The following letter, originally published in The Times of London and reprinted in the Limerick Chronicle on 5 November 1845, provides a valuable contemporary account of Limerick city. Written by a correspondent for The Times, the piece offers observations on the city’s industrial development, commercial activity, and urban infrastructure, as well as social commentary of…
On 26 April 2025, I was invited to speak at the closing of Daniel Tuomey’s exhibition Stuck, a decomposition in Ormston House. I relayed the following story of a young boy, Michael O’Brien, who lost his life in the space where Ormston House now stands. A number of years ago I was tasked with uncovering the…
Many thanks to family historian, genealogist, Tara @msfrugalone on BlueSky for bringing this incredible addition to a Limerick census return to my attention. The Adderley Family in 1901 The story begins in 1901 when Joseph Adderley completed his census return at Gortroe, Castletown, County Limerick. On the night of the census, his wife was missing…
The funeral of the 1st Earl of Limerick in 1844 was not attended with the civility and courtesy expected after the loss of such a notable figure in Limerick’s history. Instead, the streets were filled with rioters who harassed the mourners as they made their way through the city. The question remains: who was the…
Charlie Chaplin, visited the picturesque village of Adare a few months after Grace Kelly and Prince Ranier III of Monaco stopped there on their way to Kerry. The Limerick Chronicle of April 14, 1962, reported, “well-known former film comedian, Charlie Chaplin, and his wife Oona, overnighted in the Dunraven Arms Hotel, Adare”. The couple were…
The following are a collection of headstone inscriptions collected from St Munchin’s Church of Ireland Graveyard. The graveyard is cared for by the Limerick Civic Trust. This is not a complete survey. They are ordered by first surname on memorial. {Part 1 A-F & Part 2 G-M} N Nelson – In loving memory of William…
The following are a collection of headstone inscriptions collected from St Munchin’s Church of Ireland Graveyard. The graveyard is cared for by the Limerick Civic Trust. This is not a complete survey. They are ordered by first surname on memorial. {Part 1 A-F & Part 3 N-W} G Gabbett – Sacred to the memory of…
On Sunday, January 12, 1806, a tragic accident occurred on Mary Street, highlighting the grave dangers posed by neglected and dilapidated buildings in Limerick. The incident happened around three o’clock in the afternoon when the front wall of an old house collapsed, burying Mr. Owen O’Keeffe, a shopkeeper from Broad Street, who was passing through…
The following list of the Co-Operative Body of Pilots of the Limerick District licensed by the Limerick Harbour Commissioners comes from the Limerick Harbour Directory, 1889. Name Residence Age Height Complexion Pilotage District Occupation John Fitzmaurice Limerick 60 5′ 6” Sandy Shannon Capt. Lr. SS. Co’s Boat Morgan Fitzmaurice Limerick 55 – Sandy Shannon Harbour…
The discussions around Limerick Lace often focuses on the founders of each of the factories, or the skilled stitching itself. On 23 March 2024, I spoke at the Limerick Lace Symposum on the lives of those who created lace, as recorded in the 1901 census and 1911 census. Those who treaded the needed at the…
Arthur Young was born in 1741, the son of a clergy man in Suffolk, England. When he was thirty-five years old, he took a journey around Ireland which culminated in the publication of “A Tour in Ireland 1776-1779”, which to highlight his journey throughout the country during this three-year period. Arthur Young was an avid…
Henry Watson (1789-1860) followed in his father Andrew Watson’s footsteps in employment in the Limerick Chronicle and politically, becoming an Alderman for the city. He became Mayor of Limerick for three years between 1823 and 1826 and again in 1854. After his reelection in 1824, the Corporation gave him the honour of being chaired through…
The Limerick Chronicle, dated August 3, 1833, contains an account of the trial of James Quin for the murder of Mary Knight. The incident occurred during a disturbance at the residence of a sex worker, leading to the tragic death of Mary Knight. During the court session, of the Limerick Assizes – City Court, Wednesday,…
The following is an extract from The Lady’s Magazine, London, April 1799 Limerick, April 8. A permanent court-martial has been sitting here since the 19th ult. On Friday, James and Patrick Mangane, near Shonna Golden (Shannagolden), were executed on the New Bridge. Patrick Kelly, sen, and jun., of Ballingarry, J. Kelly, J. Sullivan, and J….
The following extract shows one man’s view of Limerick in 1862. This section of text was included in the publication “Recollections of an Irish Police Magistrate” by Henry Robert Addison, formerly of the 2nd Dragoon Guards. The publication tells of the heroic and bizarre stories involving Major Thomas Phillips Vokes, a police magistrate in Limerick….