welfare has helped thousands
of neglected animals and is a voluntary
organization .It is currently involved in a
sanctuary for animals in Kilfinane, Co. Limerick
.

57. Cathedral/Church converted to a dance studio, Limerick City...

58. Saint Saviour's Church, Limerick City is operated by the Dominican Order.

59. King John's Castle at Night

60. Limerick City Gallery of Art celebrates Sixty Year Anniversary since the inital 'Limerick City
Gallery' was opened as a purpose built extension to 'Carnegie Free Library and Museum' in
1948. The gallery extended into the full building in 1985 with major internal renovations and
extended further in 1999 with the white cube South Gallery, becoming Limerick City Gallery
of Art.

61. View of Shannon Rowing Club over the River Shannon

62. Curraghgower Falls

63. View of The Old Crescent

64. The Red Tech

65. Leamy Art School & Gallery
Leamy House, Hartstonge Street,
Limerick,

66. View of St Apphonsus Church and surrounding buildings

67. Limerick City Hall

68. View of Carnegie Library and surrounding buildings
Located in Pery Square, the gallery features a permanent
collection of 18th, 19th and 20th century Irish art belonging
to some of the much acclaimed artists of the past, including
Jack Yeats and Sean Keating. Throughout the year, the
gallery plays host to between 30 and 40 temporary
exhibitions of paintings, patchwork, architecture and
sculpture.

69. History
King John's Castle sits on the southern bank of the River Shannon. Alongside is Thomond
Bridge.Luimneach originally referred to the general area along the banks of the Shannon
Estuary, which was known as Loch Luimnigh. The earliest settlement in the city Inis Sibhtonn
was the original name in the annals for King's Island during the pre-Viking and Viking eras. This
island was also called Inis an Ghaill Duibh. The city itself dates from at least the Viking
settlement in 812. The Normans redesigned the city in the 12th century and added much of
the most notable architecture, such as King John's Castle and St Mary's Cathedral. During the
civil wars of the 17th century, the city played a pivotal role, besieged by Oliver Cromwell in
1651 and twice by the Williamites in the 1690s. Limerick grew rich through trade in the late
18th century, but the Act of Union in 1800, and the famine caused a crippling economic
decline. The Celtic Tiger economy in the 1990's brought prosperity to Limerick. The Waterford
and Limerick Railway linked the city to the Dublin-Cork main line in 1848 and to Waterford in
1853. The opening of a number of secondary railways in the 1850s and 1860s developed
Limerick as a regional centre of communications. Book a B&B in Limerick online for the best
rates and availability!

70. Georgian Society and Limerick City

71. Old Ranks Mills on the Dock Road

72. The Hunt Museum exhibits one of Ireland's greatest private collections of arts and antiquities.
Donated to the people of Ireland by John and Gertrude Hunt, their generosity ranks highly in
the nations history. Housed in the elegant 18th century Custom House, the Hunt Collection
reflects not only the celtic past but also includes important pieces such as the Leonardo da
Vinci horse, the Mary Queen of Scots cross and one of the original "30 pieces of silver".
Paintings in the collection include works by Renoir, Picasso, Gauguin, O'Conor, and Yeats.
The Custom House was designed by the Italian architech Daviso de Arcort (Davis Ducart)
and completed in 1769. Its character is strongly Palladian, and the fluted pilasters, panelled
piers on the wings and the architaves of the upper windows breaking upwards over the
openings are all distinctive of de Arcort’s work. The building recently underwent
renovation and now houses the Hunt Museum.

74. The man making coins

75. The Cathedral of St Mary Blessed Virgin has had a long and eventful history. It was
founded in 1168 on the site of a palace donated by Domhnall Mór Ó Briain King of
Munster. Experts believe that parts of the palace are incorporated into the present
structure of the Cathedral. The Cathedral has seen many changes as the city expanded
around it and it remains today the oldest and most historic building in Limerick.

76. Tait's Clock

77. View of Old Landsdown Road

78. The Hunt Museum is home to one of Ireland's greatest private collections of art and
antiquities. Generously donated to the 'people of Ireland' by John and Gertrude Hunt
who collected the objects from the four corners of the world. The Collection reflects our
Celtic past as well as masterworks by Da Vinci, Yeats and Renoir.
The elegant 18th century Custom House provides an ideal setting for an enjoyable visit,
the riverside restaurant looks out over the Curragour Falls and the museum's gift shop
showcases a wide range of local and international crafts and gifts.

79. King John's Castle was built between 1200 and 1210 and was repaired and extended many
times in the following centuries. The visitor centre at the castle contains an imaginative
historical exhibition which tells the story of the castle. Archaeological excavations have
revealed Pre-Norman settlements and evidence from the traumatic siege of 1642.
The courtyard and castle display some of the trades and traditions of the 16th century with
the aid of costumed characters. The castle offers panoramic views of Limerick city and the
surrounding countryside

80. Restored at enormous cost in the early 1990s, the Milk Market makes for a
beautiful setting for one of Ireland’s foremost Farmer’s Market. .
Limerick’s Farmers market has grown in stature in recent years. A
favourite among food writers and public alike, no visit to Limerick is
complete without a visit to the market. Sample the culinary delights of
Ireland with Irish cheeses, fish, seaweeds, sausages, jams, chutneys,
breads and fresh pressed apple juice. Set amongst the colour and
fragrance of traditional Irish and organic farm produce, vibrant plants and
fresh flowers, you will also discover olives, salamis, chocolates, coffee,
pastries, ice creams and crepes that rival anything available at continental
markets! This market is rated as one of the busiest and most successful
farmer’s market in Ireland.
Farmers markets have seen a major revival over the last number of years
in Ireland. The quality of produce on offer is a major attraction to the
market. However a large part of the attraction is the banter between
buyer and seller. For a lot of visitors, the market is as much a social
experience than a commercial one. Most stallholders will hold up queues
for their produce to catch up with old acquaintances and make new ones.
The market has an atmosphere and magic all of it’s own. Many people
attribute the early farmers’ markets with there mixture of business and
pleasure as a having a large influence on the Irish way of doing business
in the centuries that followed.
In the old market buildings which surround the market proper, a wider
selection of goods are available, including clothing and books. These
outlets are generally open six days a week so there is always a reason to
visit.

81. The weekly Milk Market in Limerick City
Farmers Markets are usually held outdoors,
primarily during the growing season (March –
October), to guarantee the freshest of
produce. Some markets in urban areas are
year-round

82. And look at what drugs, violence and
crime has done to us?
A lawless ghetto? No, this is the
real face of Limerick gangland
Drug money and gang warfare

83. Today’s solidarity march against crime.
Over 5,000 people
took part in today’s
demonstration to
show solidarity with
the families affected
by crime, and to
show their
opposition to
criminal gangs.

84. Burnt out houses in O'Malley Park. Limerick City Council has
responsibility for some 250 derelict houses throughout Limerick.
These houses are not merely symbols, but physical evidence of
the neglect, abandonment and exclusion of some of our
communities from our growing economy and prosperity.

85. “The situation described above that applies to
Moyross, Southill, St Mary's Park and
Ballinacurra/Weston is extremely serious and
must be dealt with as a matter of urgency both
in the interest of the communities and the
areas concerned and to prevent these
problems from spreading to other parts of the
city" Paddy Collins