The remnants of the last remaining tower house in Limerick city is that of Fanning’s castle, which is situated just off Mary Street. Although it is known by name as Fanning’s Castle, it was not in fact a castle, but a late medieval fortified town or tower house. Dominic Fanning, a former mayor of Limerick city, reputedly built the tower for himself in approximately 1641.
The walls of the tower were built of roughly squared limestone blocks of varying sizes. It was originally five stories high; the first storey is now, due to the passage of time and building development in the area, almost at ground level. On the last almost intact standing wall we can still see the remains of one flat-headed window divided by one mullion, on the first floor. On the second and third floor there are two ogee windows which are placed one floor above the other, the third floor windows being slightly smaller than the second floor. Finally on the top floor is a single round-headed window. The doors on the upper levels suggest that at some point the tower would have had external balconies or stairs. The tower house would have originally incorporated a turret staircase and battlements and would have been an impressive sight on Mary Street.
Very interesting Emma, I didn’t know that, it seems apt though to have a cobbler in a thatched cottage.
In one of those cottages on the Dublin rd lived a man who was a cobbler and repaired shoes from his home.
You are welcome back to Limerick at anytime. I think you will be pleasently surprised how beautiful our city is.
Hello Lorraine, I am glad you have enjoyed the site, you mention that your mothers family were McNamara fishermen, did you see our page on the Abbey Fishermen?
Regards
Sharon
I am really happy to see th history of Limerick and of my family. I was born in Limerick and now live in London and being able to come onto your website and look up my heritage makes me want to go back home. I am related to McNamara’s fishing crowd on my mothers side.