website651054.gif
the Thomond Bridge connects King's Island with Limerick's mainland to the west
King John's Castel at low tide and on a cloudy day
Pope John Paul II visited Limerick in 1979
on our way to King John's Castle
the Shannon river has a tide of several meters
the Hunt Museum houses many artefacts and pieces of art
St Mary's Cathedral
and this is the view downstream
upstream view of the Shannon River
low tide at Ennis Road Bridge. To the left a glimpse of the 1916 memorial
Limerick
Limerick is one of Ireland's larger cities. The town sits at the head of the Shannon Estuary. Despite being 80 km away from the Atlantic Ocean, there is a huge tide of up to 6 meters. 
 
King's Island is wedged between the Shannon and Abbey rivers and holds the old city center. Here you find the Norman King John's Castle from 1200 and St Mary's Cathedral from 1168, Ireland's oldest building still in use.
 
The first indication of a settlement at King's Island is Ptolemy's map of Ireland from 150 AD. Vikings and later Brian Boru set up camp here but it was the Normans that built Limerick from 1200 onwards.
The 17th century brought much violence and the city was besieged several times.

The Treaty of Limerick ended hostilities, and brought prosperous times during which the city center was transformed into the present day Georgian look.
Economic decline set in around 1950 and, although recovering, Limerick's GDP per capita is still lagging behind Ireland's average.
 
We were in Limerick in June 2018.
website651052.jpg website651051.jpg website651050.jpg website651049.jpg website651048.jpg website651047.jpg website651046.jpg website651045.jpg website651044.jpg website651043.jpg website651042.jpg website651041.jpg website651006.gif website651039.gif website651038.gif
1
2
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
end
website651007.gif website651005.gif
the Tait Memorial Clock Tower was erected in 1867
website651006.gif website651007.gif website651006.gif website651005.gif
Padre Pio never made it to Limerick but he does have a monument at the St Savior's Dominican Church
3
website651007.gif website651006.gif website651005.gif website651007.gif website651006.gif website651005.gif website651007.gif website651006.gif website651005.gif
the Docker's Monument commemorates the Limerick Dock Strike of 1913
website651007.gif website651006.gif website651005.gif website651007.gif website651006.gif website651005.gif website651007.gif website651006.gif website651005.gif
the WIld Geese Monument for those that fled the town during the sieges
website651007.gif website651006.gif website651005.gif website651007.gif website651006.gif website651005.gif website651007.gif website651006.gif website651005.gif website651007.gif website651006.gif website651005.gif website651007.gif website651006.gif website651005.gif website651007.gif website651006.gif website651005.gif website651007.gif website651006.gif website651005.gif
St Mary's is known for the eleborately carved woodworks
website651007.gif website651006.gif website651005.gif
inside the castle is an exhibition about its turbulent history
website651004.jpg website651003.jpg website651002.jpg website651001.jpg