Limerick has a wide and varied history. We have compiled a series of our “Did you know” facts which we regularly post to our Facebook Page and Twitter Account.
Some of the facts below are humorous, some are tragic but they all are interesting in their own right. Read, Tell, Remember.
The previous in this series can be found at Did you know? Limerick Facts 5
- The wife of Edmond Sexton Pery (who built Newtownpery) lived into her 90s and was known by her family as a “rickety crock”
- During the Forgotten Famine of 1741, Four Limerick men were arrested for the theft of a cow and a horse but due to the “the great scarcity” at the time they were “burnt in the hand”(branded) and ejected from the court.
- Did you know: Between 1703-1724 “Roman Catholic Strangers” were banned from living within the walls of Limerick.
- Mary Spring Rice (Great Granddaughter of Thomas Spring Rice who towers in People’s Park) helping to arm the Irish Volunteers in July 1914, after going on a gun run in a yacht.
- In May 1868 the Norwegian emigrant ship “Hannah Parr” was towed into Limerick docks after being extremely storm damaged. Three children on board died shortly after arrival and were buried in St.Munchins C.o.I. While the remaining 400 passengers and crew were cared for by local citizens, while their ship was being repaired.
- Sheridan Le Fanu, who wrote Uncle Silas and Carmilla, living for a time in Abington, Murroe, Co. Limerick.
- In the Limerick Workhouse in 1906, the weekly diet for an Infirm Male was:
For breakfast each day:
8oz Bread and 1 pint Tea.
For dinner on a Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday:
8oz Bread, 4oz Meat & Soup.
For dinner on Monday, Wednesday, Saturday:
3lb potatoes, 1 pint of milk.
For dinner on Friday:
8oz Bread and 1 pint of milk.
For supper each day:
8oz Bread, 1pint of coffee.
- In 1906 the Number 1 in the Limerick telephone exchange belonged to McMahon, Day & Co. Apothecaries, 136 George St. (O’Connell St.)
- In 1830, when the old Baals Bridge was demolished, a metal plate with the following inscription was discovered:
“I will strive to live,
with love and care
Upon ye level
By ye square” 1507
- Boston News-Letter Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts
Monday, March 18 to Monday, March 25, 1706
Limerick, Dec. 7.
On Thursday last about one a Clock in the morning began a most violent Storm, it lasted till 9, and Floods occasioned by it, the water rose to high with it on a sudden, most of the Cellars in Town were full of water, by which all people suffered very much, 17 persons lost and drowned, several Vessels, Houses, Cattle & Corn, damnifyed by it.
