County Limerick - Heritage/Historical

1. Heritage Centres

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Adare Heritage Centre

Adare Heritage Centre tells the story of the development of the town of Adare from it’s the building of the Norman castle by the banks of the River Maigue in 1233 to the present day using realistic models, enactments and audiovisuals. It shows the busy day-to-day life of Adare from the 13th to 16th centuries, and the changes that came to Adare, with war and rebellions helping to cause it to wane, and then how it waxed again under the Dunraven family.
Also housed here are the Tourist Information Office, The Abbot’s Rest Restaurant, Kerry Woollen Mills and Black Abbey Crafts for gifts and Curran Heraldry for family name research and crests on plaques etc.

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2. Castles (Historical)

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King John's Castle

King John’s Castle, also referred to as Limerick Castle is so called because it was built for King John in 1210 and was the centre of Norman authority in the area. This fine example of Norman Architecture now holds an interpretive centre that includes audiovisuals, models, and an exposed archaeological dig, showing how the information used was gained.

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3. Towers (Round)

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Ardpatrick Church and Round Tower

It is said that St. Patrick founded the first monastery here, and it was to there that the tithes from all of Munster were collected for Armagh. Only the stump of a Round Tower and a church remain, both probably dating from the 12th century. The site offers a great view of the County.

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4. Interpretative Centre

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Croom Mills

In Croom, you can come and live the story of an Irish country mill from the glorious days of its success to its demise in the 1940's, and make the acquaintance of the Catholic landed gentry family who built it, the local community who worked and supplied it, and the bakers who made bread from the flour milled there. Try milling yourself the traditional way!

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5. Local Tours

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6. Cathedrals (Historical)

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St Mary's Cathedral

St Mary’s Cathedral was completed in 1194 and was inspired by the Cistercian monasteries. It is not pure to any style, but includes both Romanesque and Gothic features, and apparently the design was altered during construction. One of the Cathedrals most unique features are a collection of black oak choir stalls from around 1490 which are the last of their kind in the country.

A “Son et Lumiere” show produced by RTE is held nightly from the middle of June until the middle of September based on the history of Limerick and the Cathedral.

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7. Archaeological

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Lough Gur

Lough Gur was the site of a Neolithic settlement which was inhabited in 3000 BC and the Lough is surrounded by ancient standing stones, burial mounds, megalithic tombs, and perhaps most impressively, a 4000 year old stone circle just outside the park.

A mock Stone Age hut holds an interpretative centre with audiovisuals and models to help visitors understand what archaeologists have learnt from the settlement. From the more recent history of the lough survives 13th and 15th Century castles.

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8. Forts (Historical)

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Ardagh Ringfort

Best known as the site of the finding of the Ardagh chalice, now in the National Museum of Ireland. This is a ringfort with a high bank and deep ditch to the north and south. It appears that the east and west sides were never completed.

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9. Tombs

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Duntryleague Passage-Tomb

This well-preserved megalithic tomb lies in the saddle of two hilltops. The long passage of the tomb extends to a chamber that expands inwards. The way that the roof stones rise to the top of this chamber like stairs is similar to those built in Brittany. It is believed that a large mound of earth originally covered these graves.

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10. Homes (Historical)

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Bishops Palace

The Bishops' Palace is adjacent to King's John's Castle, it is the restored home of former Protestant Bishops of Limerick. The Palace has a classical facade and is related to the English Palladian style. The house is currently occupied by Limerick Civic Trust and visitors are welcome.

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11. Museums

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The Limerick Museum

Limerick Museum won the first Gulbenkian Award in 1992. Its comprehensive displays illustrate the long and varied history of Limerick City and its surrounding area. The collection includes civic antiquities, artefacts from the Stone and Bronze Ages and Medieval times, award-winning examples of Limerick lace, a trades history display and a currency display.

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12. Historic Hotels

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Adare Manor House

This 1720’s building was the seat of the Earls of Dunraven. The second and third Earls rebuilt the house between 1832 and 1860, enlarging it to create a Victorian mansion in a Gothic-revival style.

The grandeur of the gilded Spanish leather doors and the stone Gothic arches of the high-ceilinged inner hall strikes the visitor immediately. But the fresh-flowers inside, the welcoming fireplace by reception and the pleasant 840-acre garden outside help make it feel human rather than intimidating. The rooms are equally designed with splendor. And the menu at the restaurant competes with the luxury and taste of the building and gardens. The sound of the river and of the harpist who plays during dinner completes the feast for all the senses. Golfing is available on the same grounds. It is easy to see why the Hotel was listed twice in the top ten foreign resorts in Conde Nast’s Travellers’ Choice.

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13. Maritime Museums

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Foynes Flying Boat Museum

During the 1930s and early 1940s, the port of Foynes was the fulcrum point for air traffic between the United States and Europe. The famous flying boats were frequent visitors, carrying passengers who ranged from celebrities to refugees.

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14. Abbeys

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Monasteranenagh Cistercian Abbey

This Cistercian abbey was founded by the King of Limerick, Turlough O’Brien around the year 1150 and completed something like thirty years later. The Abbey has seen two battles within its walls. In the first the King of Thomond sought refuge from Brian O’Brian and Macnamaras in the monastery after his defeat in 1365. The second battle occurred during the Desmond rebellion of 1579. In it Sir John of Desmond was defeated by Sir Nicholas Malby, who fought for the English. Malby then turned his cannon on the Irish seeking refuge in the abbey, destroying the refectory and cloister, before putting everyone inside to death. Further damage was done to the site when the belfry and chancel collapsed in 1807 and 1874 respectively.

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15. Friaries

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Askeaton Castle and Franciscan Friary

Askeaton Castle:
The Castle was founded around the turn of the 13th century, on an island in the River Deel. Part of the 15th century tower on the site remains, itself a replacement of an older tower. Similarly the mid-15th century banqueting hall just inside of the outer wall on the island was built on the foundations of an earlier hall. This hall has finely carved windows and is one of the finest remaining medieval secular buildings, although there was once a chapel attached. After changing hands often throughout Ireland’s troubled history it was finally rendered militarily useless in 1652.

It is rumoured that a ‘Hell Fire Club’ was operated in the building next to the tower in the early 18th century, one of several that cropped up throughout Britain and Ireland copying the decadence of the original English group.

Franciscan Friary:
The friary was built around the year 1400 by the Desmond’s for the Conventual Franciscans, who later changed to Observatine Franciscans. The chuch features delicately carved windows and triple tomb niches. The Desmond Rebellion of 1579 saw it sacked and plundered by Sir John Malbie. It was later revived into service from 1627 until 1714.

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16. Churches (Historical)

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Adare Churches and Castle

Castle:
This Norman castle may have been built on an earlier ringfort by the main bridge across the Maigue or it may be contemporary. The square tower is of the castle is surrounded by a rampart with battlements To the south a drawbridge crosses the fort’s ditch. Surrounding this ditch is a further wall. Two gates offered access through it, the obviously more strategic south one protected by two towers.

Franciscan Friary:
Now surrounded by the Adare Manor golf course, this friary was built by the Earl of Kildare during 1464 –1466. The church’s transept, its side chapels, and the tower are all later additions. The Kilmallock gate, by which one would enter the friary, now stands by itself. As well as the church there is a refectory, infirmary and a dormitory.

Trinitarian monastery.
The 14th century Trinitarian church is now the local Roman Catholic church and the tower, south wall and part of the domestic buildings are well preserved parts of the original and of 15th century renovations. Much of the building only dates back to the 19th century, although the character is still very much medieval.

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17. Stone Circles

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The Lios

While all of the Lough Gur area is a must-see for anyone interested in Ireland’s pre-historic past the Lios is possibly the cream of the lot. It is a megalithic stone circle of about 150 feet in diameter built inside a wide bank of earth, apparently dating from 2000 - 1800 BC. The atmosphere is added to by its now being overgrown and containing trees. Leading up to the ring from the east is a paved path with ordered up right stones to either side.
The site appears to have been neither inhabited at any time, nor used for burial. Pottery was found however, including food vessels that had been deliberately, presumably ceremonially, broken.
Near-by to the north are two more stone circles, one well-preserved, the other in ruins.

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18. Town Information

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Limerick City & County

The City and County of Limerick offer the best of both worlds - a vibrant city alongside a rural and green environment.

Limerick City has a colourful and fascinating history. Its city charter is older than that of London's, and in 1997 it will be 800 years old.

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