Samuel Carter Hall tells of Limerick in his 1882 publication Ireland, The South, a lecture for the magic lantern and guide to the tourist.
He first talks about Limerick detailing
Limerick lace, Limerick gloves, Limerick hams, Limerick hooks, and if last, surely not least, Limerick lasses, have obtained large renown in all parts of the world. Some of its ancient walls remain; it was for centuries a fortified city. Its chief attractions are the venerable cathedral, and the old castle, “King John’s Castle“. Although sixty miles from the sea, the river Shannon here broadens out into a fine harbour, and large ships anchor at its quays. Its environs are highly picturesque. The grand river – the Shannon – fertilises, as it runs, woods, and plains, and populous villages, give enjoyment to anglers who love the “gentle craft” second to none in Ireland.
The greatest of Limerick – although by no means the only one – is its majestic and beautiful river: “the king of island rivers,” “the principalist of all in Ireland,” writes the quaint old naturalist Dr. Gerrard Boate…
Ireland, The South, p.44
On the following page, Samuel Carter Hall goes on to tell of the journey of the Shannon River from Letrim to Limerick before returning to the city to talk about the Treaty Stone and details the importance of this object to the city.
The Treaty Stone
“The Treaty Stone,” at Limerick, was, not long ago, “honoured” by elevation on a becoming pedestal. For nearly two centuries it had been neglected, if not a despised relic by the wayside. On this stone was signed the famous – or rather infamous – Treaty of Limerick, on the 3rd of October, 1691, by the several contracting parties – a treaty that was broken in all its primary and important provisions; and the soldiers of the Third William entered and became possessors of a city they had vainly attempted to take by force of arms: the defence giving to all the nations of the world an example of courage, endurance, and fortitude, such as the world had seldom seen, and paralleled by only the glorious defence of heroic Londonderry.
The Treaty of Limerick has its place in history as “the violated treaty.” So it was; and the memory of it is not harmony in English ears. It is one of the grievances of old Ireland that young Ireland remembers. The defence of this city was the latest of three sieges: the Norman chivalry were defeated under its walls; so were the Ironsides of Cromwell; so was the army of William III., led by his favourite general – Ginckle. The story of either siege would supply material for a volume; I have no space for the exciting topic. The treaty that secured to the Irish all, or nearly all, the privileges they demanded, was shamefully and wickedly broken in all its essential provisions. The Irish army, headed by their brave general, Sarsfield, was permitted to march out of the surrendered city, and enter into the service of England’s perpetual enemy, France. That provision was kept; and payment was subsequently made at Fontenoy. Of the whole army there thousand either the English, or obtained “means to carry them home.” The remainder were subsequently embarked for France, and laid the foundation of the famous “Irish brigades” that occupy positions so prominent and so honourable in the after wars of Europe.
Ireland, The South, p.45
The magic lantern mentioned in the book title was an early form of projection for photographs. Some of the earliest landscaped images of Ireland are the Lawrence collection which can be viewed on the National Library of Ireland’s online collection.