The following are a collection of events that are connected to the history of Limerick or people from Limerick during the month of November.

1 November – It is believed that Michael Hogan, the Bard of Thomond was born on this day 1 Nov 1832, although this has not been confirmed.

2 November – On this day, 2 Nov 1597, Francis Berkeley was appointed as Governor of Limerick Castle. He was invested as a Knight on 12 June 1599 at Askeaton.

3 November – On this day in 1779, Field Marshal Hugh Gough, 1st Viscount Gough was born in Woodstown, Annacotty.
When he was only 13 years old he joined the Limerick Militia and his career in the military began.

4 November – The author Lady Rosina Lytton was born Rosina Wheeler in Ballywire, County Limerick on this day 4 November 1802. Her works include “Cheveley, or the Man of Honour”.

  • These beautiful boots were advertised in the Limerick Leader on this day 4 Nov 1910. You could purchase a pair at John Kelly’s store 36 Patrick Street
November 4, 1910 limerick leader

5 November – Barrington’s Hospital was officially opened to the public on this day 5 Nov 1831

6 November – Mary Walsh was born in Ardrine, Knockaderry, West Limerick. At 18 she left for the United States. In 1910, she became the founder and first Mother of the Dominican Sisters of the Sick Poor, New York. She died on this day 6 Nov 1922.

7 November – James Real, originally from Oola, fought in the American Civil War. He participated in several battles including one on this day 7 Nov 1861 in Belmont, Missouri. Irish in the American Civil War has a very detailed description of his life and death here

8 November – On this day, 8 Nov 1920, the Grange Ambush took place as part of the War of Independence. An IRA column mounted an ambush at Grange, County Limerick on 1 officer and 30 men of the Royal Fusilers escorting an RAF Convoy.

9 November – Laurence Cussen, was born in Rockhill, just outside Bruree, Co. Limerick. He arrived in New Zealand in 1865 where he became a pioneering surveyor and geologist. He died on this day 9 Nov 1903 in New Zealand

10 November – On this day in 1845, the abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass gave his first Limerick speech at the Independent Chapel, Bedford Row.

11 November – Canon John Martin Hayes, the founder of Muintir na Tíre was born on this day in 1887 near Murroe.   

12 November – The actress Grace Kelly, later Princess Grace of Monaco was born on this day 12 Nov 1929. In June 1961, she and her family passed through the city and spent the night in Dunraven Arms Adare.

13 November – Con Collins was born Arranagh, Newcastle West, Co. Limerick. on this day 13 Nov 1881. He was elected as a Sinn Féin MP for Limerick West at the 1918 general election.

14 November – On this day, 14 Nov 1938, John “The Man” Frawley was born. Here he is reading some requests out on Radio Luimní.

15 November – On this day 15 Nov 1813, the Windmill of Windmill Street was destroyed by fire. A few months earlier it had witnessed the beginning of a duel involving Daniel O’Connell

16 November – On this day in 1930, at a National Hurling League game against Kilkenny the Limerick Senior Team didn’t have a full team and resorted to looking for players in the crowd. Among the spectators was Mick Mackey, who duly made his senior inter-county debut.   

17 November – On this day in 1893, the Limerick-born pianist and composer George Alexander Osborne died aged 87. He held directorships of the Philharmonic Society, the Royal Academy of Music. He was a colleague of Chopin.  

  • John McEnery (1796–1841), palaeontologist and catholic priest, was born on this day 17 November 1796 in Limerick city.

18 November – St. Michael’s Church, Pery Square was re-opened on this day 18 Nov 1877 after it was renovated by Joseph Fogerty & Son. It was originally built by the Pain Brothers in 1844.

19 November – Sir Alexander Fitzwilliam Croker Barrington 7th baronet (Glenstal Castle) was born on this day, 19 Nov 1909. He died unmarried on 6 Feb 2003. On his death the family baronetcy passed to a descendant of the second son of the 1st baronet, living in Canada.   

20 November – On this day 20 Nov 1946, the crew of an RAF Avro Anson woke up in Cruise’s Hotel after encountering a storm and crash landing on the north banks of the Shannon (across from the Limerick Docks) the day before.

21 November – The politician Issac Butt became the first leader of the Home Rule League on this day, 21 Nov 1873. He was an M.P. for Limerick from 1871–1879. In Jan 1877, he received the Freedom of Limerick.

22 November – On this day 22 Nov 1978, Prince Milo Petrović-Njegoš of Montenegro passed away in Barrington’s Hospital. He is buried in the grounds of St Mary’s Cathedral.

23 November – Niall O’Shaughnessy was born in County Limerick on this day in 1955. He represented Ireland in the 800m and 1500m at the 1976 Olympics.   

24 NovemberMary Fitzgerald was born on this day 24 Nov 1902 in Maiden Street, Newcastle West. She lived for 106 years and 184 days.

25 November – On this day 25 Nov 1898, Limerick-born Henry Arthur Blake became the Governor of Hong Kong, a role he held until 1903. He had also been the Governor of the Bahamas (1884-7), Newfoundland (1887-8), Jamaica (1888-1898) and Ceylon (1903-7).

26 November – Ballybricken, Limerick-born John O’Grady competed in the men’s shot put at the 1924 Summer Olympics. He died on the day in 1934 A memorial to his achievements is on the Ballysimon Road.

27 November – Ivor Churchill Guest, 1st Viscount Wimborne, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland visited Limerick on this day 27 November 1915. He was in the city to encourage men to enlist in the army.

  • There was an advert to the ladies and gentlemen of Limerick in the Limerick Leader on this day 27 Nov 1916.

28 November – Ted Russell died on this day 28 Nov 2004. He is the only Mayor of Limerick to have received the Freedom of the City since the modern system of conferring it was established in 1877.   

29 November – Robert Tilson Deane, 1st Baron Muskerry was born on this day 29 Nov 1745. He inherited Springfield Castle near Newcastle West, Co. Limerick from his father-in-law.

30 NovemberKatherine McKessy was born in Newcastle West, Co. Limerick in this day 30 Nov 1914. In 1926 arrived in New York on the SS Aurania. with her mother and nine of her twenty siblings.


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