Visit Limerick.

Located in south-west Ireland, Limerick is Ireland’s third-largest city. With a population of over 50,000, Limerick is one of those working-class towns currently enjoying an unprecedented economic and cultural boom. Once the victim of an image of a poor, bleak town, where unemployment and blue-collar labor were king, Limerick is now taking on a new image as a dynamic, cultural city. With its brand-new neighborhoods and ultra-modern university campus, Limerick has a lot to offer, attracting students and young people from all over the country to enjoy its atmosphere, Irish pubs and many festive events!

Don’t hesitate to discover the city: Limerick’s people are warm and welcoming, and the streets are pleasant to stroll through. Not to mention the sights, including King John Castle, an impressive medieval castle.

Last but not least, a visit to the town is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the autobiography of the famous Frank McCourt, who lived here within its walls, inspiring him to write the world-famous “Angela’s Ashes”.

History of Limerick

A town of Viking and Anglo-Norman origins

The first buildings to officially announce the birth of Limerick date back to 812, during the Viking Invasions. It wasn’t until 967 that Brian Boru captured the town during the Battle of Clontarf, pitting him against the Vikings. He then entrusted the town to the influential O’Brien clan, who decided to further develop the town.

Their reign over the town was short-lived: in the 12th century, the Anglo-Normans invaded Limerick. This reversal of fortunes meant that both the Anglo-Normans and the Irish had to co-exist in the same city.

To make things clearer, and to avoid mixing, the Anglo-Normans built what is known today as “English Town”, a district reserved entirely for Anglo-Normans. In response, the Irish built Irish Town, an Irish district to the south of the city.

King John’s Castle and St. Mary’s Cathedral were also built during this period.

A tumultuous history following Oliver Cromwell’s conquests

After several years of tumultuous co-existence, the Irish decided to retake the city and drive the Anglo-Normans out. In vain: Oliver Cromwell laid siege to Limerick in 1651 and retook the city from the Irish.

1690 was another troubled period for the city: the Catholics, who had suffered a crushing defeat at the Battle of the Boyne at the hands of William of Orange, decided to take refuge in Limerick (Limerick was then a fortified city, protecting the population with high, imposing ramparts). After an exhausting siege, the Irish won the battle and negotiated peace.

The 18th century was a relatively prosperous period for the town. Limerick was booming, developing a solid industrial base, and using trade to expand further. The town gradually rebuilt the buildings that had been destroyed in the 17th century, and Limerick began to return to normal activity… However, this period was short-lived, and the 19th century marked the beginning of an irreversible decline.

The Great Famine and the Act of Union plunged Limerick into poverty and misery. The untold loss of life was a fatal blow to the city’s economy, leaving Limerick in an uncomfortable position.

It took Limerick many years to recover from this situation. The 1990s brought a new lease of life for the city: Ireland’s economy took a new lease of life (Celtic Tiger) and many investors decided to invest in Limerick and build new projects.