Until all too recently in Ireland it was easy for someone who was outside of the prescribed culture to be labelled a witch. These people were often ostracised from their communities and became the focus of fanciful stories. One of the most famous of these was Biddy Early, who was born in 1798, just over…
Margaretta Eagar the Limerick nanny to the last Tsar of Russia in her autobiography tells of a Limerick man’s influenced with the health ad wealth of the people of Denmark. The story begins with a Limerick man who went to stay in Copenhagen. While there he found himself very comfortable every person he met vied…
In September 1881 an unusual case was brought before the Limerick City Petty Sessions by Mary Kearney of Colooney Street (Wolfe Tone Street). Mary was looking for £1 for services rendered. The defendant Edmond Fitzgerald of Hartstonge Street wished to find a cure for an illness that was afflicting him. He made inquiries through his…
On 31 October 1951, there were reports in the English newspapers the Daily Mirror, Daily Telegraph and on 4 November in the Sunday Express of fairies in Limerick. At the time Limerick Corporation were building houses in Ballynanty Beg and the reports state that there were objections to the build due to a fairy fort…
The following poem was published in the Freeman’s Journal in 1898 and was signed ‘Galtee More’. The Outcast Irish Girl Mirth was in old Limerick City on a mellow summer even, Sounds of laughter and of music float along the twilight air ; Down the fragrant moonlight streameth from the azure cheeks of heaven, And the stars in…