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About
Limerick |
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Celebrated
in song as a lady, the city of Limerick has matured with sophistication
and grace. Elegantly adorned with gems of nature and jewels of architecture,
lively in her sense of fun and love of sports.
Limerick,
Ireland's third largest city, has lifelines stretching from Viking
roots to contemporary high-tech industry. It has a Royal Charter older
than London's and a castle built by King John while he sat on the
throne of England for his Crusader brother, Richard the Lionheart.
Limerick is also home to the largest private art collection in the
country, housed in the Hunt Museum, formerly the Custom House. The
National Self Portrait Collection is on permanent show at the University
of Limerick. Some of Limerick's famous "sons and daughters"
include the composer of the riverdance music Bill Whelan, Richard
harris (renowned actor), The cranberries rock band and frank McCourt,
author of the Pulitzer prize winning world bestseller "Angela's
Ashes". |
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Visitors
to Limerick City will certainly have no problem in finding things
to see and do. The historic nature of Ireland's third largest city,
and indeed the beautiful nature of its environs, provide many areas
of interest. A brief taste of what may be found in Limerick City would
include: |
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King
John's Castle |
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King
John's Castle, on the south side of Thomond Bridge head, built in 1210
"to dominate the bridge and watch towards Thomond", is one
of the finest specimens of fortified Norman architecture in Ireland.
The exhibition is full of colour, drama and stories of the castle
and its place in the history of Limerick and Europe. |
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St.
Mary's Cathedral |
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At
the junction of Nicholas Street and Bridge Street stands St. Mary's
Cathedral, the ecclesiastical centre of the fortress for hundreds
of years. The full title of this Cathedral is the "Cathedral and Parochial Church
of the Blessed Virgin Mary". It
was built in 1172 by Donal Mor O'Brien, the last King of Munster.
The original plan of the church was in the form of a Latin cross.
Additions were made to the Cathedral, two centuries later, during
the episcopate of Stephen Wall, Bishop of Limerick. At the time of
the religious revolt of the sixteenth century, the Cathedral passed
out of Catholic hands. Catholic worship was restored, however, during
the Confederate Wars and the short ill-fated reign of James II. |
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The
Treaty Stone |
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Limerick
City's most famous monument, the Treaty Stone gets its name from the
tradition that The Treaty of Limerick was signed on the stone itself.
The Stone is decorated with the image of King John's Castle opposite
the stone, surmounted by a dome and cross, showing that Limerick was
a cahtedral city. |
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For further
information on what to do and see when in Limerick, contact the
Tourist
Information Centre,
located in Arthurs Quay in the City Centre. The centre is open all
year round and is the ideal starting point for visitors to the city.
Telephone: +353 - 61 - 317 522
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