Page 197 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

THE L OWER SHANNON  195

r Limerick elegance in St John’s Square.
Near here is Limerick’s most
Road map B4. Co Limerick.
* 90,000. k Shannon. £ @ conspicuous sight, St John’s
n Arthur’s Quay (061 317522). Cathedral, built in 1861.
( Sat. ∑ limerick.ie Its 85-m (280-ft) spire is the
tallest in the country.
The third-largest city in the The most pleasant part of
Republic, Limerick was founded Limerick in which to stroll is
by the Vikings. Given its strategic Newtown Pery – a grid of
point on the River Shannon, it gracious Georgian terraces
thrived under the Normans, but focused on O’Connell Street.
later bore the brunt of English
oppression. After the Battle of + King John’s Castle
the Boyne (see p248), the rump Nicholas St. Tel 061 360788.
of the defeated Jacobite army Open 9:30am–5pm daily. Closed Characteristic Georgian doorway in
with drew here. The siege that 23–26 Dec. & 7 limited. St John’s Square
followed has entered Irish ∑ shannonheritage.com
folklore as a heroic defeat, Founded by King John in 1200, black oak of angels, griffins
sealed by the Treaty of Limerick not long after the Normans and other creatures both real
in 1691. English treachery in arrived, this imposing castle and imaginary.
reneging on most of has five drum towers Nearby, George’s Quay is a
the terms of the treaty and solid curtain pleasant street with restaurants,
still rankles. It is no walls. Inside, the castle outdoor cafés and good views
coincidence that is less interesting across the river.
Catholicism and architecturally, but it
nationalism are houses a good audio- E Hunt Museum
strong in the city. visual exhibition on Rutland St. Tel 061 312833. Open
Limerick has a the history of the city. 10am–5pm Mon–Sat, 2pm–5pm Sun
reputation for high Ongoing excavations & bank hols. & free on Sun
unemployment, crime Carved misericord in have unearthed pots Closed 1 Jan, Good Fri, 25 & 26 Dec.
and general neglect. St Mary’s Cathedral and jewellery, and you 0 = 7 ∑ huntmuseum.com
However, it is fast can also see Viking Located in the Old Customs
acquiring a new image as a houses and later fortifications. House, this fine museum has
commercial city, revitalized by Across the nearby Thomond one of the greatest collections
new industries and restoration Bridge, the Treaty Stone marks of antiquities in Ireland, gathered
projects. Even so, visitors may the spot where the Treaty of by the archaeologist John Hunt.
still have to dig a little to Limerick was signed in 1691. The best exhibits, dating from
appreciate its charm. the Bronze Age, include gold
The city centre consists of R St Mary’s Cathedral jewellery and a magnificent
three historic districts. King’s Bridge Street. Tel 061 310293. shield. Among the other artifacts
Island was the first area to be Open 9:30am–4:30pm Mon–Fri, are Celtic brooches and the
settled by the Vikings and was 9:30am–2pm Sat, for services only Sun. 9th-century Antrim Cross.
later the heart of the medieval ∑ cathedral.limerick.anglican.org
city, when it was known as Built in 1172, this is the oldest E Limerick Museum
Englishtown. It boasts Limerick’s structure in the city. Except Istabraaq Hall, City Hall, Merchants
two main landmarks, King John’s for a fine Romanesque door- Quay. Tel 061 417 826. Open 10am–
Castle and St Mary’s Cathedral. way and the nave, however, 1pm, 2:15–5pm Mon–Fri. Closed for
The old Irishtown, south of the little remains of the early lunch, public hols & 7 days at Christmas.
Abbey River, has its fair share of church. The 15th-century 7 ∑ museum.limerick.ie
drab houses and shops, but also misericords in the choir stalls Limerick’s history and trad itions
has its own historic buildings are the pride of St Mary’s, from lace- and silver-making to
and a pocket of Georgian with superb carvings in rugby are on display.

View of Limerick showing Thomond Bridge across the Shannon and King John’s Castle

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