Limerick in 1689

Limerick in 1689 y the 1680s, Limerick had become one of the strongest fortresses in Ireland, and was the chief centre of the civil and military government of the south-west of the country, and second in importance only to Dublin. Other major walled cities and towns were Galway, Athlone, Derry, Coleraine, Carrick c erg us, Dungannon, Dundalk, Drogheda, Dublin, Waterford, Kinsale and Cork. By the standards of the time, it was a considerable achieve- ment - a medieval city that had not out- grown the areas enclosed by its centuries old walls which encompassed the English and Irish towns. While these were two distinct towns, they also were complimentary to one another, and between them had a combined circum- ference of 3 miles protecting an area of 70 acres. Although both towns were differ- ent in shape and character, they were roughly the same size at 35 acres each, King John's Castle, St. May'S Cathedral and Old Thomond Bridge, and joining them was only one bridge of four arches, known as Ye Bridge, the Tide Bridge, Baal's Bridge, or the Bald Bridge for the running ofboth towns. (Droichead Maol), i.e. a span without There were many stone memorials parapet walls. It had been built over the inserted in the walls, usually on or near narrowest point of the Abbey River in one of the gates and in some cases the 1340 when it replaced an existing struc- or Great Street, bisected the town and inscription referred to major repair works ture. There was a drawbridge on the stretched from the Island Gate (3) to that had been carried out. In all, there English Town side at Baal's Bridge North Baal's Bridge North Gate. (8). From the were about fourteen inscriptions and Gate.(8) Great Street ran many laneways: most were in Latin. For instance, built As the Irish Town was constructed Bishop's, Bonfield's, Bow, Broad, 'Change into the gateway (6) at the bottom of after the English Town, it was much bet- (Exchange), Creagh, Courthouse, Gaol Lane, facing St. Francis Abbey (G) ter fortified; its walls were up to 10ft Emlline's or Hemlin's, Fish, Flag, Gaol, was a niche with a statue of St. James and thick and 40 ft high in places, and had Gridiron, Halyard's, Jenkin's, Meeting- a tablet which read as follows: strong towers or bulwarks, some mount- house, Merritt's, Mill, Monks, Newgate, Sancte Iacobe ing cannon, and five gateways. (15)- (19) Prison, Quay, Red Lion, Stag, Tholsel Defende nos ab hoste The principal streets were An Boher Mor (Town Hall) and Whitehorse lanes. The Hic bellona tonat, sedet hic astraea (Broad Street) which ran south from street names were Castle or Thomond renascens, Baal's Bridge South Gate. (15) Branching Street, which led to Thomond Bridge, Hac pietas ad aquas, ac sacra pandit iter. from Broad Street was Mungret Street and across to the Clare side of the Anno domini MDCXLVII which ran south west as far as 'Mongrett' Shannon, St. Dominick Street, or Abbey R.R. Caroli Dominic Fanning Praetore Gate, (18) and John Street which ran Lane, and, of course, the High or Great David Creagh et Iacobo Sexton vicec. b , south-east as far as St. John's Gate, (17) Street. The principal buildings were King A direct translation of this inscription (also known as Kilmallock Gate). John's Castle (B),the Tholsel (I), the City reads: Mungret, Broad and Palmerstown lanes Courthouse (S) in Quay Lane (S), St. St. lames -. ran offthese streets. The major buildings Mary's Cathedral (A), the County Defend us from the enemy were Shambles Castle (J),Thomcore Courthous&(G), just outside the walls in Here war tlzunders; here renewed justice Castle (O),St. John's (Protestant) Church St. Francis Abbey (G),from which the sits; (L), the Pest House (hospital) (X), and, Abbey River takes its name, the Along tlzis way duty reveals the road to just outside the walls, St. Michael's Exchange (F), St. Peter's Cell Church (E), tlze waters and holy slzrines Church (M) was situated on a small Ald. Dominic Fanning's House (U), St. AD l647 island linked to the Abbey River. At that Dominick's Abbey (D),and St. Nicholas' In the reign of Charles; Dominic time, the Abbey River was known by its' Church (K). The English Town contained Fanning Mayor. Irish name, Gkabal Bkeag, meaning the lit- the parish of St. Mary (which included David Creagh and lames Sexton Sheriffs. tle branch (of the Shannon). The Irish Scattery Island, near Kilrush, Co. Clare), Town contained the greater part of the and parts of the parishes of St. Nicholas At Mungret Gate (18) was another parish of St. John's and a part of that of and St. Munchin. The Great Street was inscription: St. Michael's. A considerable part of the lined with the many fine and substantial In the reign of town was made up of gardens and residences of the wealthier citizens, while King Clzarles orchards. the poorer inhabitants lived mainly in the Peter Creaglz - Mayor The English Town on King's Island Irish Town. The commercial activity of AD 1643 had many towers, mounting cannon at the English Town provided employ&^ -- - strategic points, and fourteen gateways outlets, many of which were filled by Another example was the dedication, in (l)- (14) and its' walls were 4 ft. thick in workers from the Irish Town. The gold letters on black marble, on the side most parts and 3 ftkothers. High Street, Assembly (Corporation) was responsible of the Bridge Gate (2) facing the city: The Freeman's Duties without Tnx or Rate Repair'd this Place the Thomond Bridge and Gate AD l674 Williram York, Esqr. Mayor. Some of the surrounding townlands outside the city were Kileely (Killeely), Shanbollye (Shanabooly), Cluoine- dreinagh (Clondrinagh), Cownagh (Coonagh), Cahir Davin, Farrintoine (Farranshone), Mone Mrahyr (Mona- braher), Prior's Land, Garryglosse (Garryglass), Rathbane, Corckanrye (Corkanree), Corballie (Corbally) and Gallwone (Galvone). These lands were made up of pasture, arable, meadow, red bog, marshland, dry arable and shrubby St. John's Gate and Citadel, drawn by Richard Ahern. wood. Some of the surrounding parishes were St. Patrick's, St. Laurence's, Kilmurry, Carnary (Cahirnarry) and the ground than it does today). English parliament usually permitted parish of Mongrett (Mungret). Outside Beside the west side of the cathedral exports to continue to countries it was at the walls of the Irish Town was Gallows was the Quay or Great Quay, constructed war with. Imports consisted of coffee, Green (V) where miscreants were hanged almost 200 years earlier (circa 15001, deal boards from Norway, hops ('best for major and not-so-major crime. On much of it built with money from the for- quality') from England, iron,-lemons, nearby Singland Hill was Ireton's Fort, feited cargo of contraband goods from a madder, oranges, sugar from the West and about a half-mile south of St. John's Bristol ship. (Limerick appears to have Indies, pottery from North Devon, Gate, (17) on the road to Kilmallock and had certain agreements with Bristol, cov- Staffordshire and Buckley, salt, sheep ('to Kilkenny, stood Cromwell's Fort. (These ering such trading transactions, and in improve local stock'), tobacco (by structures were renamed Mackay's Fort 1680 freemen of the city of Bristol did not Richard Pierce) from Antigua in the West and Count Nassau's Fort, respectively, by have to pay any inward or outward tolls Indies and wine. The bulk of these General de Ginkle, after two of his com- here.) The l00ft wide entrance was imports came from England, Scotland, manders, in 1691). On an area prone to guarded by two towers, and six pieces of Spain, France and Holland. On the flooding on the northern part of King's artillery, on the taller southern tower, whole, the volume and value of imports Island was another fortress, about a half- helped to make the quay a well protected exceeded that of exports, and smuggling mile north of Island Gate, (3), known also and safe harbour. Between the towers a was a common practice. as Cromwell's Fort - a star-shaped strong chain was extended for increased Close to Baal's Bridge and opposite stronghold and roughly squared at 100 defence. Dominick Fanning's house (U) stood the yards a side. There was yet another fort From the tall tower the wall reached Tholsel (I), which was built between on the Clare side of Thomond Bridge, to a height of about 30ft at low-water, 1449 and 1451. It had two large inscrip- called, appropriately, Thomond Fort (W), and ran for about 600ft eastwards to tions in Latin on the outside wall, one of while further out on the road to Ennis, at Quay Lane Gate (10). This section was which read: Killeely Cross, was the Mayor's Stone built on two levels, and the upper level Behold this building in two parts which read: was used as a walk by the people of the supported by columns. This paving was wh city. The wall had undergone major Kindly celestial justice occupies. oly ended at the repairs, nearly 50 years before, in With public money charges of the Corpo 1640/41, during Mayor William Comyn's Jordan Roche, Mayor of the City ration, lames Whit term of office. Inside the dock was an AD 1640 E Fitziames Exqvir irregular piece of water made up of Being maior anni di quays and jetties. The Great Quay was In the upper part of this two-storey MDCXXXVI11.

Load more