Limerick, its history and antiquities; ecclesiastical, civil, and military,from the earliest ages, with copious historical, archaeological, topographical, and genealogical notes

Each story keeps the passage it was read from. Open one to read the passage as the book has it, and, where the companion has written its own telling, that too.

1. French artillery thrown into river at Dromahair bridge

   Dromahair · town · Leitrim · 1798

   Following the Battle of Collooney, the retreating French army under Humbert abandoned three six-pounder guns on the road and dismounted and threw five pieces of artillery over the bridge at Dromahair into the river, losing their military effectiveness as they fled towards Manorhamilton.

   Read the passage

   This brilliant action saved Sligo, and crushed the French invasion. Colonel Vereker crossed the Colooney river in good order, and the French General believing from the undaunted courage and confidence displayed by the enemy, that they formed the advance guard of Lord Lake's army, determined to retreat with precipitation, and shaped his course towards Manor-Hamilton, in the County of Leitrim, leaving on the road, for the sake of expedition, three six pounders, and dismounting and throwing five pieces of artillery over the bridge at Drummahair into the river. II Their guns being abandoned, the French army lost its efliciency, and the French invasion may be said to have virtually terminated ; although it was not until some days afterwards that Humbert surrendered to Lord Cornwallis.

   At this distance of time, it is scarce!}' possible to estimate the important effect of this gallant enterprise. Lord Cornwallis, with an army of 20,000 men under his orders, was cautiously wandering in a wrong direction on the banks of the Shannon, and only for the blow he received at Colooney, Humbert might, according to tbe supposition of Sir Jonah Barrington, have marched to Dublin and seized the capital by a bold covp-de-main, joined by 40,000 rebels, who were

   Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 237

2. Geoffrey Barron tried and executed at Limerick

   Limerick · city · Limerick · 1651

   Geoffrey Barron, who had been envoy to the king of France for the Confederate Catholics, was tried before Ireton's council of war. After Ireton argued Ireland was a conquered country, Barron was sentenced to death and executed by hanging, beheading, and quartering.

   Read the passage

   Again O'Neil was tried, and again sentence of death was passed upon him; but Ireton seeing the dissatisfaction of the officers more unequivocally expressed, he no longer adhered to his own opinion, and the matter being referred again to the consideration of the Court, they, by their third vote consented to save his life. Geoffrey Barron, having the same questions put to him, he stated that it was not just to exclude him from mercy, because he had been engaged in the same cause that Ireton pretended to fight for, which was for the liberty and religion of his country. Ireton rephed that Ireland being a conquered country, England might with justice assert her rights of conquest— that they had been treated by the late government far beyond their merit or the rules of reason, notwithstanding which they had barbarously murdered all the English who fell into their hands, robbed them of their goods, which they had gained by their industry, and taken away the lands which they had purchased with their money — that touching the point of religion there was a wide difference also between them, they contending for their right without imposing their opinions on others — whereas Geoffry Barron^'s party were not, as Ireton fiercely alleged, content without compelKng aU others to submit to their impositions upon pain of death ! The council of war, hearing these statements, adjudged death against Barron, and he was sentenced and died ; Fennel also, and four and twenty better men were led to the scaffold. 1 Ireton^s death was an acknowledged divine vengeance.^ Sir Hardress Waller was now made governor of the city of Limerick.

   Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 101

   As the companion tells it

   As you pass through Limerick, you are in a city where in 1651 Geoffrey Barron was tried and executed. Barron had served as envoy to the king of France for the Confederate Catholics. He was brought before Ireton's council of war. Before Barron, a man called O'Neil had been tried and sentenced to death, but Ireton saw the officers' dissatisfaction and referred the matter back to the court, which voted a third time and consented to spare his life. Barron faced the same questions. He stated it was not just to exclude him from mercy, because he had been engaged in the same cause that Ireton pretended to fight for, which was for the liberty and religion of his country. Ireton replied that Ireland being a conquered country, England might with justice assert her rights of conquest. He said they had been treated by the late government far beyond their merit, yet they had barbarously murdered all the English who fell into their hands, robbed them of their goods, and taken away the lands they had purchased with their money. On religion, Ireton said they contended for their right without imposing their opinions on others, whereas Barron's party, as Ireton fiercely alleged, compelled all others to submit to their impositions on pain of death. The council of war hearing these statements adjudged death against Barron. He was sentenced and died. Fennel also, and four and twenty better men, were led to the scaffold. Ireton's death was afterwards called an acknowledged divine vengeance. Sir Hardress Waller was then made governor of the city of Limerick.

3. Jesuit schoolmaster acts seditious play in Limerick county hall

   Limerick · city · Limerick · 1650–1659

   Around the 1650s, a Jesuit named Thomas Stretch, disguised as a schoolmaster, acted a play with his scholars in the county hall of Limerick. The minister John Andrews expressly prohibited it, claiming its design was to stir up sedition and show the people the Jesuit's own condition and hopes.

   Read the passage

   Not satisfied with instructing and consoling the Catholics, he converted in his excursions about eighty Protestants every year.' About the same time one Thomas Stretch by name, says the Earl of Orrery, a " Jesuit, lately tm'ned schoolmaster, did in the county hall (of Limerick) with his scholars act a play, whither a great confluence of people repaired, notwithstanding that Mr. John Andrews, minister of the place, did expressly prohibit him, because the design of it was to stir up sedition and to show the people his own condition and hopes", etc.

   Before we leave the Irish slaves we may say one word more of their missionaries. In 1699 Father Gai-ganel, S.J., superior of the island of Martinique, asked for one or two Irish Fathers for that and the neighbouring isles, which were full of Irish ; for, continues he, every year ship-loads of men, boys, and girls, partly crimped, partly carried off by main force for purposes of slave trade, are conveyed by the English from Ireland.

   Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 382

   As the companion tells it

   As you pass through Limerick, there is a story from the 1650s that belongs to this city. A Jesuit named Thomas Stretch had lately turned schoolmaster. According to the Earl of Orrery, Stretch gathered his scholars in the county hall of Limerick and acted a play with them. A great confluence of people repaired to see it. This happened notwithstanding that John Andrews, the minister of the place, had expressly prohibited him. Andrews said the design of the play was to stir up sedition and to show the people the Jesuit's own condition and hopes. Stretch had not confined himself to this. He had been going about instructing and consoling Catholics, and on his excursions he converted about 80 Protestants every year. The county hall of Limerick thus became a stage where a disguised Jesuit let the people see, through a play, what he stood for and what he longed for.

4. Limerick citizens and clergy prepare to resist Ireton

   Limerick · city · Limerick · 1651

   O'Neil was appointed Governor of Limerick and refused all overtures from Ireton. Bishop Terence Albert O'Brien of Emly, Dominick Fanning, Father Wolfe, and other citizens and clergy urged the defenders to leave nothing undone to defeat Ireton, rejecting any compromise.

   Read the passage

   O^Neil was now appointed Governor of Limerick, and he did his duty with a courage and true nobility of soul which brooked no compromise. Sh Geofirey Galway, the son of him who had been persecuted in the days of Queen Ehzabeth ; Geoffry Barron, whom French calls an ornament to his country ; Alderman Domhiick Panning, Alderman Thomas Stritch, Dr. Higg-ins, and many others of the citizens, held counsel within, and would listen to no overture that came from Ireton or his partizans. There was no one more prominent than Terence Albert O'Brien, Bishop of Emly, in preparing the citizens and soldiers for the storm, and in urging them to leave nothing undone to conquer Ireton and his merciless mjTmidons. They were nobly seconded by the indomitable Dominick Fanning, the zealous Father Wolfe, who had prevented the city accepting Ormondes peace, by General Purcell, and others.

   For some months past Ireton had been putting all tilings in readiness for his army ; tents, arms, beds for the soldiers, cannon, ammunition of every sort, were sent up the Shannon by him towards Limerick, by vessels provided for the service. Garrisons had already, since the previous March, been placed in the castles of Castle Connell and at KHmallock, convenient outposts for strategetic purposes ; other places were likewise invested or blockaded. The Parliamentary army was ordered to rendevouz at Cashel, from whence Ireton marched by way of Nenagh, down by the Silver Mines, and across the roads to that part of the Shannon which flows opposite Killaloe. The Earl of Castlehaven, who had been before this time appointed, by Ormond, commander-in-chief of the province of Muuster and the coimty of Clare, now held that office for the whole kingdom, marched with what forces he could draw together, and encamped at Killaloe, to observe Ireton's movements. Ireton was thoroughly aware of the weakness of the confederate forces, feeling assured that they only kept up appearances till Cromwell and King Charles had decided their quarrel. He kept a guard on his side of the river, as Castlehaven did against him.'

   Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 96

   As the companion tells it

   The road brings you near Limerick, the city where, in 1651, O'Neil was appointed Governor and did his duty with a courage and true nobility of soul which brooked no compromise. Within the walls, the citizens held counsel and would listen to no overture that came from Ireton or his partisans. Among them were Geoffrey Galway, son of a man persecuted in the days of Queen Elizabeth; Geoffrey Barron, called an ornament to his country; Alderman Dominick Fanning; Alderman Thomas Stritch; Dr. Higgins; and many others. No one was more prominent than Terence Albert O'Brien, Bishop of Emly, in preparing the citizens and soldiers for the storm, urging them to leave nothing undone to conquer Ireton and his merciless myrmidons. They were nobly seconded by the indomitable Dominick Fanning, the zealous Father Wolfe, who had prevented the city accepting Ormonde's peace, by General Purcell, and others. Ireton had been putting all things in readiness for months. Tents, arms, beds for the soldiers, cannon, and ammunition of every sort were sent up the Shannon towards Limerick by vessels provided for the service. Garrisons had already, since the previous March, been placed in the castles of Castle Connell and at Kilmallock, convenient outposts. The Parliamentary army was ordered to rendezvous at Cashel, from whence Ireton marched by way of Nenagh, down by the Silver Mines, and across the roads to that part of the Shannon which flows opposite Killaloe. The Earl of Castlehaven, appointed by Ormond commander-in-chief of the province of Munster and the county of Clare, now held that office for the whole kingdom. He marched with what forces he could draw together and encamped at Killaloe to observe Ireton's movements.

5. Norway ship driven up to Newgate-lane in Limerick storm

   Limerick · city · Limerick · 1815

   During the December 16th hurricane, a Norway ship of about 200 tons drifted from Shannon-quay and was driven up to the lower end of Newgate-lane, abreast of the old Golden Mills. A brig and a sloop were driven completely over the weir of Curragower and grounded under the S.W. tower of the Castle Barrack.

   Read the passage

   December 16th — At a verj' early hour this morning, a tremendous storm arose from the S.W. quarter, and blew a hurricane more furious than any remembered by the oldest person living here ; it threw down several chimneys, and unroofed houses — it threw down a new house in Glentworth-street. About 7 o'clock, a Norway ship of about 200 tons, drifted from her fastenings at Shannon-quay, and was driven up to the lower end of Newgate-lane, abreast of the old Golden Mills ; a brig and a sloop, both laden, were driven completely over the weir of Curragower, and grounded under the S.W. tower of the Castle Barrack. The tide rose up to the houses on Merchants'-quay ; the lanes and passages were strewn with bricks, tiles and slates, which had fallen from the houses ; the flag-staff, erected on St. Mary's Cathedral at the close of A.D. 1800, was broken and carried away ; and the new wooden gallery erected in July last, on the west side of the City gaol, over the river, was totally destroyed. A new Scotch sloop, with rock salt, thrown on her beam ends, at O'NeiU's-quay, and sunk. Great damage on the Northstrand, and most of a new parapet wall, erected only last summer, swept clear away. Many of the river craft totally lost, together with many lives. The leads on the Custom House rolled up, and partly carried off. This storm very general throughout the kingdom ; upwards of 530 large trees torn up from the roots at Adare ; 130 gross trees at Tervoe ; 200 ditto at Castletown waller ; 150 ditto at Hollypark (Mr. Taylor's) ; twenty farmers' houses were levelled to the ground on Kilgenny common, about 3 miles beyond Adare. An over grown elm tree at Clonmacken, in the N. Liberties, blown down — it had stood upwards of 150 years ; at Kilballyowen, 130 trees — all in this county. The damage at sea was dreadful. At Liverpool, 4 vessels were

   436 HISTORY OF LLMElllCK.

   Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 249

   As the companion tells it

   As you come through Limerick, there's a storm here in December 1815 that people remembered for the rest of their lives. On the 16th, before dawn, a hurricane rose from the southwest, worse than anything the oldest person living had seen. It threw down chimneys and unroofed houses. It threw down a new house in Glentworth-street. About 7 o'clock, a Norway ship of about 200 tons broke from her fastenings at Shannon-quay and was driven up to the lower end of Newgate-lane, abreast of the old Golden Mills. A brig and a sloop, both laden, were driven completely over the weir of Curragower and grounded under the southwest tower of the Castle Barrack. The tide rose up to the houses on Merchants'-quay. Lanes and passages were strewn with bricks, tiles and slates. The flag-staff on St. Mary's Cathedral, erected at the close of 1800, was broken and carried away. The new wooden gallery put up in July on the west side of the City gaol, over the river, was totally destroyed. A new Scotch sloop carrying rock salt was thrown on her beam ends at O'Neill's-quay and sank. On the North-strand, most of a new parapet wall built only the summer before was swept clear away. Many river craft were totally lost, together with many lives. The leads on the Custom House were rolled up and partly carried off. The storm was general throughout the kingdom. Upwards of 530 large trees were torn up at Adare. 130 trees at Tervoe. 200 at Castletown Waller. 150 at Hollypark, Mr. Taylor's. 20 farmers' houses were levelled on Kilgenny common, about 3 miles beyond Adare. An overgrown elm at Clonmacken, in the North Liberties, blown down. It had stood upwards of 150 years. At Kilballyowen, 130 trees.

6. Patrick Wallis sentenced to hang at Kilfinane, head on Castle

   Kilfinane · town · Limerick · 1798

   Patrick Wallis was sentenced to be hanged at Kilfinane for collecting subscriptions to procure the assassination of Charles S. Oliver. His head was to be affixed on one of his own pikes and placed on the Castle.

   Read the passage

   Patrick Wallis, for collecting subscriptions for procuring the assassination of Chas. S. Oliver, Esq. to be hanged at KCfinan, his head to be affixed on one of his own pikes, and placed on the Castle.

   July 7th Sir Vere Hunt, Bart, received, in the most gracious and flattering manner,

   Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 236

7. Pope's picture burned in Limerick river Shannon

   Limerick · city · Limerick · 1679

   On Ascension Day 1679, during anti-Catholic agitation, the Pope's picture was dragged up and down the Shannon in a boat and then publicly burned in Limerick with great shoutings. Mayor Sir William King was noted for quartering soldiers exclusively on Catholics.

   Read the passage

   Bigotry and fanatical hatred of Catholicity were now raging throughout the city. On the 29th of June, 1679, being Ascension day, the Pope's picture was dragged up and down the river Shannon in a boat, and afterwards, with great shoutings was publicly burned in Limerick. This was duruig the mayoralty of Sir William King, who was the first mayor who quartered aU the soldiers on the Catholics without putting any on the Protestants, and that out of prejudice, because the Catholics cUsputed in law for their freedom.^

   On the 3rd of November, 1683, the greatest frost that had ever been previously known in Ireland began, and it continued until the 9th of February ; the frost was seven or eight feet thick on the river Shannon ; all the lakes and rivers of Ireland were in like manner frozen ; men, women, cattle and carriages went over the rivers on the ice; people frequently walked on it from the King's Island to Parteen. In the following year William Gribble being mayor, he went to Scattery Island, to exercise his jurisdiction among the herring boats for the city duties, which were 1000 herrings and 1000 oysters out of each boat (a most exorbitant tax). This he reduced to 500 a piece.®

   Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 118

8. Sarsfield crosses Shannon at Killaloe

   Killaloe · town · Clare · 1690

   Manus O'Brien warned the Williamite camp that Sarsfield had crossed the Shannon at Killaloe by night with five or six hundred horse and dragoons, designing some extraordinary enterprise. The warning was initially disregarded by senior officers.

   Read the passage

   3 For instance, when " Manus O'Brien, a substantial country gentleman, came to the Camp, and gave notice that Sarsfield had passed the Shannon in the night at Killaloe, with a body of five or six hundred Horse and Dragoons, and designed something extraordinary, though several concurring circumstances, and Sarsfield's activity and resolution, which fitted him for any gallant enterprise, rendered O'Brien's story at least probable, yet little regard was paid to it at first ; and a great officer, instead of enquiring particularly into the matter, interrogated O'Brien concerning a prey of Cattle in the neighbourhood, of which he complained, saying, " He was sorry to sea General Officers mind Cattle more than the King's Honour ; (Harris's Life of William III. p. 286) and it was not until he was brought before the King, that His Majesty ordered Sir John Lanier, with 500 horse, after much delay and confusion, to meet the train.'' These, and similar circumstances, weighed so heavily on William, that he had not confidence in his officers.

   * Harris's Life of WilHajn III. p. 287.

   Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 136

9. Turlough O'Brien carries off head from Clonmacnoise

   Clonmacnoise · townland · Offaly · 1073

   Turlough O'Brien carried off the head of the murdered King of Meath from the Abbey of Clonmacnoise on a Good Friday before his Northern expedition. A great disease then seized him, causing his hair and beard to fall out, until the head was restored with gold.

   Read the passage

   The Annals of the Four Masters for this year^ record a curious anecdote of Turloue-h in reference of his having carried off the head of the murdered King of Meath from the Abbey of Clonmacnoise on a Good Frida,y, unmediately before his Northern expedition. — " It was brought back again from the South with two rings of gold along with it through the miracles of God and Kiaran. A great disease seized the King Turlough O'Brien, which caused his hair and beard to fall off through the miracles of God and Kiaran, for when the head of Connor was brought into his presence, a mouse issued out of it and went under his garment, which was the cause of his disease."' The Annals of Clonmacnoise^ mention the same curious story, and state that Brien "was like to die until he restored the said head with certain gold."

   It was during an expedition undertaken into Meath, immediately after this, to punish Morrough Melaghhn, the brother and murderer of Connor, that he carri('d off the head of one' of the bitterest of his enemies, as related above.

   Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 18

10. Arrest of Mr. Arthur and forced eviction of his family in Limerick

    Limerick · city · Limerick

    On Tuesday, the 29th of May, the Recorder George Smyth entered Mr. Arthur's house during breakfast and arrested him by order of Major-General Morrison, producing no warrant and with no information laid or examination taken. Mrs. Arthur was compelled to surrender her keys and told to quit her town house, as it would be forthwith occupied by soldiers; she and her children retreated to her father's house.

    Read the passage

    On Saturday the 2Cth of May, Captain Lidwell, who was superintending the flogging of some wretched being at the Market-house in Limerick, turned to the crowd that was collected on the occasion, and proclaimed a reward from one hundred to two hundred guineas, for any person who could inform against the late artillery corps. He then desired a Mr. John Connell to search for arms, adding that some of that (the artillery) corps had advised the inhabitants to secrete them. So direct an imputation on the artillery corps must have expounded Lieutenant-Colonel Cockell'a meaning, and have operated as a decisive hint for Mr. Arthur to flee the country had he been conscious of guilt ; as it was he regarded it as a shallow artifice to induce him to quit the city and avoid the disgrace of being arrested, when his retreat would have been called an attempt to abscond, and furnished a pretext for the plunder of his property. He treated the matter with contempt, little dreaming that his life would be imperilled. On the follomng Sunday, the 27th of May, Major-General Duff marched out of Limerick, and Major-General Edward Morrisson remained in command. On Tuesday, the 29th of May, while Mr. Arthur was at breakfast with his famil}', the Recorder, Mr. George Smyth, entered his house, and expressed a desire to speak to him in another room. No sooner had they withdrawn than the Recorder informed Mr. Arthur that he was arrested then and there, by order of Major-General Morrison. The Recorder produced no warrant; nor could Morrison issue any such order, Martial Law not ha^^ng been proclaimed at the time, nor had any information been laid or examination taken. The Kecorder demanded Mr. Arthur's keys which were delivered up. The Recorder called Jlrs. Arthur into the room and compelled her also to deliver up her keys to him. The Recorder immediately told Mrs. Arthur to quit her town house, for it would be forthwith occupied by soldiers. She remonstrated— but in vain — she and her children rotrented to the house of her father. The Secorder then scut lor Mr. Francis Lloyd, one of the slieiiifa of the city, into whose custody he

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 229

    As the companion tells it

    Coming through Limerick now. On Saturday the 26th of May, Captain Lidwell was superintending the flogging of someone at the Market-house in Limerick. He turned to the crowd and proclaimed a reward of one hundred to two hundred guineas for anyone who could inform against the late artillery corps. He told a Mr. John Connell to search for arms, adding that some of that corps had advised the inhabitants to secrete them. Mr. Arthur regarded this as a shallow artifice to induce him to quit the city and avoid the disgrace of being arrested, when his retreat would be called an attempt to abscond and furnish a pretext for plundering his property. He treated the matter with contempt, little dreaming his life would be imperilled. On Sunday the 27th of May, Major-General Duff marched out of Limerick, and Major-General Edward Morrison remained in command. On Tuesday the 29th of May, while Mr. Arthur was at breakfast with his family, the Recorder, Mr. George Smyth, entered his house and expressed a desire to speak to him in another room. No sooner had they withdrawn than the Recorder informed Mr. Arthur he was arrested, by order of Major-General Morrison. The Recorder produced no warrant. Morrison could issue no such order, as Martial Law had not been proclaimed, nor had any information been laid or examination taken. The Recorder demanded Mr. Arthur's keys, which were delivered up. He called Mrs. Arthur into the room and compelled her also to deliver up her keys. He told her to quit her town house, for it would be forthwith occupied by soldiers. She remonstrated, but in vain. She and her children retreated to the house of her father. The Recorder then sent for Mr. Francis Lloyd, one of the sheriffs of the city, into whose custody he gave Mr. Arthur.

11. Battle of the ford of Camus — Teige O'Brien killed (1523)

    Camus · townland · Tipperary · 1523

    In 1523, Teige O'Brien was killed at the battle of the ford of Camus on the Suir, a little north of Cashel, while attacking Piers Roe, Earl of Ormond. His body was carried by his soldiers to the monastery of Ennis.

    Read the passage

    In the year 1523 this Teige O'Brien was killed at the battle of the ford of Camus.^ while attacking Piers Eoe, Earl of Ormond, who was then at war Avith the neighbouring dynast O'CarroU ; and his dead body was carried by his soldiers to the monastery of Ennis, where several of his race have found a resting place.

    In 1528 Torlogh Donn, the father of this prince died after a reign of 29 years. He is highly lauded by the Pour Masters for " maintaining war against the EngHsh." He must have been regarded as a person of considerable consequence, for his name is included in a treaty entered into Avith the Earl of Desmond by Francis I. of Prance, to divert the attention of Henry VIII. of England, who was then leagued with the Emperor Charles

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 45

12. Bianconi at Carrick-on-Suir and the boat to Waterford

    Carrick-on-Suir · town · Tipperary · 1807–1808

    In 1807-08, Bianconi was located at Carrick-on-Suir, where the only public conveyance to Waterford was Tom Morrissey's boat carrying eight to ten passengers. The boat had to await the tide, took four to five hours for the journey, and charged sixpence-halfpenny.

    Read the passage

    The progress of the establishment was wonderful. • Mr. Bianconi became one of the men of mark of his time. He has been also always prominent in the pohtical movements of his time as a staunch and earnest friend of O^Connell, and his policy. He threw heart and soul and money into the movement for CathoUc Emancipation ; he realised a noble fortune, portion of which he has invested in the purchase of estates in his adopted County of Tipperary, of which he is a Magistrate, a Grand Juror, and Deputy Lieutenant. The late Sir Robert Peel recognised his public services by a complimentary reference to them in the House of Commons, when the naturalization of Mr. Bianconi was granted. He relates himself that in 1807-^8 he was located at Carrick-on-Suir, distant from Waterford, by road sixteen, and by the Kiver Suir about thirty miles ; and the only public mode of conveyance for passengers between these two places, containing a population of between thirty and forty thousand inhabitants, was " Tom Morrissey's boat,-*' which carried from eight to ten passengers, and which, besides being obliged to await the tide, took from four to five hours to perform the journey, at a fare of sixpence-halfpenny of the then currency. At the time the railway opened between Cork and Waterford, in 1853, there was between the two towns horse-power capable of conveying by cars and coaches one hundred passengers daily, performing the journey in less than two hours, at a fare of two shillings, thus showing that the people not only began to understand the value of time, but also appreciated it. He subsequently became a contractor for the conveyance of several cross mails, at a price not exceeding half the amount which the Government had paid the postmasters for doing this duty ; and it was not until Lord O'Neill and Lord Eoss had ceased to be Postmasters-General of Ireland, and that the Duke of Richmond became Postmaster General of the United Kingdom, under the Government of Lord Grey, and that the local postmasters were no longer appointed exclusively from one section of the community, that the conveyance of all the cross mails was set up to public competition, to be carried on the principle of his estabhshment.

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 253

13. Bishop of Ross buried at Kilcrea Franciscan convent in Muskerry

    Kilcrea · townland · Cork · 1579

    Thomas Hierhhy, Bishop of Ross, endured imprisonment in the Tower of London and persecution. After release he built a wattle cabin in a lonesome wood, ministering to his flock until his death in 1579. He was buried in the Franciscan convent of Kilcrea in Muskerry.

    Read the passage

    was again apprehended and confined, until by letters from London, the government was assured of his being enlarged there. Upon his return to his own country he retired from the noise of the world, and built, for himself, near the side of a lonesome wood, a Httle cabin made up of wattles, wherein he spent the remainder of his days in divine meditations, in consoling his distressed flock, in administering the sacraments, and in aU other works of piety and charity ; at length, consumed with labour and overcome by many hardships, he died, in the odour of sanctity, in the year 1579, and was buried in a convent of Franciscans in Muskerry, called the Cellecrea.* Nor were these dreadful crimes perpetrated on such men only as Doctor Hely, and his companion. Father 0''Rourke, and the Bishop of Ross ; the terrors of the time are indescribable. On the 11th of February, a commission of martial law was sent to Sir Warham Saint Ledger, then the Lord Justice, who remained three weeks at Waterford, whence he went to Clonmel, where Ormond met him, and thence to Limerick. His baggage was carried a great part of the way on men^s shoulders for want of carriage horses, or because of the badness of the way, or both; and at Limerick, the chancellor of the diocese was found guilty of high treason, for corresponding with Desmond, but he made a shift to get a pardon, while the Bishop of Limerick, who was also shrewdly suspected, was merely confined to his house.^ On the 10th of March, Ormond and the Lord Justice met at Rathkeale ; next day they passed over the bridge of Adare, and returned at night and invaded ConneUoe, and having done what mischief he could there, proceeded to Carrigfoyle, which he took, and hanged Captain Julio, an Itahan engineer, who commanded the garrison ; and on the 3rd of April, 1580, laid siege to the castle of Askeaton, one of the most magnificent castles in the country, which the garrison deserted, and which the Lord Justice partially destroyed by gunpowder, leaving the towers untouched, as they remain to this day. Askeaton and Ballyheige castles, in Kerry, which were taken at the same time, were the last castles of the great Desmond. Having left four companies at Askeaton, the Lord Justice returned to Limerick on the 5th of April ; Ormond proceeded to Kilkenny, Malby to Connaught, and the others to Dublin.^ But the Lord Justice did not rest in Limerick. He proceeded (" by sea" ?) to Adare, and sent Captain Case by land, where, we are told, they both returned " after the slaughter of many traytors, with a prey of twelve hundred cows and as many sheep."* On the 15th of May he received a commission from Elizabeth to be Lord Justice, and another to make Sir Wilham Burke Baron of CastleconneD, with a yearly pension of a hundred marks during life.^ On the 13th of this month Pope Gregory the Thirteenth granted to all Irishmen who would fight against the Queen, the same plenary pardon and remission of all their sins, as to those that were engaged in the Holy War against the Turks. ^

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 62

14. Body of Turlogh O'Brien found in the River Tolka

    near Tolka · townland · Dublin · 1014

    After the Battle of Clontarf, the body of young Turlogh O'Brien was found in the waters of the River Tolka with his hands entangled in the hair of a slain Dane. The Annals record that Malachy drove the foreigners from the Tolka to Dublin.

    Read the passage

    The body of young Tiirlogh O'Brien was found in the wators of Tolka with his hands entangled in the hair of a Dane. Of the other distinguished fami- Hes of Ireland ahnost every one lost a member. On the day after the battle the wounded were conveyed to the camp at Kihnainham, and on the next day the monks of St. Columba at Swords came to bear away the body of Brian in order to buiy it in the Cathedi-al of Armagh, where it was deposited at the north side of the Cathedral, and those of Murrough and his relatives at the South. For twelve successive nights, according to the Annals/ the clergy of St. Patrick kept watch over the dead, chaunted hymns and oflered up prayers for the souls of the heroes.^

    It appears from an account' taken from the archives of Denmark by Torfgeus, historiographer to Christian V, that equally with the Irish, Danes were engaged at opposite sides in the battle of Clontarf. This historian describes Brian as " a Prince justly celebrated for clemency, lenity and many other virtues. ■'•' -,

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 16

15. Burning of the shrine of Saints Brigid, Patrick and Columba at Down

    near Downpatrick · town · Down · 1538–1751

    In 1538, Lord Leonard Grey caused the precious shrine containing the relics of St. Brigid, St. Patrick and St. Columba at Down to be burned and the ashes cast to the winds. The walls of the cathedral and the little chapel where the relics were deposited still existed as late as 1751, according to a later observer.

    Read the passage

    The execution of the decrees of Henry could have no firmer partisan than Edmond Sexton, judging from the high estimation in which he was held by his unscrupulous master. He soon had his revenge of Lord Leonard Grey, who had been unsparing in his destruction of the shrines and sacred places of the land. Among other fell atrocities he caused the most precious shrine of St. Bridget, St. Patrick and St. Columba, which was in Down, to be burned and the ashes thereof to be cast to the "vvinds^ : — " I?t Burgo Bimo tumulo tunudantur in %no, Brigida, Patricius atque Columba juw.^'

    Anglice

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 51

16. Cashel cathedral desecrated by Murrogh O'Brien

    Cashel · town · Tipperary · 1172

    Cashel cathedral, founded in 1172, was desecrated by Murrogh O'Brien, and its inhabitants were baked to death during the conflict.

    Read the passage

    Cashel visited by St. Patrick, 3; petitions King William, 222; general assembly in 1101, 23; grant of, to the relicious, 23 ; synod of, in 1172, 28, 37 ; cathedral, founded (1172), 29; desecrated by Murrogh O'Brien, 161 ; inhabitants baked to death, 161 ; notice Of, 650.

    Cashin, Kev. R., notice of, 76 ; his school, 76.

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 457

    As the companion tells it

    Up ahead is Cashel, in Tipperary. A cathedral was founded here in 1172. Murrogh O'Brien desecrated it, and its inhabitants were baked to death.

17. Cork courthouse floor collapses during trial of Dr. Pierce Creagh

    Cork · city · Cork

    During proceedings in Cork against Dr. Pierce Creagh, the entire floor of the court-house gave way, sending people tumbling into the cellar. A false witness was crushed to death, while the judge and Creagh remained suspended above the wreckage, leading to Creagh's dismissal with honors.

    Read the passage

    In the latter year, about the month of July, the illustrious Doctor Pierce Creagh, of the family of Carrigeen, Archbishop of DubHn, to which he had been translated from the Bishopric of Cork, died at Alsace in Prance. He was born in Limerick ; his life was remarkable for sanctity, and his happy death was conformable thereto.* He was grand-nephew of Richard Creagh, Archbishop of Armagh, whose life and sufferings we have written in a previous chapter. He underwent, like his great uncle, terrible trials. On one occasion, when a witness was about to swear against him in Cork, " the whole floor of the Court-house gave way, and with all the people tumbled down into the under cellar, and the rogue of a false witness was crushed to death in the ruins. The other false evidences who were at hand fled immediately, and none escaped falling down with the floor except the judge, whose seat was supported by an iron bar, and Doctor Creagh whose chair happened to be supported on a beam, which did not give way, and there he continued sitting as it were in the air. The judge said that heaven itself acquitted him, and thereupon dismissed him with a great deal of honors."^

    ' Annals of the Reign of Queen Anne.

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 169

18. Court-martial and £5,000 fine of Mr. Arthur in Limerick, 1798

    Limerick · city · Limerick · 1798

    Mr. Arthur was tried by court-martial in Limerick in 1798 and General Morrison exacted a fine of £5,000, of which 1,000 guineas were taken from Arthur's desk. Lord Cornwallis ordered the fine repaid and Arthur liberated, but he was confined until 6 July and ordered to quit Limerick within twenty-four hours.

    Read the passage

    being unknown to any of those who had undertaken to keep the court clear of Mr. Arthur's friends, was present at the trial on Saturday. Anticipating the result of the proceedings, he set off for Dublin, where on the next morning he presented a petition to Lord Corn-wallis, stating the circumstances, and praying that if sentence should be given against the prisoner, the execution of it might be respited, till his excellency should have revised the minutes of the courtmartial. This prayer was granted. It also occasioned a general order from Lord Cornwallis, that in future no sentence of a court-martial should be summarily executed, as was then usual, without the confirmation of the Lord-lieutenant. On Tuesday morning, Mr. Gorman being informed that General Morrison was determined to exact the fine of £5000 from his uncle, waited on hira to remonstrate against the manifest infraction of his excellency's commands, to which General Morrison laconically replied, " I have received Lord Castlereagh's letter respecting Mr. Arthur, and shall use my discretion for the contents. I order the money to be paid." Accordingly the collector of his majesty's revenue took a bag from Mr. Arthur's desk, containing 1000 guineas in specie, and compelled his father instantly to make up the remainder. Notwithstanding the remonstrances of General Morrison to Lord Castlereagh's communication of his excellency's remission of the sentence. Lord Cornwallis sent a preremptory order, that Mr. Arthur's fine should be repaid him, and he be allowed to go to Great Britain, or any other part of his majesty's dominions.

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 233

    As the companion tells it

    As the road takes you through Limerick, this city carries a story from 1798. Mr. Arthur was tried here by court-martial that year, and General Morrison set out to exact a fine of £5,000 against him. Someone unknown to those keeping the court clear of Arthur's friends was present at the trial on Saturday. Seeing where things were heading, this person left for Dublin and on the Sunday morning presented a petition to Lord Cornwallis, asking that if sentence went against the prisoner, its execution be held back until his excellency had reviewed the minutes of the court-martial. Cornwallis granted the prayer and issued a general order that no sentence of a court-martial should be summarily executed without the Lord-lieutenant's confirmation. On Tuesday morning, Mr. Gorman learned that General Morrison was determined to take the £5,000 from his uncle. He went to remonstrate, calling it a manifest breach of his excellency's commands. Morrison replied, in the words of the source, I have received Lord Castlereagh's letter respecting Mr. Arthur, and shall use my discretion for the contents. I order the money to be paid. The collector of his majesty's revenue took a bag from Arthur's desk containing 1,000 guineas in specie, and compelled Arthur's father to make up the remainder on the spot. Lord Cornwallis sent a peremptory order that the fine be repaid and Arthur allowed to go to Great Britain or any other part of his majesty's dominions. He was held until 6 July and then ordered to quit Limerick within twenty-four hours.

19. Creagh's dispute with O'Neil at Armagh over church lands

    near Armagh · town · Armagh · 1570–1580

    After returning to Ireland, Primate Richard Creagh vigorously tended his flock at Armagh but clashed with O'Neil, Earl of Tyrone, who had seized Church lands and allowed his soldiers to plunder ecclesiastics. Creagh excommunicated O'Neil, after which O'Neil's military fortunes declined.

    Read the passage

    every passage open before him ; he returns again, and had resource to prayers ; at length he took his clothes, -which he had packed up under his arm ; he goes out through a passage before unknown to iiim, and passes through six gates, all of which he found open, until he came to the outward gate, where there was a guard of soldiers ; he was asked by them if he had the marks, for that it seems was the watch now ; he, not understanding what they meant, was silent, upon which one of the soldiers prudentially said drilj', " you see he has his clothes under his arm ;" they thereupon asked him who he was. He confidently answered, he belonged to a great Lord (for there were some lords confined in the Tower); the soldiers said, they would bring him before a proper person to know the truth ; he answered, he could prove what he said before any one ; they thereupon dismissed him. He afterwards for three days strolled through London without knowing any one ; as he passed along he often heard the Irish people talk of the Irish Bishop with the grey beard who escaped out of the Tower ; he even frequently met those who were in search for him, and with his very keeper, who was so blinded as not to know him. He agreed with the master of a ship for his passage to Flanders, but the master, as well as all his crew, were Presbyterians, and when they were just ready to sail, the Queen's officers came aboard, and put them all to their oath to tell if the old Irish Archbishop was aboard ; they all swore he was not, for that they had no passenger but a young Frenchman, for such they mistook him to be. When they were to sail from the English coast one of the sailors discovered his breviary, and the men were intent upon turning back in order to get the 300 ducats which were offered for taking him, but the winds immediately began to blow so hard against them, and so fair for Flanders, they were obliged to steer thither, where our Prelate safely landed. He continued in these Catholic countries for some time ; but it being intimated to him that it was the Pope's will he again should return to Ireland, he readily obeyed, and when he arrived in that country he went there — warmly exerted himself, not only in the cure of his flock at Armagh, but also in his assiduity in visiting all other parts of the kingdom, then in the greatest confusion on account of the wars which then raged, and that by the violent persecution most of the dioceses were deprived of their Catholic Pastors. He was engaged in an unfortunate dispute with the O'Neil, Earl of Tyrone, who then at the head of the Ulster Irish waged war against the Queen. It seems that O'Neil unjustly seized and possessed many Church lands, which he turned to his own account, and likewise gave an unbridled liberty to his soldiers to plunder and ill-use ecclesiastics who came in his way. The Primate often laid these grievances before O'Neil, but instead of redress he met with insults and ill-usage from him. He used all possible means to reclaim O'Neil, but all was to no purpose ; wherefore he was under a necessity of excommunicating him. But O'Neil laid but little stress on his censures, which proved unlucky to O'Neil, for from that time forth none of his proceedings were attended with success. This Prelate was at length taken the third time, sent to Dublin a prisoner, where he lay confined, and from Dublin was again transmitted to London, and was shut up in the Tower, where he remained for many years, consoling his fellow sufferers wherever he got liberty to see them, employing all vacant hours at prayers, dispersing through the cit}"- salutary letters to confirm the Catholics in their faith, and exhorting them to abstain from resorting to the Protestant churches Avhich the laws urged them to. He and other Catholic prisoners were once compelled by the Lord Lieutenant of the Tower to hear a minister preach in the chapel of the Tower, who in his sermon greatly inveighed against the Catholics ; but Bishop Creagh on the spot stopped the preacher short, and began to confute his doctrine, but his mouth was firmly shut with bands, and he was brought back to his dungeon. A malicious accusation, which was framed against him, gave the Prelate a great deal of uneasiness. This was framed against him by one of the keepers, who alleged the Bishop ravished his daughter. He was obliged to stand his trial for it at Westminster, yet notwithstanding the virulence of the accusers, the jury brought in a verdict of his innocence — even the very girl publicly acknowledged the bribe she received for accusing him. He at length, after a tedious confinement, or rather a long martyrdom, finished his days in the Tower in the year 1585.

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 68

20. Donough O'Brien's offer to take Carrigogunnel Castle

    Carrigogunnel · townland · Limerick · 1535

    Donough O'Brien proposed to Lord James that if the king took him into service, he would bring ordnance to take the Castle of Carrigogunnel, offering territory that had not belonged to an Englishman for two hundred years. He pledged to follow English laws and discard Irish fashions.

    Read the passage

    landes evyn tlier fast by, and ther met with my Lorde Jamys, hys brotherilaw, whyche is O^Bren^s sone," (Donough, nephew of Murrougli O'Brien.) The account of the interview between Donough and his brother-in-law, Lord James, describes the latter as telling the former that he had married his sister, forsaken his father, his uncle, and all his friends and country, to come to him to help to do the king a service. He had been sore unrewarded, had no gains — had nothing to live upon. If it pleased the king to take him into his service, he would come into the country and bring with him a piece of ordnance, to take the Castle of Carrigogimnel,' and that the king would give to him that which never had belonged to an Englishman for two hundred years, he said he desired no aid but the Enghsh captain and a hundred Enghshmen, to pursue his father and his uncle, who were His Majesty's enemies, and the Irish who were ever the enemies of the English. He pledged himself he would hurt no Englishman, but do aU he could against the Irish and the king's opponents. And in all such land as he should conquer, it was his wish that the king should plant Englishmen, the land to be holden of the king, according to his pleasure ; and he further promised to discard all " Yrsyche Easchyons," and to order himself after the "Ynglysche laws,'' and all he could make or subdue. He besought a reply.

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 47

21. Dr. O'Dwyer escapes Limerick disguised after Ireton's siege

    Limerick · city · Limerick · 1651

    After Limerick capitulated to Ireton, Bishop Dr. O'Dwyer, excepted from quarter, disguised himself in peasant's garb with gunpowder-smeared face and escaped through one of the city gates. He made his way to Brussels where he lived in exile until his death in 1654.

    Read the passage

    him to give them permission to blow themselves up, rather than fall alive into the hands of their enemies ; but he dissuaded them from such a suicidal project, telling them that it was nobler to die with arms in their hands, than to rush uncalled into the awful presence of God. At last, when Limerick Avas forced to capitulate to Ireton (who was indebted for his success to the black treason of one of Rinuccini's most implacable eiiemies), Dr. O'Dwyer, finding that he was excepted from quarter, disguised himself in peasant's garb, and having smeared his face with gunpowder, passed unnoticed out of one of the city gates, and eventually contrived to make his way to Brussels, where be lived till 1654, eating the salty bread of exile, and, as we may suppose, regretting with his latest sigh the fatal error that helped to bring ruin on his unfortunate country. On the night of the 6th of April, 1654, his remains, followed by a few torch-bearers, were conveyed from the convent in which he breathed his last, to the Church of St. James in the above-named city, and were there deposited in the subterranean chapel, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, without a single line to record his virtues or his failings. A career such as his, luider other circumstances, would surely have been thought worthy an epitaph — that last of human vanities; but the 7ioct'urnal funeral, divested of all ghastly pomp, and the nameless grave will be sufficiently accounted Ibr by the nunzio's censures".

    Harris, Writers of Ireland, on the authority of Colgan's Trias Thaumaturga, says tliat O'Dwyer wrote two small pieces of poetry, in hexameter and pentameter measure, one on the miiacles of St. Brigid and the other on the inextinguishable fire of St. Brigid at Kilda] e. In the Hibernia Dominicana there are several documents which have the name of Bishop O'Dwyer to them as one of the subscribers.

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 341

    As the companion tells it

    As you come through Limerick, the city holds a story from 1651. Limerick was forced to capitulate to Ireton, who owed his success to the black treason of one of Rinuccini's most implacable enemies. Before the fall, some among the defenders had wanted to blow themselves up rather than fall alive into the hands of their enemies, but Dr. O'Dwyer dissuaded them. He told them it was nobler to die with arms in their hands than to rush uncalled into the awful presence of God. When the city fell, Dr. O'Dwyer found that he was excepted from quarter. He disguised himself in peasant's garb, smeared his face with gunpowder, and passed unnoticed out of one of the city gates. He eventually made his way to Brussels, where he lived until 1654, eating the salty bread of exile, regretting with his latest sigh the fatal error that helped bring ruin on his country. On the night of the 6th of April, 1654, his remains were conveyed from the convent in which he breathed his last, followed by a few torch-bearers, to the Church of St. James in Brussels. He was buried in the subterranean chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, without a single line to record his virtues or his failings. Harris, in his Writers of Ireland, says O'Dwyer wrote two small pieces of poetry in hexameter and pentameter, one on the miracles of St. Brigid and the other on the inextinguishable fire of St. Brigid at Kildare.

22. Drowning of Ellen Hanly west of Tarbert

    Tarbert · town · Kerry · 1819

    Ellen Hanly was bound with rope, her arm broken, and thrown into the River Shannon west of Tarbert by Scanlan and Sullivan. Catherine Hogan was alleged to have prompted the murder and afterward received the victim's belongings.

    Read the passage

    Informant being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists and examined, deposeth that on the night between the 13th and 14th of July last, informant's daughter, Ellen Hanlj', between 15 and 16 years of age, was seduced to go with John Scanlan and Stephen Sullivan in a boat to cross the river Shannon, from Carrigafoyle to the county Clare, as informant is credibly informed bj' several persons, who will prove the same on being summoned in a proper manner ; and informant sayeth that his said daughter was on the aforesaid night stripped of the clothes she then wore in said boat to her shift, and then tyed her with a rope by binding her legs, thighs, and neck together, and did then and there barbarously and feloniously break her arm, and throw her into the said river Shannon, west of Tarbert, and drowned her ; informant sayeth, one Catherine Hogan, who is kept as a reputed concubine by said Scanlan, had devised, prompted, and put up the said Scanlan and Sullivan to murder and drown said Ellen Hanly as aforesaid, and that the said Catherine Hogan, after the aforesaid murder, had a pair of ear-rings, a locket, a silver thimble, and a gown, and other articles, the property of the said Ellen Hanly, which she was robbed of on the aforesaid night, and that there are several articles of her property distributed among several persons in Glin, Tarbert, and Balljdongford, and the neighbourhood thereof, who were privy to the aforesaid n;iurder, a part of said articles being put and offered for sale by some of the aforesaid persons who sanctioned and encouraged said murder to be committed the day before the aforesaid night the horrid act was perpetrated.

    452 UISTORY OF LIMERICK.

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 258

    As the companion tells it

    Just ahead, the road brings you through Tarbert in Kerry. West of this town, in the River Shannon, a girl was drowned in the summer of 1819. Ellen Hanly was between 15 and 16 years old. On the night between the 13th and 14th of July she was persuaded to go with John Scanlan and Stephen Sullivan in a boat, to cross the Shannon from Carrigafoyle to County Clare. In that boat they stripped her down to her shift. They tied her with a rope, binding her legs, her thighs, and her neck together. They broke her arm. Then they threw her into the river and she drowned. The deposition came from her father. He swore that Catherine Hogan, kept as Scanlan's reputed concubine, had devised the murder and put Scanlan and Sullivan up to it. After it was done, Catherine Hogan took Ellen's earrings, a locket, a silver thimble, a gown, and other things stolen from her that night. More of Ellen's belongings were handed around among people in Glin, Tarbert, and Ballydongford and the neighbourhood, people who had been privy to what was done. Some of those same people offered the stolen goods for sale. The killing had been sanctioned and encouraged the day before the night it was carried out.

23. Edict expelling Catholics from Limerick city

    Limerick · city · Limerick · 1671–1681

    In 1671, the Earl of Orrery published an edict commanding all Catholic ecclesiastics and laymen to depart from Limerick city. Bishop James Dowley faced severe persecution but was later permitted to remain in his diocese due to his advanced age and infirmities.

    Read the passage

    " I sent another parcel", he writes, " to Dr. Dowley, Bishop of Limerick. This poor man is still in trouble, the Earl of Orrery having published a few days ago an edict commanding all Catholic ecclesiastics or laymen to depart from, and live no longer in, that city. Some desired that he, instead of Berkeley, should be our viceroy ; a good bargain we would have made".^ . . .

    It would appear, however, that owing to the advanced age and infirmities of the Right Rev. Prelate, he was not banished, for we find the Most Rev. Dr. Brennan, Archbishop of Cashel, writing to Rome on the 21st of September, 1680, relative to the then state of the Church and the persecution of the bishops : —

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 352

    As the companion tells it

    As the road brings you through Limerick, this city was once the scene of a harsh order. In 1671, the Earl of Orrery published an edict commanding all Catholic ecclesiastics and laymen to depart from, and live no longer in, that city. Bishop James Dowley of Limerick was among those targeted. A letter of the time describes him as a poor man still in trouble under the edict. The writer notes that some had even desired Orrery instead of Berkeley as viceroy, adding sarcastically what a good bargain that would have been. Dowley, though, was spared banishment. His advanced age and infirmities led the authorities to let him remain in his diocese. By September 1680, Archbishop Dr. Brennan of Cashel was writing to Rome about the persecution of the bishops and the state of the Church.

24. Famine dead in Limerick streets — John's Gate to Thomond Bridge

    Limerick · city · Limerick · 1740–1741

    During a devastating famine, the streets of Limerick were filled with unburied corpses, and a person could walk from John's Gate to Thomond Bridge without meeting six living persons. A bottomless coffin was used to dispose of the dead when coffins could not be supplied quickly enough.

    Read the passage

    A man might walk "from John's gate to Thomond bridge''^ without meeting six persons then. The dead lay in the streets without interment ; and when the victims of cold and its concomitant starvation became so numerous, that coffins could not be provided m sufficient quantities or with sufficient quickness, a bottomless coffin was provided, from which the corpse was thrown into the grave, and hundreds of the dead were interred in this way.

    Tliis calamity having reached the dominant classes, persecution, for a while, lost its intense rancour, and amid the horrors of general impending ruin, o-avea respite to the Catholics. The state of things had an adverse effect even on the turnpike roads, which had become for some time such bad speculations for those who had engaged in them, that they gave no return.^

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 189

25. Father James Wolfe executed in Limerick, 1651

    Limerick · city · Limerick · 1651

    Father James Wolfe, a resolute opponent of Cromwell and member of the Limerick Dominican convent, was taken while celebrating mass and executed in 1651, the same year the sainted Bishop of Emly met his death.

    Read the passage

    Father John O'Heyne, who is frequently quoted by de Burgo, gives the history of the celebrated Convent of the Dominicans of Limerick, and de Burgo supplements, up to his own time, the annals which O'Heyne began, but died before he could have finished. O'Heyne also wrote the history of the convent of the same illustrious order at Kilmallock. The work is written in Latin, and is called " O'Heyne's Chronological Epilogue"; it is of extreme rarity, and for the extracts from it, in reference to the Dominican Convents of Limerick and Kilmallock, we are indebted to the Very Rev. Dr. Carbery, Prior of St. Saviour's, Limerick, who obtained them from the only copy of the book known to be in Ireland, namely, that in the convent at Esker, County Galway. O'Heyne is said to have been a native of Kilmallock. Having given a succinct account of the foundation of the convent, O'Heyne proceeds to enumerate and give a short history of the many distinguished men who belonged to it from time to time, and among whom, in the first and most distinguished place, stands the Martyr-Bishop of Emly, the great Terence Albert O'Brien of Arragh. Father James Wolfe, the resolute and determined opponent of Cromwell, who was taken while he was celebrating mass, and who was executed in the same year, viz., 1651, in which the sainted Bishop of Emly met his death, was also a member of the same convent. He then tells us of Father Cornelius O'Heyne, who studied in the College of Minerva at Rome, and taught theology for several years in the College of the Dominicans at Lisbon, and was rector of this convent, came to Ireland for subjects for the convent in Lisbon and died there ; of another O'Heyne; of Father John de Burgo, or Burke, who was prior in 1667 ; of

    ' De Burgo, Eih. Dom., p. 221. ^ Ware, vol. ii. p. 727. ^ River O'Gearna.

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 373

    As the companion tells it

    As you come through Limerick, you are in a city that holds the story of a Dominican convent whose members faced death under Cromwell. Father John O'Heyne wrote the history of this convent in a work written in Latin and called his Chronological Epilogue. O'Heyne was said to have been a native of Kilmallock. His book is of extreme rarity. The only copy known to be in Ireland was kept at the convent at Esker in County Galway, and the extracts from it were obtained by the Very Reverend Dr. Carbery, Prior of St. Saviour's in Limerick. O'Heyne gave an account of the foundation of the convent, then enumerated its distinguished men. First among them stands the Martyr-Bishop of Emly, the great Terence Albert O'Brien of Arragh. Father James Wolfe, described as the resolute and determined opponent of Cromwell, was also a member of this convent. He was taken while he was celebrating mass and executed in 1651, the same year in which the sainted Bishop of Emly met his death. After Wolfe, O'Heyne tells of Father Cornelius O'Heyne, who studied in the College of Minerva at Rome and taught theology for several years in the College of the Dominicans at Lisbon. He was rector of the Limerick convent, came to Ireland to find subjects for the convent in Lisbon, and died there.

26. Father Mathew's temperance crusade arrives in Limerick

    Limerick · city · Limerick · 1839

    In December 1839, Father Mathew arrived in Limerick to enormous popular enthusiasm, with thousands streaming into the city to take the temperance pledge. At least 10,000 people knelt in Mallow Street to receive the pledge, and 700 men from Kilrush received it aboard their vessel at Steam Boat Quay without disembarking.

    Read the passage

    Sunday the 3rd of December, 1839, was rendered for ever memorable in the city by the arrival of the Apostle of Temperance, and the greatest excess which popular enthusiasm ever reached in this country has hardly ever exceeded the curiosity and intense admiration manifested by the people towards him, from his arrival to his departure. On Friday and Saturday streams of people flowed in from all directions to get themselves enrolled beneath the Temperance Banner, and on those days there could not have been less than 5000 in the city without the luxury of a bed — the lodging houses being crammed to excess. As it was known that the Eev. Gentleman was to arrive by the mail from Cork, the concourse flowed in that direction. His friends had a car in waiting for him, but still he was obhged to show himself to the crowds, and then proceeded to the residence of his brother-in-law Mr. Dunbar, in Mallow- street. Sunday was peculiary fijie, and never a morning broke on a more glorious scene than Limerick presented. The entire length of George's-street was a mass of beings at an early hour. The quays and bridges were thickly peopled, yet the utmost order prevailed. At the sermon vast crowds assisted, the Church being crowded to excess ; Col. Maunsell, and Capt. Fitzgerald, and many liberal Protestants were present, were present. Half-past two was the hour for the sermon. When the Eev. Gentleman appeared he was a little flushed, but recovered his selfpossession. He read the text of the day — asked the congregation whether the practice of charity was not the true road to blessedness in heaven. The drift of his discourse which continued nearly an hour, was in advocacy of a collection for the Convent Schools. The givmg of pledges was begun at the Court House on Monday. The rush at Mr. Dunbar's house was fearful, and one pregnant poor woman was precipitated into the area, by the falling in of the rails. She died from the injuries inflicted on her chest. About nine o^'clock Father Mathew proceeded to the Court House, and received pledges till three o'clock. At least 10,000 people knelt down in Mallow- street, and received the pledge. He then proceeded to the Steam boat quay, and administered it to 700 men from Kilrush, not allowing them to disembark. The concourse in fact was now so great in the city, that the prices of provisions rose greatly. He continued to receive people from the four adjoining counties on Tuesday. He now became so hoarse, that the Eev. Gentlemen with him had to call out the words of the pledge. He left for Cork on Wednesday.*

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 283

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Limerick, you are in a city that saw one of the most remarkable scenes of popular enthusiasm in 19th-century Ireland. On Sunday the 3rd of December 1839, Father Mathew, the Apostle of Temperance, arrived by mail from Cork. Crowds had been pouring into the city since the Friday before, and at least 5,000 people had no bed for the night, the lodging houses crammed full. George's Street was a mass of people, the quays and bridges thickly peopled, and the utmost order prevailed. He preached at half past two and spoke for nearly an hour, calling a collection for the Convent Schools. Col. Maunsell and Capt. Fitzgerald were among the many liberal Protestants present. On Monday the giving of pledges began. At least 10,000 people knelt in Mallow Street and received the temperance pledge. He then went to Steamboat Quay and administered it to 700 men from Kilrush, not allowing them to disembark from their vessel. The crowds were so great that the price of provisions in the city rose sharply. One pregnant poor woman died after the rails at his brother-in-law Mr. Dunbar's house gave way and she fell into the area, suffering fatal injuries to her chest. By Tuesday he had become so hoarse that the clergymen with him had to call out the words of the pledge for the crowds. He left for Cork on Wednesday.

27. Father Wolfe excommunicates peace adherents at High Cross, Limerick

    Limerick · city · Limerick · 1646

    At the High Cross in Limerick, Dominican friar Father Wolfe, surrounded by 500 armed citizens, fulminated excommunication against adherents of Ormond's Peace, as decreed by the Nuncio and congregation at Waterford. This clerical action precipitated the mob's attack on the herald and civic officers.

    Read the passage

    In Limerick where the confederate council sat, the peace, which had been solemnly established by decree of that body, was carried by the public vote of the city assembly, but the officers appointed for the execution of the charge were affronted, the confederate government was treated with utter disobedience. On the evening of the 20th of August, the heralds of Ormondes peace came to Limerick, the gates were shut against them, the next day they were allowed in and the herald at arms, vested in the coat of his office, attended on by John Bourke, the mayor, the aldermen and some of the principal citizens, who were at all times willing to accept any advantage ■which they supposed would subserve their own interests, began to proclaim the peace. A vote in its favor had been carried by the mayor and aldermen the day before. The people resolved to resist it, and Avere then exhorted by the clergy, Avho had published the censures, which had been decreed by the Nuncio and congregation, at Waterford, a few days before. Under the conduct and by the instigation of Mr. Dominick Fanning, and the Rev. Father Wolf, a Dommican Friar, who at the High Cross, in the midst of 500 armed citizens fulminated excommunication against its adherents, the people fell suddenly on the herald, flung stones at him, at Bourke the mayor, and all the aldermen who were about him, and all those of the " better sorV-* who countenanced the action ; and having scattered their ranks with so unexpected a volley, the wounded herald, tore his coat of arms from off his shoulders, beating' the mayor and some of the aldermen, and without the slightest respect for their scarlet robes or the badges of magistracy, drove them for shelter into the next door that stood open. Soon after, amid the acclamations of the crowd, without form suggested by charter, or any ancient custom for the usage of election, they chose Dominick Fanning, mayor, and to him, the Nuncio, a few days "after, by his letter returned thanks for the obedience he had given to his decrees, and for his zeal in favor of the Catholic cause. ^

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 90

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Limerick, you are moving through a city that in 1646 was a seat of the confederate council. A peace had been solemnly established by decree of that body, and it was carried by the public vote of the city assembly. But the officers appointed to execute it were affronted, and the confederate government was treated with utter disobedience. On the evening of the 20th of August, the heralds of Ormond's peace came to Limerick. The gates were shut against them. The next day they were allowed in, and the herald at arms, vested in the coat of his office, attended by John Bourke, the mayor, the aldermen, and some of the principal citizens, began to proclaim the peace. The people resolved to resist. The clergy had already published the censures decreed by the Nuncio and the congregation at Waterford a few days before. Under the conduct of Mr. Dominick Fanning and the Reverend Father Wolfe, a Dominican friar, the people acted. Father Wolfe, at the High Cross, in the midst of 500 armed citizens, fulminated excommunication against the adherents of the peace. The people then fell suddenly on the herald, flung stones at him, at Bourke the mayor, and at all the aldermen about him. The volley scattered their ranks. The wounded herald tore his coat of arms from his shoulders, beat the mayor and some of the aldermen, and drove them for shelter into the next door that stood open. Soon after, amid the acclamations of the crowd, without form of charter or ancient custom, they chose Dominick Fanning as mayor. The Nuncio, a few days later, returned thanks by letter to Fanning for his obedience to the decrees and his zeal in favor of the Catholic cause.

28. John of Desmond's body hung in chains at Cork gates

    Cork · city · Cork

    After his death, John of Desmond's body was carried to Cork and cut in quarters. His body was hung in chains at one of the city gates, where it remained for three years until a tempestuous night blew it into the sea.

    Read the passage

    The attacliment of the Irish peasantry to the Geraldines was not less remarkable than that of the Scotch to the Stewarts. Notwithstanding the great rewards offered for the capture of their leaders, no one was found so base as to betray them, and yet the gallant John of Desmond appears to have fallen a victim to the treachery of one of his followers, if we are to believe O^Daly, Hooker and Cox. The story is thus told in the Annals of the Four Masters : — John set out accompanied by four horsemen to the woods of Eatherlack/ to hold a conference with Barry More, with whom he had entered into a plundering confederacy. He proceeded southwards across the river Avonmore in the middle of a dark and misty night, and happened to be met face to face by Captain Sicutzy [the Irish for Zouch], with his forces, though neither of them was in search of the other.^ John was mortally wounded on the spot, and had not advanced the space of a mile beyond that place when he died. He was carried crosswise on his own steed from thence to Cork, and when brought to that town he was cut in quarters, and his head was sent to Dublin as a token of victory. According to O^Daly, a wretch of the name of Thomas Eleming, who had been his servant, was the person who killed him. He adds that his head was spiked in front of the Castle of Dublin, and his body was hung in chains at one of the gates of the city of Cork, where it remained for three years, untU on a tempestuous night it was blown into the sea.' His kinsman James was hanged soon after, together with his two sons, but Lord Barry made his peace with the government.

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 64

29. John Power, Mayor of Limerick during the second siege

    Limerick · city · Limerick · 1690–1691

    Colonel John Power, later Lord Power de jure, served as Mayor of Limerick during the siege of 1690-91. He petitioned Queen Anne in 1703, stating he had been kind and serviceable to Protestants during the siege, then went to France and served in the army there before returning to Ireland.

    Read the passage

    In 1703, Colonel John Power (afterwards Lord Power, dejure) petitioned Queen Anne, setting forth that " during the late calamitous times he was kind and serviceable to divers Protestants, especially in Limerick, during the siege, he then being mayor of the city ; that he had gone to France, and was in the army there, when encouragement having been given to him by the late King William, he quitted that country, though offered a Major-Generalship if he remained ; that the sudden death of that king retarded his interests, but her Majesty having given him licence to return, he gave up his son to be educated a Protestant, the Queen allowing a yearly maintenance for his education ; and that she gave himself an appointment to go and serve the King of Portugal, her ally. That during his absence from the kingdom, he was outlawed as for treason, though, as he relied, he had neither real nor personal property that could accrue to the Crown by his outlawry. That, however, by a recent Act of Parliament such attainder could not be cleared away, but only by another Act, the benefit of which he therefore prayed.'' (See Dalton's King James II. Army List.)

    * The Annals say 1690 ; but as the Mayor of '90 was in office until 29th September, '91, Lord Power was consequently Mayor of Limerick at the time of the second siege.

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 474

    As the companion tells it

    As the road takes you through Limerick, this is the city Colonel John Power governed as mayor during the siege of 1690 and 1691. In 1703 he petitioned Queen Anne, setting forth that during the late calamitous times he was kind and serviceable to divers Protestants, especially in Limerick during the siege, he then being mayor of the city. He had gone to France and served in the army there. King William gave him encouragement to quit that country, though he was offered a Major-Generalship if he remained. The sudden death of that king retarded his interests. Queen Anne gave him licence to return to Ireland. He gave up his son to be educated a Protestant, the Queen allowing a yearly maintenance for the boy's education. She gave Power himself an appointment to go and serve the King of Portugal, her ally. During his absence from the kingdom he was outlawed as for treason, though he relied that he had neither real nor personal property that could accrue to the Crown by his outlawry. By a recent Act of Parliament such attainder could not be cleared away but only by another Act, the benefit of which he prayed for.

30. Kilmallock: ancient walled town and its gates

    Kilmallock · town · Limerick · 600–1300

    Kilmallock, styled the 'Baalbec of Ireland,' was an ancient corporate town south of Limerick, named from an abbey founded by St. Mochcallog in the early seventh century. It was surrounded by a strong stone wall with four gateway towers—St. John's Gate, Water Gate, Ivy Gate, and Blossoms Gate—of which only Blossoms Gate remained.

    Read the passage

    an ancient corporate and post-town, fifteen miles and three-quarters south from Limerick, styled from its fine ruins the " Baalbec" of Ireland, anciently Killocia and Kilmochcallog, derived its name from an abbey founded for Canons Regular by St. Mochcallog, or St. Molacli, in the beginning of the seventh century. It is situated on the left bank of the little river Commogue, in the old territory of Hy Cairtre and Abhdha, and present barony of Coshma. The early trilte occupants of this district were the O'Donovans, until the twelfth century, when the O'Briens and other clans expelled them, and they settled in Corca Laighde, giving the name of their vacated territory to the Carberies in the southwest of the county Cork. A corporate town by presentation or charter, its privileges as a borough being recited by a charter by Edward III. It was surrounded by a stone wall of great strength, a great part of which remains, fortified with mounds of earth, and having four gateway towers of a lofty character, called respectively, St. John's Gate, Water Gate, Ivy Gate, and Blossoms Gate, of which the last only is now remaining. Inhabited at a' very early period by several of the chief nobility and gentry. Elizabeth granted a charter to Kilmallock for its resistance to " the arch- traitor Garret Fitz Gerald, Earl of Desmond". It returned a member of parhament until the Union.

    The church of SS. Peter and Paul, which is within the town walls, is the older of the two ecclesiastical ruins. It consists of a choir, nave, south transept, and circular belfry, or rather a round tower. The choir is used as the parish church. The nave is subdivided by a range of four pointed arches, which spring from square columns of plain mason work. The transept and tlie nave contain several sculptured monuments to members of the Fitzgerald, Verdon, Blakeney, and Haly families. The circular belfry, or round tower, has been perforated by several pointed windows.

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 432

31. Kilmallock crowd hails then curses James Desmond

    Kilmallock · town · Limerick · 1600

    James Desmond was received in Kilmallock with acclamations of joy, crowds filling streets, doors, windows, and rooftops. But when he entered the Protestant Church, the people forsook him, cursed him, and spat upon him for abandoning the Catholic faith of his ancestors.

    Read the passage

    Kilmallock^ he was received by the people with acclamations of unbounded joy and congratulation — the streets, doors, windows, even the roofs of the houses, were filled with exultmg crowds, all pressing to hail the noble heir of an illustrious race. A strong guard of soldiers could not obtain a passage for him, or extricate him from their tumultuous salutations ; but when they saw him go to the Protestant Church, they all forsook him, " yea, cursed him, and spit upon him.''^^ Such was their immediate detestation of the man who had not only fallen into the interests of the Queen, but who had so far forgotten the spirit of his ancestors as to abandon the faith for which they had suffered and bled. The young lord, who did not understand the Irish language, passed on to his devotions, but on his return he received in the fullest measure the strongest expression of their rage and disappointment. He was left abandoned — left unnoticed and unattended. By none more than by the English undertakers was his presence regarded with jealousy and alarm. They conceived that he would be restored, not only to the honours, but to the estates of the Desmonds — they trembled for their own safety.

    Eory Mac Sheehy, the chief Constable of these Geraldines, died this year.'^ The President now held a Sessions of Gaol DeKvery, rather than a Courtmartial, which had prevailed so long. In Limerick the first Sessions was held ; in Cashel and Clonmel the next, where the Earl of Ormond proceeded to meet him ; but, owing to a domestic affliction, intended negociations with the President on the subject of suppressing certain distui'bances which annoyed him on the borders of Ormond, were def erred. »

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 69

32. Legend of Limerick's name: gladiatorial combat on the strand

    Limerick · city · Limerick

    A legendary assembly of the men of Munster and Connaught gathered on the strand to watch two champion gladiators, Rimi and Teabhar, compete in single combat. Spectators threw off their grey-green cloaks ('Luimins') in the heat; the rising tide swept the cloaks away, prompting the cry 'Is Luimenochola in t-inbhear anossa' — 'cloaky is the river now' — giving Limerick its name.

    Read the passage

    follo'wdng answer is given : — There was an appointed meeting held here of the men of Munster and the men of Connaught^ to which the respective kings of both parties brought their gladiators. These were the two sons of Smucaille, the son of Bacdbh, and their names were Rimi and Teabhar (that is. Spear and Sword) . Of these champions, one put himself under the protection of Bonhbh Dearg (Bone the Eed), the great Tuath Dedanaan Chief of Mag Femen in Tipperary ; and the other had taken the protection of Dehall, chief of the Hill of Crudchain (in Roscommon) . These champions having met in the assembly, exhibited specimens of their gladiatorial accomplishments, after which, they descended to the strand to compete in single combat for the championship of the two Provinces. The hosts, on both sides, were clad in gray- green " Luimins" (cloaks), and when the combat commenced, and the assembled crowds pressed down to see and enjoy it, the heat became so great, that they threw off their " Luimins,''-' in heaps on the strand ; and so intensely was their attention engaged by the combatants, that they did not perceive the flowing of the tide untd it had swept them away, upon which some of the spectators cried out — " Is Luimenochola in t-inbhear anossa/' i.e. " cloaky or cloakful is the river now,"*' hence the name Luimenach. " From this legend it would appear," says Mr. O'Curry in his letter to the author, "that Luimeneach-Liathanglas, (and not Lethanglass) or Luimenach of the Gray Green, was the proper old name of Limerick.''^ It is thus it is written in Eumann^s Extempore poem on the Sea, composed for the Danes of Dublin before A.D. 742, in which year Eumann died.^

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 9

    As the companion tells it

    Coming through Limerick now. This city carries a legend about how it got its name, a story of single combat on the strand. The men of Munster and the men of Connaught held an appointed meeting here, and the kings of both parties brought their gladiators. These were the two sons of Smucaille, the son of Bacdbh, and their names were Rimi and Teabhar, that is Spear and Sword. One champion put himself under the protection of Bonhbh Dearg, the great Tuath Dedanaan chief of Mag Femen in Tipperary. The other took the protection of Dehall, chief of the Hill of Crudchain in Roscommon. When the champions met in the assembly, they exhibited specimens of their gladiatorial accomplishments. Then they descended to the strand to compete in single combat for the championship of the two provinces. The hosts on both sides were clad in gray green cloaks called Luimins. When the combat commenced and the crowds pressed down to see it, the heat became so great that they threw off their Luimins in heaps on the strand. They were so intent on the combatants that they did not perceive the flowing of the tide until it had swept the cloaks away. Some of the spectators cried out, "Is Luimenochola in t-inbhear anossa," meaning "cloaky or cloakful is the river now." Hence the name Luimenach. Mr. O'Curry wrote that Luimeneach-Liathanglas, or Luimenach of the Gray Green, was the proper old name of Limerick. It is written that way in Eumann's extempore poem on the sea, composed for the Danes of Dublin before 742, the year Eumann died.

33. Limerick as centre of operations for the 1828 Clare election

    Limerick · city · Limerick · 1828

    During the Clare election of 1828, Limerick served as the centre of operations for O'Connell and his friends. The citizens were wild with excitement, and the city was filled with an immense military force that failed to overawe the population.

    Read the passage

    of M'Mahon/ tliat they ought to be kicked out of the room^ an expression for which M'Mahon applauded him. 2 Some of his best speeches were deHvered at Catholic meetings held in Limerick,^ and at the Court House in the defence of prisoners. He lodged, during his periodical visits_, at the house No. G, Patrick- street, then occupied by Mr. Sheehan, a saddler, where he was constantly besieged by attorneys and clients ; and his appearance, as he walked with a thorough air of complete independence, " kicking the world before him,"* to and from Court, or through the city, always attracted a large and enthusiastic crowd of admirers. Going to or returning from his beloved mountain home in Kerry, he usually rested for a night in Limerick ; and it was his usual habit on these occasions to address the throngs by whom his carriage was ever surrounded, when he never began a speech without, in the first place, attacking the local Tory journal, and asking, "How is Andy Watson?" its proprietor. He retained a strong hold on the affections of the citizens up to the very last visit which he paid to Limerick, which v.-as towards the close of the simimer of 1846, when, breaking down in health, and sorely disappointed in hope, he was no longer the eloquent and enthusiastic orator that he had been. During the Clare election, in 1828, Limerick was as it were the centre of operations of O'Connell and his friends. The citizens were absolutely wild with excitement. As O^Connell proceeded to Clare, to open that great county, and strike the final blow for Catholic freedom, the entire population of Limerick became well nigh frantic in their demonstrations in favor of the cause in which the nation and its avowed leader had embarked.

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 274

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Limerick, you are in the city that served as the centre of operations for O'Connell and his friends during the Clare election of 1828. The citizens were absolutely wild with excitement. As O'Connell proceeded to Clare to open that great county and strike the final blow for Catholic freedom, the entire population of Limerick became well nigh frantic in their demonstrations in favour of the cause in which the nation and its avowed leader had embarked. O'Connell had a long history with the city. Some of his best speeches were delivered at Catholic meetings held in Limerick, and at the Court House in the defence of prisoners. During his periodical visits he lodged at the house in Patrick Street, then occupied by Mr. Sheehan, a saddler, where he was constantly besieged by attorneys and clients. His appearance, as he walked with a thorough air of complete independence, kicking the world before him, to and from Court, or through the city, always attracted a large and enthusiastic crowd of admirers. Going to or returning from his beloved mountain home in Kerry, he usually rested for a night in Limerick. It was his habit on these occasions to address the throngs by whom his carriage was ever surrounded. He never began a speech without first attacking the local Tory journal and asking, "How is Andy Watson?" its proprietor. He retained a strong hold on the affections of the citizens up to the very last visit he paid to Limerick, towards the close of the summer of 1846, when, breaking down in health and sorely disappointed in hope, he was no longer the eloquent and enthusiastic orator that he had been.

34. Lord Brittas persecuted for Catholic worship at Brittas

    Brittas · townland · Limerick · 1607

    John Burke, Baron of Brittas, openly practiced Catholicism by having mass said in his house and preparing a large hall for divine service. Captain Miller was sent with a detachment of horse to apprehend him just as divine service was about to begin, forcing Lord Brittas to retreat into a strong tower adjoining his house.

    Read the passage

    3 This illustrious champion of his faith was descended from such a noble family, and was possessed of so plentiful a fortune, as that Sir George Thornton, one of the chief governors of Munster, thought him to be a great match for his daughter, Grace Thornton, to whom the Lord Brittas was married, and had nine children by her. He formed a purpose of going to Spain, in order the more freely to enjoy the benefits of the Catholic religion, which at this time was greatly persecuted in Ireland ; but his design being discovered to his father-in-law. Sir George, he so effectually managed with his feilow-governor. Sir Charles Wilmot, as entirely to prevent the Lord Brittas's departure. Being thus destuted in his journey he more fully and publicly performed all acts of the Catholic religion, bj- going openly to mass, assisting at sermons, having mass said in his own house, whither all the neighbours resorted to hear it ; his domestic affairs he left entirely to his wife, and devoted himself entirely to religion, by harbouring and supporting ecclesiastics and religious persons, especially those of the order of St. Dominick. This, his conduct, being represented in a new light to Charles Mountjoy, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, in his passage to Limerick, he thereupon forfeited the Lord Brittas's estate, and it was with the greatest interest and difficulty it was afterwards restored to him. He no sooner got possession, but he prepared a large hall in his house of Brittas for performing divine service therein the following Sunday, which was the first Sunday of October, and whither all those of the sodality of the rosary came to perform their devotions. When the President was informed of this, he sent one Captain Miller with a detachment of horse to apprehend Lord Brittas, just as divine service was going to begin. The congregation was alarmed, and through fear dispersed up and down ; the Lord Brittas, with his chaplain and three or four servants, retired into a strong tower adjoining his house, into which they denied Miller or his troop admittance. The President made handle of this to have him proclaimed as rebel, which laid the Lord Brittas under the necessity of seeking shelter in foreign countries ; to effect this he went to a distant seaport, in hopes of meeting with a ship to transport him, but he was disappointed, which made him seek for shelter in the inland country ; but the edicts against him being published everywhere, he was discovered in Carrick, and apprehended by the magistrate of that town and confined in jail.

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 73

35. MacAdam betrayal tradition at the Shannon ford

    Annaghbeg · townland · Galway · 1690

    Tradition holds that a fisherman named MacAdam betrayed the ford through which William's army crossed the Shannon to the Clare side. He was offered a choice of gold and lands or the hatchet and death, and pointed out the safe crossing. Other fishermen fled to the woods of Cratloe and the Clare mountains in fear of William's soldiers.

    Read the passage

    Regimeiit_, and other dragoons, were sent to view the ford of Annaghbeg,' of which William was informed, and which he proceeded to visit himself, a place about two miles above the city, where six of King James's regiments, three of horse, and two of dragoons commanded by Berwick and Lutterell, were posted at the other side of the river, with a breast-work to cover them ; these all fired upon the soldiers of William, but a}Dparently ■with little efi'ect, as few were killed or wounded. It was expected by the Wniiamites that they would meet with great difficulties and dangers in the passage of the river — first, because the troops of the besieged were so advantageously placed — and secondly, because the river at this season of the year was particularly swollen and rapid ; but they did not. Tradition states that the ford or pass, through which the hostde army passed over to the Clare side of the river, was betrayed by one MacAdam, who is said to have lived by fishing on the Shannon, and that his knowledge of the fords of the river was consequently very good. He is said to have conveyer! private information as to the place where the army of William might pass with safety ; and in order, if possible, to escape the odium of having been supposed voluntarily to sell the pass, he feigned sickness on the approach of the besieging army, whilst all the other fishermen ran off to the woods of Cratloe and the Clare mountains, as well to avoid being present as in fear of their Hves from the cruelty of William''s soldiers. As the army approached, a block and hatchet and a keg of gold were placed outside the door of the betrayer, who was accompanied bya boyof the neighbourhood, who had rowed a boat. The rich lands adjoining were pointed out to him. He was asked which he selected — the gold and the lauds, or the hatchet and death. The tradition goes on to say that as he had already determined, he at once proceeded to point out to the encpiirers the only place in that portion of the river which they could pass in the manner they desired. A rock was near the river bank, some few perches above the old churchyard of Kilquane, and to this rock, ever since called Carrig-a-Clouragh, or Chain- rock, were attached chains, which are said to have crossed the river from Corbally, nearly opposite Corbally House on the Limerick side. Abridge of boats, or a pontoon bridge, was thus constructed by the engineers. The rock appears to have been cut umbrella-like, or of mushroom shape, in order the more securely to hold the chains. For many years it was an object of singular curiosity : men of science, archeeologists, historians, enquirers, and patriots from all parts of Em'ope were in the habit of visiting it in the course of their tours to Limerick. — There were shallow holes in the top of Carrig-a-Clouragh, and when rain fell, the holes, thus filled with water, appeared as if saturated with blood, the stone being of a reddish colour. About twenty years ago Captain Hamilton Jackson, the then proprietor of this land, the portion of which in question has since, and within the last few years, been purchased by a prosperous laud holder of the neighbourhood,^ ordered a servant, named Council, to blast the rock; but

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 130

36. Mayor's Court of Admiralty on Inis Scattery

    Scattery Island · townland · Clare · 1765

    On 12 September 1765, the Mayor of Limerick held a Court of Admiralty on Inis Scattery, asserting his right as admiral of the Shannon. The next day he sailed to the river's mouth, threw a dart into the sea to mark his jurisdiction, and compelled a sloop of war to lower her colours.

    Read the passage

    in like maunerj visited the S. W. liberties, returned through the city, and visited the N. liberties, but they never broiie down any walls, or regulated any encroachments. On Friday, the 8th of September, the Corporation and the aforesaid trades, with their standards, and cockades in their hats, walked with the Mayor from the square behind St. John's Church to St. Mary's Church, and returned with him, in the said order, to said square, where he treated them with wine, and had the masters or wardens of each trade to dine with them that day. On Thursday, the 10th of September, the Mayor, Sheriffs, and rest of the Corporation, in the King's yachts, went down the river, in order to assert and make good his right of being admiral of the river Shannon. On Thursday, the 12th of September, the Mayor held a Court of Admiralty on the island of Inis Scattery, and on Friday, the 13th, he sailed to the mouth of the Shannon, where, between the heads, he threw a dart into the sea to point out the limitsof his jurisdiction ; at the same time it happened that a sloop of war entered the river, whom the Mayor compelled to lower her colours and her foi'etop sail in acknowledgement of his Power of Admiralty in said river Shannon. The Mayor and Corporation returned to Limerick on Saturday, the 14th, by ringing of bells, &c."

    In 17 6o, the revenue of the port began to increase, and a very handsome and commodious Custom House was built from a design by an engineer named Davis Dukart. Caleb Powellj Esq., an ancestor of Caleb Powell, Esq., of Clonshavoj, ex-M.P. of the county of Limerick,^ was appointed collector of the Port, and was the first who inhabited the Custom House.2

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 199

37. Proclamation of Queen Victoria in Limerick

    Bank Place · street · Limerick · 1837

    In June 1837, following the death of William IV and the accession of Queen Victoria, Limerick witnessed a grand civic procession. The streets filled with crowds, trades mustered with guild insignia, and the proclamation was read at stated places before the procession dispersed at Bank Place.

    Read the passage

    Parallel with these events, went the Irish Municipal Eeform Bill in Parhament, and the motion for the expulsion of the Bishops from the House of Lords for which the two " Limerick Eoches^' gave their votes, but which was rejected by a majority of 197 to 92. Grand Jury Reform, tithe adjustment — though with the abandonment of the appropriation clause on which the Whig party had got into power — Poor Laws, &c., now became the order of the day ; in the midst of agitation. King WiUiam IV. died ; and Her Most Gracious Majest_y Queen Victoria — a maiden queen, radiant with youth, and of highest promise, ascended the throne in the month of June this year (1837), amid the acclamations of Her Majesty's Irish subjects. Limerick was full of animation, to witness the customary pomp and pageantry of proclaiming a new Sovereign. The Union Plag floated from the Commercial Buildings ; the ships in harbour hung out their ensigns ; the Cathedral Bells exchanged a peal of joy for the mournful toll at the King's death. The streets were gay, crowds having come in from the country. A procession formed at the Exchange, according to programme. General L'E strange gave the military force to the civic authorities. The various Trades mustered in great numbers, with insignia descriptive of each Guild. The Mayor, Sheriff, Aldermen, and Civic Officers, in full Corporate robes, occupied the centre of the procession. Archdeacon Maunsell and the Protestant Clergy ; the Very Eev. Dr. Hogan and the Cathohc Clergy ; John Kelly and William Howly, Esqrs. Deputy Lieutenants ; the President and members of the Chamber of Commerce, citizens, &c. were present at the ceremonial. Having traversed the principal streets, repeating the proclamation at stated places, the procession finally separated in Bank Place. The windows along the route were occupied by elegantly dressed ladies. The Mayor entertained the military Officers, Clergy, Gentry, Ereemasons, and heads of all the trades at the Council Chamber of the Exchange. A general election followed the immediate dissolution of Parliament by the

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 279

    As the companion tells it

    Along this street, in June 1837, the proclamation of Queen Victoria ended its journey through Limerick. King William IV had died, and a maiden queen, radiant with youth and highest promise, ascended the throne amid the acclamations of her Irish subjects. Limerick was full of animation to witness the customary pomp and pageantry of proclaiming a new sovereign. The Union Flag floated from the Commercial Buildings. The ships in harbour hung out their ensigns. The Cathedral bells exchanged a peal of joy for the mournful toll at the King's death. The streets were gay, crowds having come in from the country. A procession formed at the Exchange, according to programme. General L'Estrange gave the military force to the civic authorities. The various trades mustered in great numbers, with insignia descriptive of each guild. The Mayor, Sheriff, Aldermen, and civic officers, in full corporate robes, occupied the centre of the procession. Archdeacon Maunsell and the Protestant clergy were there, and the Very Rev. Dr. Hogan and the Catholic clergy. John Kelly and William Howly, deputy lieutenants, the President and members of the Chamber of Commerce, and citizens were present at the ceremonial. Having traversed the principal streets, repeating the proclamation at stated places, the procession finally separated on this street. The windows along the route were occupied by elegantly dressed ladies. The Mayor entertained the military officers, clergy, gentry, Freemasons, and heads of all the trades at the Council Chamber of the Exchange.

38. Sarsfield departs Limerick for Cork, October 16th 1691

    Limerick · city · Limerick · 1691

    On the memorable 16th of October 1691, Patrick Sarsfield left Limerick for Cork to prepare for the embarkation of troops to France. This marked the final departure of the illustrious Irish leader from Limerick following the capitulation.

    Read the passage

    The memorable 16th of October came; and on that day Patrick Sarsfield the illustrious Irishman,^ left Limerick for Cork in order to see everything placed in readiness for the embarkation of the troops.^ The regiments of

    ' During his residence in Limerick, tradition states that he resided in the narrow street now known by the name of Pump Lane, in the house next door to the ancient building known as Queen Anne's prison, but evidently built a few centuries before the reign of that Queen.

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 153

39. Scanlan arrested in west Limerick, tried and executed in Limerick City

    Limerick · city · Limerick · 1819–1820

    John Scanlan was arrested in November 1819 in the west of County Limerick, conducted to the city gaol, and tried at the Limerick Spring Assizes opening March 11, 1820. He was convicted and executed on March 16, 1820, protesting his innocence despite being attended by Rev. Henry Gubbins.

    Read the passage

    who had served in the Royal Navy as an officer, and who had moved in the highest ranks of society ; the victim was his wife. The wife, no donbt, belonged to a grade much lower than that which the murderer had occupied, and hence he was mcliaed to get rid of her. Search had been ineffectually made for a long time for the murderer ; but it wasnot till the foUowiug November, (1819) that he was arrested whilst enjoying himself in the house of a friend in the west of the county, conducted to the city gaol on the warrant of the Mayor, and brought to trial at the City of Limerick Spring assizes, which were opened on the 11th of March, 1820, before the Judges above named. - Probably no murder ever committed has excited more attention than that of Ellen Scanlan, a fact which is chiefly owing to the treatment her melancholy story has met with at the hands of the authors of " The Poor Man^s Daughter,'^ a narrative in a serial entitled "Tales of Irish Life,^^ another in the New Monthly, the beautiful novel of the truly gifted Gerald Griffin, the Collegians, and the extraordinaiily successful drama of Mr. Boucicault, the Colleen Bawn. Captain Addison has also given a version of it in his adventures of Mr. Thomas Yokes, the Police Magistrate, who, he says, arrested Scanlan.^ She was living with her uncle, one John Connery, a ropemaker, others say a shoemaker, in a small town in the County Limerick, who had adojated her, when she contracted her ill-omened marriage. Scanlan was defended by Daniel O'Connell, the Liberator, and Mr. George Bennett. Messrs Pennefather and Quin were Counsel for the prosecution. Scanlan is misrepresented in one of the fictions as having been a CathoHc. He was a Protestant, and attended by the Rev. Henry Gubbins, who raised the cap from his face just before he was turned off, imploring him to make his peace with God by telling the truth. His answer was, ' I suffer for a crime in which I did not participate. If Sullivan be found my innocence will appear.' He thus died with a he in his mouth. Scanlan''s family were connected v/ith some of the highest names in the county and city of Limerick. One of his relatives rode from

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 258

    As the companion tells it

    As you come through Limerick, this is the city where John Scanlan met his end in 1820. He had served in the Royal Navy as an officer and moved in the highest ranks of society. His family were connected with some of the highest names in the county and city. His wife was Ellen Scanlan. She had been living with her uncle, John Connery, a ropemaker, others say a shoemaker, in a small town in County Limerick. He had adopted her. She belonged to a grade much lower than her husband had occupied, and he was inclined to get rid of her. Search was made for the murderer for a long time. It was not until November 1819 that he was arrested while enjoying himself in the house of a friend in the west of the county. He was conducted to the city gaol on the warrant of the Mayor and brought to trial at the City of Limerick Spring Assizes, which opened on March 11, 1820. Daniel O'Connell and Mr. George Bennett defended him. Messrs Pennefather and Quin were counsel for the prosecution. He was convicted and executed on March 16, 1820. He was a Protestant, not a Catholic as some fictions misrepresented him. He was attended by the Rev. Henry Gubbins, who raised the cap from his face just before he was turned off, imploring him to make his peace with God by telling the truth. His answer was, "I suffer for a crime in which I did not participate. If Sullivan be found my innocence will appear." The author says he thus died with a lie in his mouth. Probably no murder ever committed excited more attention than that of Ellen Scanlan. This was chiefly owing to the treatment her story received in "The Poor Man's Daughter" from "Tales of Irish Life," Gerald Griffin's novel "The Collegians," and Dion Boucicault's drama "The Colleen Bawn."

40. Siege and fortification of Bunratty Castle

    near Bunratty · parish · Clare · 1646

    The Earl of Thomond admitted a Parliamentarian garrison of 800 foot and 60 cavalry into Bunratty Castle, which was fortified with trenches, a mount with four cannon, and a deep flanked trench. Lord Muskerry's Confederate forces besieged the castle, supplied by Sir William Penn's fleet which had arrived in the Shannon committing atrocities on unprotected inhabitants.

    Read the passage

    ' The capture of Bunrattj^ Castle was an object of the most critical importance to the Confederates. The Earl of Thomond,* who before lived peaceably in this castle, admitted into it at this time, a garrison of 800 foot and 60 cavalry, most of them reformed officers, under the command of Lieut-Colonel MacAdam, "a stout officer," who began at once to raise works to strengthen the castle, which, owing to the marshes about it, might be impregnably fortified. Bunratty, wliich was strong, was deemed before the invention of artillerj' capable of defying all attempts to take it. It was now placed in a state of complete defence^ and a mount was raised whereon were four pieces of cannon. A small castle, and behind this the church, Avhich is now a ruin, stood at a little distance from this platform, all within a deep trench, well flanked, in which the Parliamentarians meant to draw water from the river, which ran to the east of the castle. Lord Muskerry advanced to encamp in the parish of Bunrattj', having taken a castle upon quarter which stood at the entrance into the park, wherein the enemj' had left some musqueteers. The finest deer in Ireland roamed through the park ; and the Irish soldiers took good care to supply themselves with plenty of venison ; the wood, too, was preserved from destruction because the dry brush afforded better firing, and was easier gathered. Lieut.-General Purcell, Major-General Stephenson, and Colonel Purcell, all veteran otKcers who had served in the German wars, were principally instructed with the conduct of this action. {Billing?) After some skirmishing, they became masters of all the ground without the broad, deep trench on the west side of the castle, and sat down at such a distance that the brow of the bank kept Muskerry's camp from being annoyed from the castle or the mount. Faggots and baskets were supplied hj the under wood. The garrison in the castle was brought by a portion of the Parliamentarian fleet on the Irish coast, under the command of Sir "William Penn, which had arrived in the Shannon on the 11th of March, 16-16, and which in its course up the river had committed several atrocities on the unprotected inhabitants ; it anchored between six and seven o'clock on the same evening off Bunratty, and sent a trumpetter to the Earl of Thomond, with a letter from Sir William Penn and Lieut.-Colonel MacAdam, — the Earl received it kindly, embracing the motion, and jjromising to join them. {Memorials of Sir William Penn). After negociations, which were carried on the next day by Sir Teague M'Mahon — the Earl not appearing in person — they landed 700 men on an island close to Bunratty ; Captain Huntly, one of the Earl's retinue, waiting on them, invited them to confer with the Karl, with whom they dined, and found him well disposed towards the Parliament ; the soldiers then marched over, and quartered in Bunratty that night. The Earl was evidently anxious to play off the Admiral and his party if he could ; but he committed himself irretrievably to them. {Memorials of Sir William Penn). The ship, which the pilot told them might go up within two or three cable's length of Bunratty, at five fathoms at low water, grounded on a ledge of rocks six feet high at the north side of the river, and was not got off without difficulty, and sustaining severe injury. The seige was carried on with skill and bravery on both sides ; the beseiged, who were supplied with men from the ships, sallied out often, but owing to the proximity of the hill, and other causes, their sallies did no harm. In one of them, however, on the 1st of April, Captain Magrath, commander-in-chief of the Irish horse, was wounded ; a route followed, in which a large number of the Confederate army were taken prisoners by the Parliamentarians. In the afternoon a general attack was made on the Confederate camp at Six Mile Bridge, where a hot engagement ensued, which terminated in the overthrow of the Confederate camp, the soldiers of which were pursued two miles, and 250 bags of oatmeal, and other provisions which were found in the camp, were taken by the Parliamentarians, whose stores were well nigh exhausted. Captain Magrath and a lieutenant, both of whom had died of their wounds, were honorably buried with three vollies of small shot. Previously to this Lord Muskerry had made every exertion to distract the attention of the

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 89

41. Soldiers' wives' fingers cut at Limerick departure for France

    Limerick · city · Limerick · 1691

    After the capitulation of Limerick, soldiers' wives waded into the water to reach the boats departing for France, but English soldiers in charge of the transport vessels cut off their fingers with swords when they clung to the sides.

    Read the passage

    No. 7. refers to the ill-treatment experienced by King James' Army previous to their sailing for France. I have heard that some of the soldiers' wives waded into the water as far as the boats, and that the English soldiers in charge of the transport vessels cut off their fingers with their swords when they clung to the sides of the boats to enter.

    No. 8. most feelingly refers to the longing for home of the members of the Irish Brigade.

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 124

42. The Garryowen boys: song of Limerick's street culture

    near Garryowen · population centre · Limerick · 1798

    A contemporary song describes the Garryowen boys of Limerick smashing lamps, fighting through streets, beating bailiffs, and making the mayor and sheriffs run. It references Johnny Connell's feats of strength from Garryowen to Thomond Gate, and laments Garryowen's decline after Connell went to Cork.

    Read the passage

    Our hearts so stout have got us fame. For soon 'tis known from whence we came ; Where'er we go they dread the name Of Garryowen in glory. Instead, &c.

    Johnny Conn ell's tall and straight ; And in his limbs he is complete ; He'll pitch a bar of any weight

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 235

    As the companion tells it

    Coming up near Garryowen, in Limerick. In 1798 a song gave these boys their fame: where'er we go they dread the name, of Garryowen in glory. It praised Johnny Connell, tall and straight, complete in his limbs, who could pitch a bar of any weight.

43. Thirty men charged at Rathkeale for attending a wake

    Rathkeale · town · Limerick · 1823

    At an adjourned sessions at Rathkeale on 20 May 1823, thirty men were charged with being absent from their dwellings on two previous nights. Their defence was attendance at a wake; nine relatives of the deceased were acquitted, but twenty-one were committed and sentenced to seven years transportation.

    Read the passage

    emigrated. Sessions were held in Braff on tlie 16th of the same month, at which two men were sentenced to seven years transportation for setting fire to the village of Glenasheen in the preceding April, On the 20th of the month, an adjourned sessions were held at Eathkeale, at which thirty men were charged with being absent from their dwellings on two nights previously. Their defence was, that they had been at the wake of a deceased friend ; nine of them were relatives of the deceased ; these were acquitted, twenty-one were committed and received sentence of transportation for seven years. Such was the severity of the times. On the 20th of June following, a sessions was also held in the County of Limerick Court House, under the Insurrection Act, when two men were sent off from the dock for Cork, to be transported for seven years. Early in July another sessions was held at Rathkeale and in Limerick with similar result ; and a few nights after — viz. on the 9th, Gerald Blenerhasset, Esq. and Chief Constable Keilly of the Constabulary, discovered sixty-eight pike-heads concealed in a wall on the most remote part of Knockfierna Hill, in the County of Limerick.

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 262

44. Treaty of Limerick broken after transport leaves Carrigaholt

    near Carrigaholt · townland · Clare · 1691

    After the Treaty of Limerick, the last transport carrying Irish soldiers departed from Carrigaholt. No sooner had it left than the terms of the Treaty were broken by those who had purchased Lutterel, leaving the people helpless and subject to oppression by foreign settlers.

    Read the passage

    No doubt our countrymen were deceived; promises were broken; no effort was made to save them — the ink was not dry on the Treaty — the last transport had not left Carrigaholt, when the men who purchased Lutterel, broke the Treaty in unmistakable terms. The people became helpless, wretched, the sport and pastime of insolent, bigoted, outrageous foreigners — '' aliens in blood, aliens in language, aliens in rehgion," to the Lish. They sighed to leave Ireland for France or Spain, or any other land in which they might freely perform the duties of their religion. By a curious coincidence Lauzun and other French officers who fought in Limerick, met the English afterwards on the plains of Steynkirk, &c., where Talmash, and others fell, and on the fatal field of Landen the immortal Patrick Sarsfield gave out his life blood, exclaiming " 0 that this were shed for Ireland \'' One of the great complaints, no doubt, against King James was his want of money, and his coinage of the brass and gun money. It is true that on his arrival in Ireland in March, 1689, he had found that besides the great deficiency of his supporters in all the requisites of an army but men, his Irish government were sadly deficient m funds, having "no money in cash." The prospects of the civil war had effectually drained the country of gold and silver, by the flight to England of the wealthier classess, who, of course, left as little as they could of their property behind them. In this financial difficulty the King raised the value of gold 20 per cent.^ and the Enghsh silver eight one-third per cent, only, and other foreign gold and silver specie in proportion ; that what little money was left in the kingdom, and the few thousand livres he had borrowed from the French King, might go a greater way,' and having also in view the superior facility of carriage of guineas as compared with crowns and other silver coins. The first monetary measure adopted by the king was to issue, after his arrival in Dublin, a proclamation for raising the value of EngUsh and foreign gold and sUver coin, the Exchange having before the revolution been strictly at par. Another proclamation was issued in May, but the money not coming in fast enough, the king hanng laid aside the patent granted by him four years before to Sir John Knox, and then m the hands of Colonel Eoger ]\Ioore, set up mints of his own ; one in the deanery house. Limerick, the other in Capel-street, Dubhn. Several commissioners were appointed to direct these mints, the one named for Limerick being Walter Pluuket, which being settled they went to work, and King James on the 18th of June, issued a proclamation for making two sorts of money, of brass and copper, mixed metal, current in this kingdom. The one for twelve, and the other for sixpence.^ The king on this occasion

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 160

    As the companion tells it

    Somewhere around here, in 1691, the last transport carrying Irish soldiers sailed from Carrigaholt after the Treaty of Limerick. But the ink was not dry on that Treaty when the men who purchased Lutterel broke it in unmistakable terms. No sooner had the transport left than every promise was abandoned. The people became helpless and wretched, the sport and pastime of insolent, bigoted, outrageous foreigners. The source calls them "aliens in blood, aliens in language, aliens in religion." They sighed to leave Ireland for France or Spain, or any other land where they might freely perform the duties of their religion. By a curious coincidence, Lauzun and other French officers who had fought in Limerick met the English afterwards on the plains of Steynkirk, where Talmash and others fell. And on the fatal field of Landen, Patrick Sarsfield gave out his life blood, exclaiming "O that this were shed for Ireland." One of the great complaints against King James was his want of money and his coinage of brass and gun money. When he arrived in Ireland in March 1689, he found his government sadly deficient in funds, having no money in cash. The civil war had drained the country of gold and silver by the flight of the wealthier classes to England, who left as little as they could behind them. The King raised the value of gold 20 per cent and English silver 8 and one-third per cent, so what little money remained might go further. When money still did not come in fast enough, the king set up mints, one in the deanery house in Limerick, the other in Capel Street in Dublin. On the 18th of June, King James issued a proclamation for making two sorts of money, of brass and copper mixed metal, current in the kingdom, one for twelve pence and the other for sixpence.

45. White Boys arrested amid corn trade unrest in Limerick

    Limerick · city · Limerick · 1786

    In June 1786, thirty-eight White Boys were arrested and jailed in Limerick amid tensions over corn and oatmeal exports. County people threatened to block all potatoes and corn from reaching market until the prisoners were freed, while the Mayor deployed the army to hinder merchants from taking corn to their stores.

    Read the passage

    1st June, 1786, " Our IMayor still continues to harass us in the purchase of corn. Last Saturday he brought out the army to hinder:;Mr. Lyons taking to his store some oats that came by boat, which could not be then weighed fortwant of proper scales. If scarcity comes on I will be sent to Tyburn, 38 " White Boys" have been arrested and put into jail here. The county people for revenge say they will not allow any potatoes or corn to come to market till they are set free. God send the corn factors dont suffer if any scarcity should happen. The export of oatmeal has caused such a scarcity of that article as to give great discontent to the mob and to the publick in general. Our Mayor called over each of us that promised to supply him last January with that article. None of the gentlemen were in any respect prepared to do it, I could not an instant hesitate. I am selling those three days past oatmeal at cost price, I have gained great favour with a turbulent unruly set and our corporation assures me of every protection in their power in future, so that the corn trade will be easier to me than any one else. I continue to supply the mob at cost price, had I refused the consequence would be fatal, for the mob would have it from me, and prevent all future exports, not alone of that article, but prevent my loading the " Endeavour" with oats. New houses building near Arthur's-quay, to the rere of one of them is a piece of ground which I had in view to take for some time past, I will see to-morrow if I can. It is the most eligible place in this city for the corn trade, as you could load the ships immediately from any of the lofts. If I can I will get some spot near the river to build on. Our Mayor and Mr. Pery our representative, called a meeting of the millers and merchants to determine about grinding oats for the city, Mr". Brady seemed unwilling to let his mills* for the purpose, till he was told that^his own term of them was expired and would not be renewed — they all thanked me for the supply of .meal I gave the city. I must continu° to do so for a few days, till I load the ship in the pool."

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 217

46. William narrowly escapes death near Cromwell's Fort

    Limerick · city · Limerick · 1690

    As William proceeded towards Cromwell's Fort during the siege, he stopped his horse to speak to an officer when a twenty-four pound ball grazed the side of the gap where he was about to enter. Had he been killed, the political consequences would have been momentous for both England and Ireland.

    Read the passage

    It was on the 17tli — six days after the glorious acliievement at Balljoieety — that the Williamites began to recover from the crushing blow given by the strong arm of Sarsfield. William was determined to proceed with the siege. He sent to Waterford for another train of artillery, and on the 17th opened the trenches before the city. The high towers were soon levelled to the ground by his great guns — the besiegers who fired into the trenches, took two redoubts and a strong fort, but not without loss, because the garrison disputed every inch of ground with all the valour and resolution imaginable. On the 20th the besieged army made a vigorous sally, which retarded the enemy's works, and were not repulsed until after they had made a regular slaughter of the besiegers, who never ceased all the time throwing red-hot bullets and bombs into the city, a species of missile with which the citizens had been unacquainted, but which did not dishearten them. They had generously resolved to co-operate with the troops, to suffer and die rather than fall into the hands of the cruel and remorseless enemy which approached them. It was now that the troops of William manifested their insatiable hatred. They put nearly every Irishman that came in their way to the sword — others they subjected to torture. William was everywhere. As he was proceeding towards Cromwell's fort, he suddenly stopped his horse to speak to an officer, when a twenty-four pound ball grazed the side of the gap where he was goiug to enter, which certainly must have dashed him to pieces, " had not," says the historian of the campaign, " the commanding God of Heaven prevented it, who still reserves him for greater matters."^ If WilKam had been killed at this spot, as fate was so near having it, the political consequences would have been momentous, both in England and Ireland, and the dynasty of the Stuarts might have had a more protracted tenure.

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 134

47. Women of Limerick defend the Ramparts

    Limerick · city · Limerick

    The Ramparts, a sloping earth mound strengthening the wall interiorly from the corner of Lock Quay to old Clare Street, were breached and defended by the women of Limerick during the siege. The walls here are nearly 36 feet thick and were tunnelled by the proprietor to connect gardens.

    Read the passage

    Portions of the famous old wall are still remaining between St. Munchin's Churchyarcl and the Shannon, where the wall is flanked by towers. Also between Island Road and Barrack Street, extending from the crossing to Dominick Street to the crossing of the New Koad, near St. Mary's Chapel, where it forms an angle, and extends along Change Street. From Water-gate to the site of the old Linen Hall there is another segment ; and from the corner of Lock Quay to the Fever Hospital, another and by far the most interesting portion, the ground adjacent to and occupied by the latter building having formed the Black Battery, between which and St. John's Gate was the breach. The " Eamparts", as the line from this corner to old Clare Street was called, even to a late period, which were also breached, and defended by the women of Limerick, were a sloping mound of earth, powerfully strengthening the wall interiorly, and now, along with the walls, forming the sites of Mr. Cregan's, Mr. Brown's, and a Mrs. Callaghan's gardens. In the former, a small swivel gun, quite perfect, about a foot and a-half long, and capable of throwing two-ounce balls, was found with three iron tubes of about the same length, but larger calibre, and are still mounted on the walls in embrasures lately made to receive them. Here the walls are nearly 36 feet thick, and have been lately tunnelled by the proprietor, in order to connect the interior and exterior garden; in the latter of which a passage like a chimney runs up to the top of that part of the wall which forms Mr. Brown's garden, where the wall has had a passage cut thi'ough, with steps, as old as the time of the Siege, when it formed a sallyport. The chimney-like passage is traditionally said to have been used for obtaining supplies for the garrison. This part of the wall is parallel to John Street, and the present occupiers are so very obliging that respectable visitors will find no difficulty in procuring admission. The entrance is in what is now called Father Quinn's Lane. The Devil's Battery was at the angle facing the lane.

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 446

    As the companion tells it

    You are coming through Limerick, where some of the old walls still stand between St. Munchin's Churchyard and the Shannon, and again from the corner of Lock Quay to the Fever Hospital. That last stretch is the most interesting. The ground beside the Fever Hospital was the Black Battery, and between it and St. John's Gate was the breach. The Ramparts was the name given to the line from this corner to old Clare Street. It was a sloping mound of earth, powerfully strengthening the wall from the inside. The Ramparts were breached too, and they were defended by the women of Limerick. The walls here are nearly 36 feet thick. They have been tunnelled by the proprietor to connect the interior and exterior gardens. In one of the gardens, a small swivel gun was found, quite perfect, about a foot and a half long, capable of throwing two-ounce balls, along with three iron tubes of about the same length but larger calibre. These are still mounted on the walls in embrasures lately made to receive them. In the exterior garden, a passage like a chimney runs up to the top of the wall, where a passage was cut through with steps, as old as the time of the Siege, when it formed a sallyport. The chimney-like passage is traditionally said to have been used for obtaining supplies for the garrison. The Devil's Battery stood at the angle facing what is now called Father Quinn's Lane, where the entrance is.

48. Apparitions of armed men at Loughill

    Loughill · townland · Kilkenny · 1640

    On the manor of the Lord Bishop of Limerick at Loughill, inhabitants reported seeing abundance of armed men marching on the hill on multiple occasions. When people approached the apparitions, the armed men vanished from sight. These sightings occurred around 1640 alongside similar supernatural reports at nearby Castleconnell.

    Read the passage

    Uppon a Mannour of my Lord Bishoppe of Lymerick, Loughill hath been seen upon the hill by most of the inhabitants aboundance of armed men marching, and these seene many tymes — and when thej' come up to them they do not appeare. These things are very strange, if the cleargie and gentrie say true. God willing to-morrow or next day I purpose to go to the Castle, better to satisfye myself, this was but amongst other business to the Towne to averr the truth of the same.

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 81

49. Captain Peter Drake's near-death in Limerick bombardment

    Limerick · city · Limerick · 1690–1691

    Captain Peter Drake of Drakerath, County Meath, asleep in a building between his house and the town wall, narrowly escaped death when a cannonball demolished his bed shortly after he left the room.

    Read the passage

    On the 26th the Williamites widened the breach which they had made the day before in the wall of the town, and beat down part of the Irish pallisados on the counterscarp. That night they set fire to the town again, which burnt very vehemently. Captain Peter Drake, of Drakerath, in the county of Meath, who was in Limerick during the siege, has mentioned in connection with the battery and bombardment of the city, by the formidable artillery of William — a curious instance of the interposition of Divine Providence in his behalf, by which he adds, " I have been so often times rescued from calamity and the jaws of death. "There was," he says "between our house and the town wall a large building. The besiegers ordered two pieces of ordnance to be levelled at this building, and several shots passed through and hit at the gable end, within which was the apartment wherein I slept, with one Captain Plunkett, of my lord Gormansto-mi's regiment ; this gentleman was to mount guard that day, and going out early left me a-bed. About two hours after I went out to one of the servants to get me a clean shirt, and before I had time to return, a ball had beat down the waU, a great

    ' " But notwithstanding all the opposition which the besieged were able to make, the enem j had finished their battery of thirtj" pieces of cannon on the 24th, and in two days more had advanced their trenches within thirty paces of the ditch ; there was at this time a great breach in the wall, near St. John's Gate, and part of the palisadoes beaten down by the Counterscarp, &c." — Kirtff Jamet's Memoirs, ^x.

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 136

50. Castlehaven encamps at Killaloe to observe Ireton

    Killaloe · town · Clare · 1651

    The Earl of Castlehaven, appointed commander-in-chief of Munster and Clare by Ormond, marched with what forces he could gather and encamped at Killaloe to observe Ireton's movements. The two armies faced each other across the river for some time, with Castlehaven's 2000 horse and foot defending the passage with breastworks.

    Read the passage

    The antagonist troops lay in tliat position together for some time ; Castlehaven had 2000 horse and foot disposed along the river^ and defended by breastworks^ which had been placed there to obstruct Ireton's passage into Connaught. Ormond^ who had not yet sailed from Galway, wrote " post haste" to Castlehaven to proceed to him, because Stephen De Henin the abbot of St. Catherine was in the harbour, and in his company many officers, with a quantity of arms, ammunition, and other materials of war, which were sent by the Duke of Lorraine, to whom the city of Limerick was mortgaged, and assigned as a security for £20,000 supplied by him for the King's service. The Duke was to be constituted protector royal of the kingdom of Ireland, with power over all the Confederate forces and places, with that title and dominion, till the war was over and his damages satisfied — a regular agreement having been entered into for that purpose. ^ On Castlehaven's almost immediate return, he found all quiet at KUlaloe ; treachery had done its work, the pass had been sold. He was not aware of how the dark deed had been done ; but he received from Ireton, by a trumpeter, a letter which occupied four sides of paper, closely written in a small hand, the drift of which was to set forth " the justness'"" of the Parliament's proceedings ; their great power ; how short a time he (Castlehaven) would subsist ; what bad company he was in; abusing the King most heartily, and after several other sayings, offering Castlehaven, if he would retire and live in England, not only his personal safety and the enjoyment of his estate, but the esteem and favor of the Parliament. Castlehaven showed the letter to Father Peter Walsh, who appears to have been with him at the time ; and by his advice, and by the same trumpeter, he answered every point, rejected the proposition, and desired that no more trumpeters should be sent with such errands.

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 96

51. Execution of Dominick O'Calan at Youghal

    Youghal · town · Cork · 1602

    After capture at Dunboy, Jesuit lay brother Dominick O'Calan refused the oath of allegiance despite rewards and relatives' entreaties. By Mountjoy's order he was tied to horses' tails, then hanged, drawn, and quartered in his native town of Youghal in 1602.

    Read the passage

    The Lord President of Munster says, that, about the year 1600, all the Munster cities were bewitched by Jesuits, Popish Priests, and Seminarists ; and a Captain Mostian writes to the General of the Society, that Father Archer, S.J., was more to the Irish in Munster, and in the whole kingdom, than a great reinforcement of troops, for at his nod alone the hearts of men adhere and are held together". This Father Archer was feared by the English, who thought he could lly through the air, and nicknamed him Archdevil; he converted Black Thomas, Earl of Ormonde, the destroyer of the Desmonds ; he collected money for the support of the Irish colleges of Salamanca and Compostella, and " had many seminaries on hand" ; he had been rector of Salamanca, the first Irish college founded abroad, succeeding in that position Father White, S.J., of Clonmel, its founder and first rector. He and his companion, the lay brother Dominick O'Calan, encouraged one hundred and forty Irish to defend Dunboy against thousands, as they hoped that help would come from Spain or the north of Ireland, and so obstinate a defence, said Lord Carew, " hath not been seen within this kingdom". O'Calan was of noble family, and distinguished himself in France as a cavalry officer, under the name of Captain Labranch. When the wars of the League were over, he went in search of glory in Spain, and signalized himself among the first captains of the Royal Fleet. Having spent thirteen years in France, and eight in Spain, he became a Jesuit lay brother, as he thought too humbly of himself to become a priest, though his learning and the will of the Father General marked him out for that position. After his capture at Dunboy he was offered great rewards and honours if he took the oath of allegiance. His relatives were brought to back up these promises by their tears and entreaties— he refused, and by Mountjoy's order was tied to the tails of two horses, and then hanged, drawn, and quartered for the faith, in his native town of Youghal in 1602. He was a man of extraordinary piety, and his life was written by Father D'Oultreman, and Patrignani.^

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 380

52. Fatal duel between O'Connell and D'Esterre at Bishop's Court

    near Bishop's Court · street · Clare · 1814

    On February 1st, a fatal duel took place at Bishop's Court, Co. Kildare between Daniel O'Connell and John Norcott D'Esterre, a native of Limerick. D'Esterre was mortally wounded and died on February 3rd.

    Read the passage

    Feb. 1st. — A fatal duel between Daniel O'Connell, Esq., and John Norcott D'Esterre, Esq., a native of this citj' — the latter, mortally wounded, died on the 3rd instant. The duel took place at Bishop's Court, Co. Kildare.

    Feb. 2nd Died at Parteen, near O'Brien's Bridge, Martin Ilartigan, aged 102 ; he kept his

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 246

53. Pearce forces himself into Limerick mayoralty amid violent contests

    Limerick · city · Limerick · 1726–1727

    Lieut.-General Thomas Pearce, governor of Limerick, engaged in a violent dispute with the Roches over public rights versus monopoly. After creating divisions in the council, he forced himself into the mayoralty in 1726, though the opposing party refused to hand over the sword of state or the mace until the following year.

    Read the passage

    About this time Lieut.-General Thomas Pearce was governor of Limerick, A brave soldier, he had served abroad in the campaigns in Spain and Holland, and was a most unlikely person to quail before the terrors of a civic faction. Between him and these Eoches a violent dispute arose, which was carried on with unsparing acrimony, and the interest of which extended to the country. Pearce championed public rights ; the Eoches and their partizans continued to be the defenders of a degraded monopoly. After a long succession of fights, Pearce succeeded, not only in becoming a member^of the Corporation, but in 1726 he forced himseK into the mayoralty. He had received slights and affronts from the Eoches, and he was resolved on revenge. His first course was to create among the members of the council intestine divisions, and havhag, by this means, shaken the power of his assailants, he became a candidate for the mayoralty, which, and many violent contests and animosities, he obtained this year, though the contrary party protested against the legality of his election, and therefore would not give up to him the sword of state or the mace. Nor did he get them till the following year when they were necessary for proclaiming King George the Second, who ascended the throne the 11th of June, 1727, in which year Pearce was signally successful in obtaining the representation of the city of Limerick, together with Henry Ingoldsby, Esq. He contmued Governor all the time, and the same hostility existed between him and the Eoches.' In Limerick at this period there were twenty-two companies of soldiers, whilst in Cork there were but eleven companies. The troops selected for these garrisons were all English Protestants or foreigners .^ The " mild Hanoverian rule" did not recognise the military existence of Papists, nor did the ruling body feel secure without alien mercenaries in addirion to English soldiers. The superiority of Limerick over Cork as a garrison town, was acknowledged; and this admitted superiority Limerick continued to hold untn, in recent years, the authorities have thought proper to reduce it fi-om its ancient ranlv and station, and make it second to Cork in this respect.* During the mayoralty of Lieutenant General Pearce, a shocking tragedy was enacted in Limerick. The Eev. Timothy Eyan, who is said by White' to have been an irregular and excommunicated priest, but who did not deserve the terrible doom to which he was consigned, was committed to gaol by the Mayor (Pearce) " for marrying a Protestant man and a Catliohc woman,'' contrary to an act of Pariiament which was passed this year, and which made it death in the priest.^ He was tried at the following assizes, and condemned, and was the " first'' person executed^ in Ireland for this " crime" since the

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 182

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Limerick, the city carries a story from 1726 and 1727. Lieutenant General Thomas Pearce was governor then, a brave soldier who had served abroad in the campaigns in Spain and Holland, and a most unlikely person to quail before the terrors of a civic faction. A violent dispute arose between him and the Roches, carried on with unsparing acrimony, and its interest extended to the country. Pearce championed public rights. The Roches and their partisans continued to be the defenders of a degraded monopoly. After a long succession of fights, Pearce succeeded not only in becoming a member of the Corporation, but in 1726 he forced himself into the mayoralty. He had received slights and affronts from the Roches and was resolved on revenge. His first course was to create among the members of the council intestine divisions, and having by this means shaken the power of his assailants, he became a candidate for the mayoralty, which, and many violent contests and animosities, he obtained. The contrary party protested against the legality of his election and would not give up to him the sword of state or the mace. Nor did he get them till the following year, when they were necessary for proclaiming King George the Second, who ascended the throne the 11th of June, 1727. In that year Pearce was signally successful in obtaining the representation of the city, together with Henry Ingoldsby. During Pearce's mayoralty, a shocking tragedy was enacted. The Reverend Timothy Ryan, said by White to have been an irregular and excommunicated priest, was committed to gaol by the Mayor, "for marrying a Protestant man and a Catholic woman," contrary to an act of Parliament passed that year, which made it death for the priest. He was tried at the following assizes, condemned, and was the "first" person executed in Ireland for this "crime."

54. Sarsfield blows up Banagher bridge arch to halt pursuit

    Banagher · town · Offaly · 1690

    After destroying the Williamite artillery train, Sarsfield returned to Limerick by way of Banagher, crossing the bridge there and blowing up one of its arches to prevent the pursuing English cavalry from following. This maneuver allowed his men to return safely to the besieged city.

    Read the passage

    One of the principal guns which Sarsfield had in Limerick was called Sheela Buoy, or Yellow Sheela; which is erroneously said to have been taken on this occasion, when all the guns were destroyed. After this magnificent achievement he returned to the camp at Limerick by another route — not, as Dr. Mulleneux says, by Athlone^ — and lost not a moment in gathering together the tired men who had accompanied him in the expedition, and knowing that William would adopt every stratagem to prevent his return to the besieged city, he went back to Limerick by Banagher, where he crossed the bridge, one of the arches of which he blew up, in order to stop the pursuit of the English horse, which were close upon him. Nothing could equal the intense joy and satisfaction with which the garrison within the walls heard of this signal advantage. According to King Jameses memoirs " the garrison was hugely encouraged^'' — and when Sarsfield safely returned with his brave band of faithful raparees and Dragoons, the rejoicings that ensued chased away every apprehension, and every one felt confident of success in the issue of the siege. William, however, was not to be overthrown by this discomfiture — he always threw heart and soul into the cause he espoused. His constant saying not only at Limerick, but throughout the campaign was, "this is a country worth fighting for," a saying which Cromwell before him is said to have often used. Had James been actuated by a proper spirit at the Boyne, the battle would not have been lost, nor need the unfortunate monarch have made a precipitate flight from Ireland, where the desertion and irregularities of the French under Lauzun, at

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 133

55. Castleconnell blown up with £200 of gunpowder

    Castleconnell · town · Limerick · 1690

    Dean Storey received a grant of £200 for powder to blow up Castleconnell castle. The ruins, still visible at the time of writing, lie in enormous confused masses covered in lichen, with shamrock growing through them.

    Read the passage

    * Dean Storey got a grant of £200 for powder to blow up Castleconnell — a large sum in those times for such a purpose ; and no small portion of which was expended in the Avork of devastation, as the ruins of that proud and magnificent castle show even at this daj' — lying as they do in enormous confused masses strewed about, and covered as they arc with tlie litchen, through which the national shamrock struggles into growtli in perennial beauty, as if vindicating the soil from the pollution with which it was covered by the ruthless savagery of the followers of the Prince of Orange in 1690.

    3 Storey.

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 133

56. Catholic merchants admitted to Limerick Corporation

    Limerick · city · Limerick · 1686–1687

    In early 1686, Tyrconnell's influence led twelve Roman Catholic merchants to be admitted to Limerick's Common Council. The Protestant Mayor and Sheriffs were deposed and replaced with Catholics, marking a dramatic political shift in the city's governance.

    Read the passage

    The 12tli of February, 1686, John Talbot, Earl of Tjrconnell, was sworn Lord Deputy of Ireland. He was the first Lord Deputy who went publicly to Mass since Queen Mary^s time, and all over Ireland there were the greatest rejoicings among the Irish on that account ; but he was hated by the Protestants. ^ On the 18th of March twelve of the Roman Catholic merchants of Limerick were made free of the Common Council ; and on the 2nd of the same month Wilham Turner, Recorder of Limerick, became a Roman Catholic, and as he was exasperated with the Corporation, he procured from the Lord Lieutenant, Tyrconnell, that the Protestant Mayor, Geo. Roche and his Sheriffs should be deposed ; and in their places he got named for the rest of the year Mr. Robert Hannon, a Cathohc, as Mayor, and Thomas Harold, a Catholic, as Sheriff, with Peter Monsell, a Protestant. The Corporation would not accept of Hannon as Mayor, or the others as Sheriffs until the Assizes, when the Lord Chief Baron Stephen Rice refused holding the Assizes until Hannon was admitted. The Common Council thereupon elected Hannon Mayor, and Harold and Monsell Sheriffs, and on the 8th of April, 1687, the rod, sword and mace were delivered up to Mr. Hannon. Sir John Fitzgerald was at this time Governor of Limerick, so that the Governor, Mayor, Recorder, and one of the Sheriffs went pubhcly to Mass, the first occurrence of the kind for forty years.^

    On the 4th of October, 1687, being St. Francis's day, the Franciscan friars possessed themselves of their own Church in the Abbey ; it was consecrated by the Right Rev. John Moloney, Catholic Bishop of Limerick, who had the administration of Killaloe, there being no Catholic Bishop of Killaloe. The Bishop said first Mass in it, and the Rev. Jasper White said the second Mass. The friars now rented this Church from the Englishman who held it, viz. John Pery, Lieutenant of a Foot Company. He was ancestor to the Lords Pery and Glentworth.''

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 119

    As the companion tells it

    As you come through Limerick, the city you are entering was the scene of a sharp political turn in 1686. On the 12th of February that year, John Talbot, Earl of Tyrconnell, was sworn Lord Deputy of Ireland. He was the first Lord Deputy to go publicly to Mass since Queen Mary's time, and all over Ireland there were great rejoicings among the Irish on that account, but he was hated by the Protestants. On the 2nd of March, William Turner, Recorder of Limerick, became a Roman Catholic. Exasperated with the Corporation, he procured from Tyrconnell that the Protestant Mayor, George Roche, and his Sheriffs should be deposed. On the 18th of March, twelve Roman Catholic merchants of Limerick were made free of the Common Council. In place of Roche, Robert Hannon, a Catholic, was named Mayor, Thomas Harold, a Catholic, as Sheriff, and Peter Monsell, a Protestant, as the other Sheriff. The Corporation would not accept Hannon or the others until the Assizes, when Lord Chief Baron Stephen Rice refused to hold the Assizes until Hannon was admitted. The Common Council then elected Hannon Mayor, and Harold and Monsell Sheriffs. On the 8th of April, 1687, the rod, sword and mace were delivered up to Hannon. Sir John Fitzgerald was Governor of Limerick at this time, so that the Governor, Mayor, Recorder, and one of the Sheriffs went publicly to Mass, the first occurrence of the kind for forty years. On the 4th of October, 1687, St. Francis's day, the Franciscan friars possessed themselves of their own Church in the Abbey. It was consecrated by John Moloney, Catholic Bishop of Limerick, who also had the administration of Killaloe. The Bishop said the first Mass, and Jasper White said the second. The friars rented the Church from John Pery, Lieutenant of a Foot Company, ancestor to the Lords Pery and Glentworth.

57. Catholics transported and fleeing kingdom, 1678

    Limerick · city · Limerick · 1678

    In 1678, so many proclamations were issued against Catholics and so many priests and friars transported to France and Spain that nothing like it had been known before. Many Catholics fled the kingdom seeking shelter in France, Spain, and Maryland.

    Read the passage

    So many proclamations were issued out in 1678 against the Catholics, and so many priests and friars were transported to France and Spain, that any thing hke it was never known before. It was this year that the Eev. Jaspar White, Parish Priest of St. John's, was taken at the altar by a lieutenant of foot, in his vestments, whilst saying mass, and was in that posture brought through the streets to the guard-house, where he was kept two hours, until he was released by the Governor, Sir WiUiam^ King. To increase the feehng against the Cathohcs, they reported that King Charles was '' poisoned by the papists." The continued persecutions of the Catholics in England and Ireland made many of them fly the kingdom, and seek shelter in France and Spain, and many fled to Maryland.*

    Edward Pery, Esq., at the Common Council, held 35th June, 1677, claimed in right of St. Mary's house to vote next to the mayor, and to have two voices. It was decided that the Protestant Bishop (who was present) should, as a peer, vote before him. But his other claims were agreed to. So he voted before Sh H. Ingoldsby, Bart., Sir Wm. King, Knt., and Sir George Ingoldsby, Knt.^

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 117

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Limerick, this is a city that saw a fierce wave of persecution in 1678. So many proclamations were issued against Catholics that year, and so many priests and friars transported to France and Spain, that nothing like it had been known before. It was that same year that the Reverend Jaspar White, Parish Priest of St. John's, was taken at the altar by a lieutenant of foot. He was in his vestments, saying mass, when he was seized and brought through the streets in that posture to the guard-house. He was kept there for two hours, until the Governor, Sir William King, released him. To increase the feeling against Catholics, they reported that King Charles was, in the words of the source, "poisoned by the papists." The continued persecutions of Catholics in England and Ireland made many of them flee the kingdom, seeking shelter in France and Spain, and many fled to Maryland. Before all this, in June of 1677, Edward Pery had claimed at the Common Council, in right of St. Mary's house, to vote next to the mayor and to have two voices. It was decided that the Protestant Bishop, who was present, should as a peer vote before him. But his other claims were agreed to, and he voted before Sir Henry Ingoldsby, Sir William King, and Sir George Ingoldsby.

58. Congress at Lough Neagh dividing Ireland

    near Lough Neagh · lake or lakes · Antrim · 1090

    In 1090 a congress was held on the banks of Lough Neagh where princes Murtagh and MacLoughlin agreed to divide the kingdom of Ireland between them, swearing solemn oaths upon relics and St. Patrick's crozier.

    Read the passage

    In the year 1090 a congress was held on the banks of Lough Neagh^ where the two princes, Murtagh and MacLoughlin (or O^'Loughlin), agreed to divide the kingdom of Ireland between them, the former ruling Leath Mogha, or the southern half, and the latter Leith Cuin, or the northern moiety. On this occasion they pledged themselves by the most solemn oaths, " upon the relics of the saints of Erin, and the crozier of St. Patrick." At this meeting the kings of Connaught and of Meath were also present, and gave, as did also Murtagh, hostages to the head of the Hy-Niels ; but if this was an admission of his claims to the chief sovereignty, it was cancelled by a similar tender of hostages to Murtagh by the new chief monarch, M'Loughlin, who, not-withstanding this solemn convention, was engaged in hostilities Vvith the king of Thomond in this very year,^ and obliged to do him homage. In 1094 Murtagh again invaded Leinster and Meath, defeated OT'onnor Faly; attacked the Meathians, and having slain Donald O'Melaghliu, king of Tara, divided his territories between his two brothers.

    According to Sir James Ware, a present of Irish pearls was made in the year 1094, by the bishop of Limerick, to Ansehn, archbishop of Canterbury, by whom the present was graciously received.

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 21

59. Dreadful storm floods Limerick chapel and quays

    near Little Island · townland · Cork · 1750

    In 1750, a dreadful storm caused the river to rise to an unexampled height, leaving two feet of water over the flooring of the St. Mary's chapel on Little Island. Four vessels were driven up on the quay, and cattle, corn, and hay were swept through the country by the torrent.

    Read the passage

    at a time when there were little or no means among the oppositionists to give expression to their indignation. The liberal Protestants, however, persevered ; and we shall shortly see the extent and character of their opposition, and the success with which it was attended. Amid tlie strife and din of this civic war, in which the Catholics, who had hoped for little social or political advantage, were increasing in numbers and wealth, serious riots had occurred in 1748, arising out of the sadly miserable condition of the humbler classes,' but their effect was transitory, and the succeeding year, a second Catholic chapel was built in the parish of St. Mary, where Dean Creagh had been parish priest for several years, but where he had had no house of worship. This chapel of St. Mary was accordingly built outside the walls, on the Little Island, and was ninety feet in length, by twenty-four feet six inches in breadth. '-^ In the next year a dreadful storm caused the river to rise to an unexampled height, and the water was two feet over the flooring of the chapel. Four vessels on this occasion were driven up on the quay, and cattle, corn, hay, &c., were swept ofl^ through the country by the torrent. In this year was born Jolm Fitzgibbou, one of the most remarkable men of his time, and one of the bitterest enemies of his country.

    In 1750, chiefly through the piety and munificence of Eichard Harold, Esq. of Pennywell, a chapel was built in St. Patrick's Parish, on Park Hill, above Pennywell. On this hill the Wilhamites had a battery duriug the last sieges. The chapel having become ruinous, a site on his property was offered free, by Mr. HarokVs son (Eichard Harold also), on which to raise another, but a more convenient place on the lands of Monamuckey,^ nearer to the city, and on a line with the then new road to Dubhn, was chosen in preference, where it was built.

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 193

    As the companion tells it

    Somewhere around here, in 1750, a dreadful storm caused the river to rise to a height never before seen. The water rose so high that it stood two feet over the flooring of the chapel of St. Mary, which had been built the year before outside the walls on Little Island. Dean Creagh had been parish priest in St. Mary's parish for several years, but had had no house of worship there until this chapel was built. It was ninety feet long and twenty-four feet six inches broad. Four vessels were driven up on the quay by the force of the storm. Cattle, corn, and hay were swept off through the country by the torrent. The storm came amid a time of civic strife in Limerick. Serious riots had occurred in 1748, arising out of the miserable condition of the humbler classes, but their effect was transitory. The Catholics had been increasing in numbers and wealth, though they had hoped for little social or political advantage. The liberal Protestants persevered in their opposition, and we are told that we shall shortly see the extent and character of that opposition, and the success with which it was attended. In this same year, John Fitzgibbon was born, described as one of the most remarkable men of his time, and one of the bitterest enemies of his country.

60. Father Galwey dies in Cork after distinguished Irish and Scottish missions

    Cork · city · Cork · 1650

    Father Galwey, whose mission was connected with Limerick, died in Cork in 1650 after forty-five years in the Jesuit society. He was distinguished in Ireland by his piety and zeal, and undertook three missions to Scotland disguised as a merchant, baptizing entire villages of Highlanders.

    Read the passage

    Another Father Galwey, whose mission was connected with Limerick, distinguished himself some years before his namesake. He died in Cork in 1650, after having lived forty-five years in the society. He distinguished himself in Ireland by his piety and zeal, and did a world of good in his own country. Not satisfied with that, he went three times on the Scotch mission. For this he was well qualified. He had been a merchant in early life, and he spoke Gaelic. He first entered Scotland disguised as a merchant, but failed to make much impression, as the people were afraid of the Duke of Argyle. On his way home the merchant was asked by the Scotch sailors why he brought no goods back with him, and why he went so far, and he answered that he was trying to buy souls for Christ. He converted the crew before they readied the Irish coast. In his second

    ' Sec a full ficcouut of his labours in a Frencli -^ork called Mission de Cayenne.

    Internet Archive limerickitshisto00leni, Chapter 382

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Cork, you are in the city where Father Galwey died in 1650. His mission was connected with Limerick, and he had lived forty-five years in the Jesuit society. He distinguished himself in Ireland by his piety and zeal, and did what the record calls a world of good in his own country. Not satisfied with that, he went three times on the Scottish mission. He was well qualified for it. He had been a merchant in early life, and he spoke Gaelic. He first entered Scotland disguised as a merchant, but failed to make much impression, as the people were afraid of the Duke of Argyle. On his way home the Scottish sailors asked him why he brought no goods back, and why he had gone so far. He answered that he was, in his words, trying to buy souls for Christ. He converted the crew before they reached the Irish coast. His second and third missions followed, and a French work called Mission de Cayenne gives a full account of his labours.