Imerick Is One of the Oldest and Most Interesting Cities in Ireland. Its Old

imerick is one of the oldest years ago when the Corporation passe* a and most interesting cities bye-law forbidding cellars to be let for in Ireland. Its old lanes, living in. Some of these cellars, locked by alleys, squares and ruins, order of the Corporation, are still in now rapidly disappearing in the Englishtown to such English names existence (1936). before modern progress, are alive with as Rosemary Lane, Stag Lane, Prison These invasions left their mark in history and romance if we went to the Lane, Red Lion Lane, Churchyard Lane, name and structure on many of the old trouble of unravelling their stories. and Gridiron Lane. Nevertheless, one buildings and landmarks, thus the Tholsel To study a map of Munster we will leading thoroughfare has maintained its and the Lax Weir are Norse, and the many easily see what a strategically important original Irish name right down to the gabled houses, once a prominent feature position Limerick held. It was situated at present day. This is Creagh Lane, and of both the English and Irish towns, the apex of a great wedge of the sea that was called after a leading family, who, in distinctly Flemish as a result of the penetrated inland for 60 miles and formed this part of the city, helped to drive out the Williamite occupation. an impassable barrier between Thomond Danes. The Creaghs claim great antiquity, A Norse custom in connection with and Desmond, i.e., between the great being a tribe of the O'Nials, who came Limerick fairs existed up to about 150 Dalcassian clans of the O'Briens, O'Deas from Ulster to assist the citizens of years ago. "To the August fair a privilege and MacNamaras on the north side, and Limerick in expelling the Danes. The is annexed, that for fifteen days after, no the McCarthys and Geraldines and others Northerners are said to have been person can be arrested in the city or on the southern side. Limerick was the successful, and, having worn green liberties on any process issuing out of the first ford or crossing-place in this long boughs in their hats on the occasion, were Tholsel Court of Limerick." estuary, hence its importance. Though called O'Nial-Creagh (creagh being Irish Prominent among the citizens who geographically the capital town of County for green bough) which name was also took an active part in the development of Limerick, it is interesting that it was much given to the lane and gate near where they the city was the Arthur family, no less more connected with Thomond, i.e., fought. This lane bounds the new St. than 46 times was an Arthur Mayor of County Clare, than with County Limerick, Anne's Vocational School. In course of Limerick. many of the O'Briens being Kings of time the family became known by the Great jealousy existed between the Limerick. Its important position made it abbreviated name of "Creagh" and for traders of Limerick and Galway, reaching the goal of many invaders and well centuries were leaders in the development such a pitch in 1524 that hostilities merited its motto on the City's Arms: "Urbs and administration of the City of Limerick, commenced between the City of Limerick antiqua hit studiisque asperrima belli." the office of Mayor having been filled 33 and the Town of Galway, and great The first of these invasions was by the times by a "Creagh." Broad Street, once a depredations were committed both by sea Danes in 812 and they continued in leading and prosperous thoroughfare, and land, until the people of Limerick Limerick off and on for about 300 years till contains a well-chiselled archway, form- dispatched two leading citizens, subdued by Brian Boru and finally driven erly the entrance to the "Old Bear Inn," Christopher and Nicholas Arthur, to out by Donald Mor O'Brien. But during having on the keystone the inscription Galway, to " pacyficat and put away those years many of the invaders had "Pierse Creagh 1640, rebuilt by John all manner adversitye, rancour and surrendered their roving life for more Creagh 1767." This Pierse Creagh, when inconvenyens that have rysen or insurged peaceable occupations and had inter- Mayor in 1613, was deposed for refusing between the City and town habitantes of married with the native Irish. Two of to take the oath of allegiance, and in 1615, the same." "Upon their arrival (in Galway) these settlements continued after the when Christopher Creagh was Mayor, he the Mayor, Adam Farrut, bailiffs and final expulsion, and it is said that the was fined £100 for the same offence. commonality assembled in the town inhabitants of the fishing village of The native Irish, who were driven out house, and, with one consent, concluded a Coonagh. and the agricultural district of of their town, settled in the district about perpetual peace and concord with the Park are their descendants and that like Mungret Street, which became known as deputies of Limerick." their modern cousins in Denmark, the the "Irishtown," and soon developed into To develop their property and improve residents of Park can, by similar thrift and such importance that it was the Irishtown the facilities for their trade the Arthurs industry, live comfortably on quite small that bore the brunt of the Williamite built the harbour and quay called after plots of land. From these they supply a Sieges. them, "Arthur's Quay," and built the fine large proportion of the potatoes and After these terrible times, when peace row of old Georgian houses on the Quay vegetables consumed in Limerick. and prosperity once again returned to and in Francis Street. Francis Street and In studying the history of Limerick we Limerick, a third town was developed, Patrick Street are called after Francis and will notice that the effect of various known as "Newtown Pery," comprising Patrick Arthur, and Ellen Street after Ellen invasions was to divide the City into two the chessboard district of George Street Arthur. The houses on Arthur's Quay and separate towns, thus when the Anglo- (renamed O'Connell Street) and The in Francis Street were occupied by Normans took possession of original Crescent and the side streets off them. fashionable Limerick families, and a Limerick, which was built on an island The cramped condition of life in a military band used sometimes to play on round which the Abbey River made an walled city may be easily realized by the Quay. With the building of Wellesley important moat, they drove the native looking at the narrow lanes and alleys of Bridge, now renamed Sarsfield Bridge, Irish across the Abbey River, and the the English and Irish towns, and their and Newtown Pery, prosperity left that island became known as the "English- high narrow houses with their cellars, end of the town for the newer houses, with town". Among the many changes which these cellars having been used for both the result that these fine old Georgian show how completely the Anglo-Normans business and residential purposes. houses in Arthur's Quay and in Francis endeavoured to eradicate all that was Irish Perhaps one of the first steps towards Street were now all let in tenements. was the altering of the names of the lanes slum clearance in Limerick was about 30 These were all pulled down in 1951. Baal's Bridge was the only bridge over Limerick. Bruce had his bank at 6 Rutland Larry Quinlivan) and a contemporary the Abbey River, and like many other Street at a time when that street was one describes it as "a splendid mill with great bridges, had a row of houses built on it. of the most prosperous business streets waterpower." That it did a prosperous The last of these was occupied by three in the city, and which house is still business can be gauged from the fact that maiden ladies named Purdon, who never conspicuous by what must have been one once Larry Quinlivan was Mayor of married, because they thought no man of the finest hall doors in Limerick. He Limerick, at a time when, to occupy the good enough for them. This gave rise to had only one leg, the other was an iron civic chair, a man had to be in a big way of the old Limerick proverb "as proud as a stump, and to help himself about he business. Unfortunately the mill was burnt Purdon." carried a thick blackthorn. It is told of down about 1850 and never re-built. Travelling in those days was both him that when any of his clients, unable to Quinlivan continued in the corn business tedious and uncomfortable, as unless by meet payments for money advanced to in Upper William Street, and Fisher yent the private vehicle, the mail coach was the them, begged of him clemency he would to Dublin, where he became Secretaw of only alternative, but it is interesting to see put out his iron stump and whack it with the Patriotic Insurance Company, one of what broad level roads the old coach roads his blackthorn, saying "That is the softest Ireland's oldest Insurance Companies. were, such as Limerick to Dublin, to part of me," not much encouragement for Under his guidance it prospered, and Waterford, to Cork, etc. About 1760 the defaulters. In his old age he was able to though still doing so, is now owned by one mail coaches to Dublin were faced with buy Hermitage at Castleconnell for £5,000, of the great English Insurance combines. competition, for about this time the Canal and spent his last years in that beautiful James Fisher's father was Joseph Fisher, to connect Limerick with Dublin was spot.

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