Limerick – Ireland: The Final Frontier

23rd August 2017.

Limerick Castle, King Johns Castle dates from 1210 and built on earlier Viking fortifications. It was the centre of sieges in the 17th century, notably the Siege which ended in 1691 with the surrender of Jacobite forces to Williamite forces and began the exodus of Irish soldiers…Flight of the Wild Geese …to Europe, notably France.

Impressive location on the banks of the River Shannon.

Outside the Castle includes veteran soldiers cottagesthe entrance to the museum and bookshop.

I really liked the museum and audio visual displays.

As a model maker and Toy Soldier collector, I really loved the model depicting the final battle of 1691 and the hand-to-hand fighting on Thomond Bridge.

Views of the Castle courtyard.

Views of the rooms in the Castle.

Views from the battlements. The final photograph is looking down on Thomond Bridge, where the final battle of 1691 was fought and depicted in the diorama in the museum. Easy to visualise the Jacobites routed and retreating from the County Clare side of the Shannon and seeking the shelter of the Castle.

St Marys Cathedral and Thomond Park Rugby Stadium can also be seen.

23rd August 2017. Limerick (population 100,000) is the biggest centre of population in south west Ireland. I took the Cork train from Dublin and got off at Limerick Junction, confusingly named platforms that are actually in County Tipperary. A waiting train took me to Limerick City which is a distance of 35 kilometres.

Limerick train station is named for Con Colbert, an executed leader of the 1916 Rising.

The walk from the station is where the fircest fighting would have taken place during the 1692 siege.

The Treaty Stone is probably the place where the Treaty of Limerick was signed on 3rd October 1691 which ended the Siege when the Jacobites surrendered to the Williamite Forces.

Richard Harris, actor who was born in Limerick. The statue depicts him in the role of King Arthur in “Camelot”.

Broadcaster “Sir” Terry Wogan was born in Limerick. Went “native” when he joined BBC rising thru the ranks of the British establishment to become a Knight of their realm.