Englishtown

181 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Englishtown, from 4 m² to 4,699 m² (0.47 ha, 1.16 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 7 neighbouring parcels touch it.

Download the townland: DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its boundary, parcels and buildings; GeoJSON or KML.

• M2City Centre (City/Town/village Centre, central area)
  Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028, Limerick · 162 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• R2Existing Residential (Existing residential)
  Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028, Limerick · 7 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• G5Open Space and Recreation (Mixed/general 'green'/recreation/conservation, other)
  Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028, Limerick · 0 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• S5Education and Community Facilities (Mixed/general community services/facilities uses)
  Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028, Limerick · 0 parcels The zoning objective in the plan

Source: Tailte Éireann and the Department of Housing (MyPlan), national zoning, CC BY 4.0.

• 12 Jan 2026Conditional

  construction of a new single storey extension to the western elevation of the existing Protected Structure, Boat Club

  Permission · Limerick County Council, 264

• 13 Dec 2025N/a

  a) the construction of a 3-5 storey building, to include 30 no. apartment units (9 co. studio units, 7 no. 1 bedroom units, 10 no. 2 bedroom units, and 4 no. 3 bedroom units), comprised of 2 no. blocks of development (1 no. 3-5 storey block addressing Mary Street and 1 no. 4-5 storey block addressing Sráid Séamus Ó'Cinneide), to be accessed by a single and central stair and lift core, and including ancillary spaces such as secure storage for 42 no. resident bicycle parking spaces, communal refuse storage area, and resident storage room. b) Site and external works to consist of the removal of existing palisade perimeter fencing, to be replaced with the proposed new building and associated landscaping and public realm improvements, the provision of a new secure resident communal open space on Sráid Séamus Ó'Cinneide, 2 no. car parking spaces for Pigeon Club use accessed from Sráid Séamus Ó'Cinneide, improvement of public realm areas to both Mary Street and Sráid Seamus Ó'Cinneide including the replacement of footpaths, and the provision of 18 no. new visitor bicycle parking spaces on Mary Street, provision of side access to the proposed new building via new pedestrian only lanes accessed from both Mary Street and Sráid Séamus Ó'Cinneide, new public lighting, connection to the existing foul and surface water network, and all other associated site development and landscaping works. c) proposed development to include archaeological excavation works in relation to existing in-situ walls (Sites & Monuments Record LI005-0017148). In accordance with Article 120(1)(b)(i) of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, the Local Authority has carried out a screening for environmental impact assessment of the proposal. Having regard to the information specified under Schedule 7A of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, and based on an examination of the nature, size and location of the development, it is determined that there is no likelihood of significant effects on the environment arising from the proposed development. Nonetheless, a person may, within 4 weeks beginning on the date of the publication of this notice, apply to An Coimisiún Pleanála, 64, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, D01 902. Limerick City and County Council has carried out an Appropriate Assessment (AA) Screening Report and it has been determined that a full Appropriate Assessment is not required in respect of this proposed development

  Permission · Limerick County Council, 258327

• 12 Dec 2025Conditional

  the refurbishment of the existing school, 2531m2, the construction of a new single storey extension for special education needs, 189m2 and demolition of an existing plant room, 64m2. The works will include the creation of 2No. playspaces at first floor level, with a new escape staircase within the courtyard, new hard and soft landscaping to include the upgrade of public realm at the Island Road entrance, and all associated site works

  Permission · Limerick County Council, 2561325

• 6 Nov 2025N/a

  the addition of a 7-day alcohol on-licence use to the existing premises

  Retention · Limerick County Council, 2561141

• 2 Sept 2025Conditional

  the change of use of existing storage building on Mary Street at to an education and research facility including demolition of existing storage facility 736 sqm and replacement with two storey education and research facility 697 sqm including office space, computer workstations, learning spaces and associated WC and changing facilities, a new entrance to Mary Street and new signage to Mary street. Associated landscape works and improved public access to Fanning’s Castle from Mary Street are proposed with upgrading of existing Mary Street gates and boundary. The proposed building is within the curtilage of the National Monument No. 383 known as Fanning’s Castle and the following protected structures: 21513070

  Permission · Limerick County Council, 2560879

• 13 Jan 2025N/a

  the development of a Design and Innovation Hub at No's. 35 - 39 Nicholas Street (a Proposed Protected Structure (Ref. No.: P.P.S. 2024/A)) to comprise artist studios, workspaces, retail area, exhibition space and café/restaurant with associated outdoor area adjoining St. Peter Street. The development will include the erection of new part two storey, part single storey building incorporating the upstanding walls of the medieval house and their associated fabric and features at Nos. 36-39 Nicholas Street, the change of use from residential, refurbishment and renovation of No. 35 Nicholas Street, the demolition of a two storey extension to the rear and its replacement with a three storey extension, the erection of a single storey workshop unit to the rear of No. 35 and all associated site works. This development is within the site of Recorded Monuments LI005-017006 and LI005-017123, both classified as House-medieval

  Permission · Limerick County Council, 258180

• 10 Jul 2024Refused

  the demolition of the existing third floor residential accommodation and to reinstate a hipped pitched roof to the existing three-storey building with all ancillary and associated works at 46 Nicholas Street, Limerick. The works are adjacent to Bourke’s Castle which is a Protected Structure Ref: RPS. 3011

  Permission, 1 home · Limerick County Council, 2460685

• 3 Nov 2023Refused

  third floor roof-top type residential accommodation within a revised roof structure and for planning permission to erect a rear external fire escape stairs. The works are situated within the curtilage of a Protected Structure of Bourke's Castle (RPS 3011) and adjacent to a National Monument R.M.P. LI-005-017003

  Retention · Limerick County Council, 23527

• 15 Sept 2023Conditional

  rear dormer style extension and associated works

  Retention · Limerick County Council, 23456

• 10 Feb 2023Conditional

  dormer windows and seek permission to demolish the front section of the garage and also the extension at the rear of the house and to build a single storey extension to the rear of the house with a showeroom overhead and all associated site works

  Retention · Limerick County Council, 2383

• 19 Dec 2022Conditional

  the existing unauthorised 9 sq.m. singe storey extension located at the rear of the existing dwelling, incorporating a bathroom, kitchen and ancillary site works

  Retention · Limerick County Council, 221366

• 25 Mar 2022Refused

  change of use of existing ground floor retail shop to new use as a fast food restaurant/takeaway, associated signage together with all associated incidental ancillary works

  Permission · Limerick County Council, 22327

• 17 Aug 2020Refused

  removal of the existing roof structure and the construction of a third floor within a revised roof structure for residential accommodation and planning permission to erect a fire escape external stairs to the North-East gable of three storey building. These works are only adjacent to and not within the curtilage of Bourke's Castle, which is a Protected Structure(RPS 11)

  Retention, 1 home · Limerick County Council, 20803

• 24 Apr 2020Conditional

  revised works to the rear extension including all ancillary site works

  Retention · Limerick County Council, 20336

• 9 Jan 2020N/a

  construction of a first floor apartment over single storey part of existing retail unit and minor alteration to existing retail unit adjacent to a Protected Structure: Bourke House (Record of monuments and Places Ref. No. LI005 - 017003)

  Permission · Limerick County Council, 2010

• 12 Dec 2019Conditional

  the erection of a three (3) sided entrance pillar sign 2250mm(h)x800mm(w)x800mm(w)x800mm(w). Bon Secours Hospital Limerick at Barrington's is a Protected Structure

  Permission · Limerick County Council, 191230

• 15 Aug 2019Conditional

  change of use of part of the Locke Bar from previously granted ground floor delicatessen/sandwich bar under planning ref. no. 08/770493, to form a separate restaurant unit on the ground and first floor as well as alterations to the ancillary signage

  Permission · Limerick County Council, 19809

• 14 Jan 2019Conditional

  change of use from commercial to two one-bedroom apartments

  Permission · Limerick County Council, 1921

• 7 Jan 2019Conditional

  change of use and fit-out works on a site at 24 & 25 Nicholas Street, Limerick City, the development will consist of fit out works to provide micro-brewery facilities on ground floor including the provision of toilet facilities with offices and observation deck on first floor mezzanine. The works include the provision of new external windows and doors in existing openings and external decoration and signage including 4 no. wall hung vertical banners

  Permission · Limerick County Council, 195

• 14 Dec 2018Conditional

  revised works to the rear extension

  Retention · Limerick County Council, 181229

• 26 Nov 2018Conditional

  the construction of an internal porch at the west door of St. Mary's Cathedral, a Protected Structure. Works include the provision of an external handrail, the removal and remodelling of the existing internal wrought iron gate and its re-erection at the baptistery, and sundry related works

  Permission · Limerick County Council, 181141

• 3 Jul 2018Conditional

  the construction of a dormer to the rear of an existing two storey pitched roof dwelling and all ancillary site works

  Permission · Limerick County Council, 18674

• 14 Jun 2018Conditional

  the construction of a 476m. sq. Plant Platform and Screen on the roof. The works include minor alterations to Operating Theatres 2 & 3. Barrington's Hospital is a protected structure

  Permission · Limerick County Council, 18599

• 26 Jan 2018Conditional

  (a) Conversion of 6 no. residential 1 bedroom apartments into 3 no. residential 2 bedroom dwellings. (b) New off street entrance doors, with hard landscaping to Mary Street, to include bin stores. (c) Construction of and/or remedial works to existing boundaries with adjacent properties. (d) New pedestrian entrance gates off Mary Street and Creagh Lane. (e) all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Limerick County Council, 188000

• 6 Dec 2017Conditional

  the construction of a new 12.5msq entrance lobby, Bon Secours Hospital signage and canopy. The works include minor alterations to existing facades; southern façade, one doorway changed to timber sash window to match existing, and two doorways blocked up to match existing finishes. Western façade, two new doors butting onto Limerick Institute of Technology George's Street Campus. Northern façade; one door blocked up, a window enlarged for a new doorway and a window widened. The works are within the curtilage of a protected structure

  Permission · Limerick County Council, 171130

Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.

Designated sites

• Special Area of Conservation: Lower River Shannon SAC 002165
• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Fergus Estuary And Inner Shannon, North Shore 002048

Recorded monuments

• LI005-017 Historic town
  Description

  The historic city of Limerick was described in the Urban Survey (Bradley et. al. 1989, 241-67) as following; 'The city of Limerick is situated on the river Shannon in the north-east corner of County Limerick. The placename is derived from Luimneach "bare or barren land", a name which originally appears to have been applied to part of the Shannon estuary rather than just the immediate site of the city itself. The handful of prehistoric finds from the city indicates only that the site of the future settlement was occasionally frequented by man in early times. The fact that there are not more is surprising because the presence of the Curragour Falls must have given Limerick a topographical significance even in prehistoric times. There are many artefacts in the collections of the National Museum and elsewhere which were found in the river Shannon "near Limerick" but only two stone axeheads and two bronze dirks can be pinned down to the actual vicinity of the old would seem to have been an into early historic times. The Hiberno-Scandinavian Town The first evidence for the presence of Scandinavians occurs in 845 (AFM: 843) when Viking fleets appeared on the Shannon estuary and launched raids into county Limerick. It is unlikely that they settled, however, but there are a few scattered references which may indicate that a base existed at or near Limerick for a short time in the later ninth century. An eleventh century saga states that the Vikings Hona and Tomrir Torra were at Limerick with an army in 860 (Radner 1978, 109); a Viking fleet is known to have raided along the Shannon from Limerick in 866; and the Chronicon Scottorum states that the "foreigners of Limerick" were slaughtered by the Connachtmen in 887. It is hard to know if these three references add up to a permanent settlement at late ninth century Limerick or not but they certainly show that there was Scandinavian activity in the area at this time. The present city was founded in 922 by the Norse king Tamar mac Ailche (?Thormodr Helgason), "king of an immense fleet" who landed on Inis Sibtond (King’s Island) and established a lonqphort there. The site afforded considerable natural advantages. Being an island it was easy to defend, there was immediate access to the open sea along the Shannon estuary and thereby to the lucrative Atlantic trade routes of Europe. The shallows at Curragour Falls formed a natural barrier restricting the flow of river traffic and the situation also afforded an entry into the rich heart of central Ireland along the Shannon basin. Tamar, indeed, lost no time in making his presence felt. His fleet proceeded to devastate the monasteries which could be reached from the Shannon: Terryglass, Lorrha, Clonfert and Clonmacnoise among others (Smyth 1979, 21). At Inis Cealtra, on Lough Derg, the raid was so fierce that two centuries later it was remembered that "they drowned its shrines, relics and its books" (Todd 1867, 38-9). They proceeded into Lough Ree and from there started to raid into Meath and Connacht, all the while presumably sending back the loot of plunder and slaves to the newly founded settlement at Limerick for auction and sale. The history of Scandinavian Limerick can in fact be divided into four phases: (1) the period of foundation, 922-37; (2) the period of Dublin domination, 937-67; (3) period of Ua Briain domination 967-c.1065; and (4) the period as Ua Briain capital c.1065-c.1195. These periods can only be briefly glanced at here. The period of foundation, 922-37, witnessed Limerick emerge as an independent Scandinavian settlement struggling to maintain its independence from the kings of Dublin. The events of these years, which witnessed raids by the Limerick Vikings all over central, western and northern Ireland are particularly well recorded in the annals. In 923 they captured Flaithbertach mac Inmainen, the retired king of Munster, from his island retreat at Loch Cré and brought him back to Limerick for ransom. In 924 they again placed a fleet on Lough Ree, this time under the command of Colla mac Bairid (Kolli Baardarson), described in the annals as king of Limerick (AFM: 922; CS: 923). In 924 the Dublin Vikings, worried that the growing number of Limerick raids in central Ireland would diminish their power, sent an army to subdue their Limerick kinsmen but they were defeated and had to retreat back to Dublin (AU). This victory seems to have encouraged the ambitions of Limerick’s leaders. In 928 Tamar mac Ailche put his fleet on Lough Neagh and burnt the islands of that lake (AU: 927). In 929 Limerick vessels are recorded on Lough Corrib and they remained there until the following year (AU: 928; AFM: 927; CS: 930). In 930 a Limerick army encamped in central Ossory, establishing their base at Loch Beathrach, an unidentified lake which appears to have been either on the Nore or its tributary the King’s River (Smyth 1979, 25) and was only driven out by the appearance of Gothfrith, king of Dublin, with a rival army in the following year (AFM sa 929; AU sa 929). The year 931 saw a Limerick fleet on Lough Ree (AU: 931; AFM: 929; CS: 930) and the activities of the Limerick Vikings in Connacht and central Ireland between 931 and 937 has led to the suggestion that they must have established a base in Lough Ree (Smyth 1979, 250-1). Indeed Smyth (ibid) has speculated that the famous Hare Island (Co. Westmeath) hoard, the largest known gold find from Viking-age Europe, formed part of the treasure of the Limerick armies. In 933 a new leader, Olafr Cenncairech ("scabby-head") lead them into Roscommon (AFM:932) and returned there again the following year (CS: 933). In 936 he transported his ships overland from the Shannon to the Erne and raided down into the present-day county of Cavan (AFM: 934; CS: 935; A. Clon., 149). He returned back to Lough Ree on Christmas night of 936 and he remained there for seven months plundering and looting the plains of Connacht (AFM: 934). In August 937 the long-awaited confrontation between the Dublin and Limerick Vikings occurred. Olafr Gothfrithson, king of Dublin, led his army to Lough Ree where he defeated the Limerick vikings, broke up their ships and carried Olafr Cenncairech back to Dublin as his prisoner (AFM: 935; CS: 935; A. Clon. 931). That the defeat of Olafr Cenncairech marks a stage in Limerick’s history is clear from the absence of references to it the succeeding years. Indeed, from what little evidence there is, it appears that the king of Dublin now imposed a member of his own family, Haraldr Sigtryggson (d. 940), king of Limerick (Smyth 1979, 35). The settlers now seem to have become more closely integrated into the local political scene. In 953 Limerick vikings assisted the king of Munster, Cellacháin Caisil, in plundering Clonmacnoise (AFM 951; AU 952). This integration was to reach a head in 967 (AU 966) with the capture of the town by Mathgamain mac Cennetig, who had seized the kingship of Cashel in 963. The Coqadh Gaedhel re Gallaibh, written some two hundred years later states that "the fort and good town (deabali) was burned and reduced ashes" (Todd 1867, 80-1). The booty obtained at the time had all the appearance of oriental origin as Smyth (1977, 165-6) has remarked: "they carried off their jewels and their best property, and their saddles beautiful and foreign; their gold and silver, their beautiful woven cloth of all colours and kinds; their satins and silken cloth, pleasing and variegated, both scarlet and green" (Todd 1867, 78-9). The captives "soft, youthful, bright, matchless girls ..blooming, silk-clad young women, large, active and well-formed boys" were rounded up on the hills of Saingel and "every one that was fit for war was killed and every one of them that was fit for a slave was enslaved" (ibid.,78-81). The capture of Limerick in 967 marks the beginning of a period of Ua Briain domination that was to last until the coming of the Anglo-Normans. Within this period, however, there is a noti

• LI005-017003 House - medieval
  Description

  Bourke's House described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 258-9) as following; 'One wall of this structure stands on the north side of Athlunkard St near the junction with Mary St. It is built of roughly coursed rubble limestone and is c.7m high and 12.5m wide although incomplete at both ends. In the centre of the facade, at ground level, is a modern pointed recess containing a drinking fountain; this possibly occupies the site of an earlier door. A large concave moulding runs across most of the facade some 2m above ground level. Above the drinking fountain, c.3m above ground, is another pointed recess occupying the site of a fireplace with chimney-flue rising above it. To the west of the fireplace is a small wall cupboard. Above the fireplace, c.6m above ground level, the wall is thickened inwards by 40cm and is supported on a row of flat lintels resting on pyramidal corbels. Above each lintel is a relieving arch'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 14 November 2019

• LI005-017004 Castle - tower house
  Description

  National monument No. 383. Late medieval tower house known locally as Fanning’s Castle which stands at the S end of King's Island, E of Creagh Lane and S of Mary Street, 55m N of the Abbey River and 130m SSE of St Mary's Cathedral (LI005-017015-). The castle was named after the Fanning family who were in possession of this building in 1641. The castle was also known locally as Whitamore's Castle named after Whitamore's Inn which was described in the 17th century as facing the Old Tholsel in Mary Street (Limerick Leader July 15, 1950). However in the 17th century the Town Hall was housed in the Exchange, of which the portico still survives standing behind the chancel of St. Mary’s Cathedral. Thomas Dineley a visitor to the city in the late 17th century stated the 'The Inns of the best accommodacon are at Mr. Francis Whittemares' (Shirley 1886, 440). The footnotes to Dineley's diary stated 'Francis Whittamore was mayor of Limerick in 1682' and that Whittamore's Castle was located in Mary-street (ibid.) Conservation work was first carried out on the building by the state c. 1940 (ibid.). In the 1950 article in the Limerick Leader the building was described as following; 'The house dates from about 1500. It fronted originally on Mary Street, and the present conspicuous remains really represent the hind portion with fireplace, doorway, Tudor windows and a graderobe. North of the ruin a stump of ancient masonry behind Creagh Lane houses marks the former home of the most notable of the Fanning's, Dominic. In 1646 a peace treaty was rejected, the existing Mayor was deposed and Alderman Dominic Fanning was appointed by the clergy and the local people as the new Mayor of Limerick (Gilbert 1879, 699). He took a prominent part in the resistance to Ireton, was taken after the fall of the city and executed in November 1651'. Thomas Dineley recorded that Dominic Fanning, Mayor of Limerick City between 1646-52 had held out 'against Ireton Cromwells son in law, for which he was hanged at this own door & his house is demolished to this day' (Shirley 1866, 441-2). Described in the Urban Survey (Bradley et. al. 1989, 259-62) as following: ‘This five storied tower house is located on the south side of English town behind the Vocational school. It originally overlooked the Abbey River. It is in a poor state of preservation; only the south wall (c. 11.5m high) being completely intact, the east wall is largely intact but with modern modifications, the south return of the west wall survives and the north wall is completely missing. The masonry is roughly coursed limestone with dressed limestone quoins and all the windows and doors in the south wall have chamfered limestone jambs. The present ground level is built up, c.2-3m higher than in gardens to the west, and covers most of the ground floor. This may have been barrel-vaulted as a broad (3.75m) segmental arch, most of the keystones of which are modern replacements, is visible just above present ground level in the south wall (internally) and another protrudes c.75cm above external ground level at the rear (north). No features of the ground plan are visible internally but externally the south wall has a round headed doorway and a rectangular window/door both of which are now blocked. First Floor There is a large splayed twin-light rectangular window with flat rear arch and window seats, now mostly missing, and a splayed round-headed door, now missing its rear arch, in the south wall. This must have led to an external wooden stairs or balcony, supported on corbels which are now missing, although some survive on the upper floors. In the south east angle is a rectangular door leading to a narrow passage in the thickness of the east wall which projects to the south beyond the line of the south wall; this may have formed a stair turret with spiral stairs to upper floor but now is partly rebuilt and no trace of the stairs is evident. In the east wall was a large fireplace, now missing; the chimney flue rises up through second and third floors. There is also a small wall-cupboard beside the fireplace. The west wall is featureless apart from a possible blocked opening. Second floor There is a large splayed twin-light ogee-headed window in the south wall with window seats and a round headed doorway with flat rear arch. Two corbels are visible externally just below the door to the east and possibly another to the west which may have supported a balcony/stairs. Both window and door are spanned by a single segmental arch. In the east wall is a rectangular door, leading to the stair turret, and wall cupboard beside the chimney flue. The west wall has a blocked flat lintelled door, apparently original, although one jamb is modern. Third floor The south wall has a splayed twin-light ogee-headed window with a flat/segmental rear arch and window seats and a rectangular door with flat lintelled rear arch. No definite corbels to support a stairs or balcony are visible on this level externally although there is a projecting stone on the west side of the second floor door just below the arch and another projecting stone on the west side of the third floor door itself. Just above the door, to the west is a drainage chute. In the east wall is a rectangular door leading to the stair turret and a wall cupboard beside the chimney-flue. The stair turret rises only to third floor level; on ground, first and second floors, moreover, the east wall continues south beyond the stair turret. Fourth floor Externally the south wall rises uniformly (i.e. there is no gable) to a height of 11.5m but internally there is a stepped flat topped gable built against the outer wall. In this gable is a single light splayed round headed window with a flat/segmental rear arch and window seats. It would appear that the roof rested on this gable and that the east and west walls did not rise any higher than the third floor. On the east wall, north of the chimney a pediment supports a slightly thickened wall, possibly a wall walk around the base of the roof with external parapet. On both east and west walls this parapet rises sharply, by c.2.5m, one metre south of the south wall to provide a higher parapet for the south wall with gable end’. Described by Harbison (1970, 152) as; 'The somewhat disappointing walls of a four-storey house built by a Limerick merchant named Fanning in the late 16th or early 17th century. It has unusually wide windows. Another building was added to the house later'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 18 April 2018

• LI005-017005 House - medieval
  Description

  Medieval building listed as House A and described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 262-3) as following; 'A short stretch of wall between the Garda Station (Nos.32-3) and No.34 Mary Street may be the wall of a medieval house. It is built of roughly coursed rubble limestone c.3.5m long and 5.5m high with a batter c.2m high. It has a projecting dressed corbel at 4.5m and a segmental (relieving) arch near this'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 14 November 2019

• LI005-017006 House - medieval
  Description

  Medieval building listed as House B and described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 263) as following; ‘Two walls of a house between Nos. 35-36 and 37-38 Nicholas St are probably the side walls of a medieval house. They are built of roughly coursed rubble limestone some 7m high. The south wall is 1.5m thick. There is a round headed doorway with chamfered limestone jambs in the north wall between Nos.35-6'. This house was added to the Register of Historic Monuments on the 17/06/1994. Excavations carried out at 36-39 Nicholas St and No.'s 1-3 Peter St by Celie O'Rahilly under licence No. 94E0071 ext. were summarised as following; 'The site was within the Englishtown, on the east side of Nicholas Street and north of Peter Street. The latter, positioned opposite the northern end of St Mary's Cathedral, was formed between 1840 and 1870 and presumably was so named as it led to Peter's Cell, off Bishop's Street to the east. Nicholas Street was the main street and has its origins in the medieval town. There were four properties in the site, Nos 36-39 (consisting of two buildings, each subdivided into two units), facing onto Nicholas Street, and a range of three cottages extending down the northern side of Peter Street. Building 1 (Nos 36 and 37), to the north, was a three-storey, two-bay building, 9.5m deep by 6m wide. The front wall, on Nicholas Street, was a mixture of brick- and blockwork. The rear wall was mass concrete. These units were inserted between the standing remains of two stone side-walls of a late medieval house, the southern one containing, at first-floor level, the sides and part of the lintel of a late medieval fireplace. The sides were finely carved limestone, with the eastern side intact but the western side damaged. It was obvious from the vertical building breaks in the two side-walls that the walls of the medieval house did not originally extend as far as the present street line but c. 4m short of it. Between the two side-walls, towards the rear of the property, were the remains of a vaulted undercroft (Excavations 1994, 58-9; Excavations 1995, 56). The Urban Archaeology Survey also mentions 'a round headed doorway with chamfered limestone jambs in the north wall between Nos. 35/36' (Bradley et al. c. 1989-90, 263, House B). At the rear of the property was another building, of which only the northern gable and eastern side-wall survive. Building 2 (Nos 38 and 39), to the south, was a two-storey, two-bay building at the corner of Nicholas Street and Peter Street. The original building was 8.5m wide and 6.5m deep. At the rear the northern unit had a lean-to (total depth 3.5m and 1.5m wide) against the party wall with a tiny open space beyond it. The remainder of the area was covered with an extension, measuring 7m north-south by 3.75m, accessed from Peter Street. The Peter Street range consisted of three single-storey houses (artisan dwelling type), each with a central door and one window on either side. All opes were defined with brick arches set in stone walls. The total length was 21.5m, and they were 5m wide. At the rear, between the house walls and the party wall to the north, were sheds/outhouses. The three houses were at the same floor level, which was at street level at the west end of the street, but, given the drop in the latter, there was a flight of five steps to the footpath at the eastern end of the third house. Both the Peter Street cottages and the building on the corner were built between 1840 and 1870, but Nos 36 and 37 dated to the 1930s. The recent work on this site, in April 1999, following the demolition of Nos 36 and 37, consisted of a cutting, Cut 9, and limited access to the undercroft. A report was prepared incorporating an account of all the archaeologically supervised work done, together with historical and cartographic research, 18th-century descriptions and a brief inventory of comparative structures in Limerick. The standing remains of the medieval walls were recorded photogrammetrically, and structural analysis by an architectural historian is pending. Cut 9 was 2.3m east of the front wall, parallel to the dividing wall of Nos 36 and 37, and extended eastwards as far as the mass concrete back wall. There was a possible cross-wall 5m from the front of the property. It was very poorly built, with a layer of soft, cement-like substance with underlying brick, and its total width was 1m. Given its instability, it appears unlikely to have been load-bearing. West of this wall the cut was 2.7m long and 1.4m wide. There was 2m of rubble overlying soft, brown, silty fill with a high bone content. This may be of archaeological significance, although no finds were recovered that could be used to date it. Given the unstable nature of the rubble fill, no further digging was done. To the east of the cross-wall the cut was 1.6m wide and 2.7m long, and the fill consisted of a high amount of large stones, slabs and brick. The base of the back wall was 1.3m below the floor level and was set on a stone plinth from the base of which a cut and carved stone was recovered, identical to one in situ in the mantelpiece. The dividing wall of Nos 36 and 37 defined the southern side of the cut. To the west of the cross-wall it was of a very poor quality, mainly brick, which curved vertically, possibly because it was vaulted (?cellar). It was 1.6m high. East of the cross-wall it was built with 0.25m of concrete overlying courses of brick. The total exposed height was 0.45m. Given the instability of the dividing wall, it is unlikely that the 1930s buildings had separate cellars. It is possible, however, that there was a single cellar for the building they replaced, with an arched longitudinal dividing wall. The underlying fill was very loose, which would suggest that the preceding building was demolished into an existing cavity. Apart from the dividing wall with possible vaulting, no other cellar walls were identified, and it was not possible for reasons of safety to make a cutting close to the side-walls. Given that the two side-walls relate to the original late medieval house, if there was a cellar belonging to the 18th/19th-century building it is likely that it was a conversion of the existing undercroft, with an extension westwards, as it would have been structurally very difficult to have inserted a cellar at a later stage. The vaulted undercroft was initially identified towards the rear of the property, where its eastern end wall was found. This consisted of a blocked arch, with the blocking done in two parts, northern and southern. The wall itself may be original, but this was not confirmed. At the western end the vault, or at least the central part of it, was partly destroyed by the levelling of the area immediately east of the mass concrete wall of the 1930s building, in order to accommodate the concrete floor of their backyards. It was clear from the accumulation of debris here and on both sides of the eastern end wall that it was backfilled with household-type rubbish that, judging by the pottery, was dumped in the 18th and 19th centuries. The undercroft It had been intended to record the undercroft. To do this it was necessary to reduce the ground level east of the end wall. The access ramp, first made in 1995, extended from the south, through the existing gap in the property wall at the rear of the last house on Peter Street. It then curved westwards down the centre of the plot to meet the arch just north of its centre point, cutting a thick deposit of sand. The front wall of the building at the rear of the property (on the 1840 and 1870 OS plans) was identified during the removal of this fill. Its base was cut into the upper layers of the sand, at a depth of 0.5m, implying that, once the end wall of the undercroft was blocked, the area was infilled with sand before the construction of the house. This building used the end of the northern late medieval wall as its northern gable. Visible in the n

• LI005-017007 House - medieval
  Description

  Medieval building listed as House C and described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 263) as following; ‘The dividing wall between Nos. 2 and 3 Nicholas St, 6-7m high and 90cm thick, is built of roughly coursed rubble limestone. On the north face at a height of 6m is a projecting corbel face at a height of 4m is a projecting in dressed limestone. A similar moulding face of the wall between Nos.3 and 4. Residents stated that these walls are part of an "Augustinian Church" but are more likely to have been the walls of a private house'. This house was added to the Register of Historic Monuments on the 17/06/1994. Excavations carried out here in 1994 by Celie O'Rahilly under licence No. 94E072 were summarised as following; 'This site is located on the west side of Nicholas St. within the Englishtown and is erroneously identified as "St Nicholas Abbey" on the OS 1840 map and "St Nicholas's Abbey, (remains of)" on the 1870 edition. There was no St Nicholas Abbey in Limerick, but there was a medieval parish church [LI005-017114-] dedicated to St Nicholas further north where the "Widows Alms Houses" are now, immediately south of King John's Castle [LI005-017014-]. The church was demolished after the siege of 1692 and the Alms Houses built by the then Corporation. The substantial walls stretching east-west along this site are, in fact, the remains of two late medieval castellated town houses which fronted onto Nicholas St. Three cuttings were opened: the first in No. 3, the second in No. 6 and the third to the rear of No. 5. The first two were infilled cellars. It was hoped that the third would be undisturbed but this was, in fact, infilled with cut stone masonry rubble. It appears that it was also originally cellared. Judging by the quality of the stone - some architectural fragments were found and an arched doorway in the northernmost wall was noted by the Urban Survey - the rubble may be from the late medieval houses which were partly demolished prior to houses being built in the 1930s. Unfortunately, most of the dividing wall (between Nos. 4 and 5), which had survived the various rebuilds of this site, was demolished in 1992, under the Dangerous Buildings Act, as was part of the northernmost wall where the door is located. The southern wall which is the wall of the house to the south of the site was in very poor condition and was recently repaired. No archaeological deposits were identified within the cuttings. The surviving late medieval walls are to be retained within the new development' (www.excavations.ie). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 14 November 2019

• LI005-017008 House - medieval
  Description

  Medieval building listed as House G and described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 264) as following; ‘Some "fragments of medieval walls, with windows" were noted by Westropp (1904-5, 360) on what is now the site the Gerald Griffin Memorial School (CBS), Bridge St. The wall in question forms the south-east angle of the school yard and is plastered over internally concealing any features. Externally, the south wall forming the rear wall of Des Bourke’s premises (No. 3 George’s Quay) is overgrown with ivy and no features are visible. The only visible features are on the east wall, on the lane running north-south between George’s Quay and Court House Lane; here there is a fragment of wall, c.3m long and 6m high which has a blocked, segmentally arched door at ground level and a row of dressed limestone quoins (possibly a window jamb) at the south end. The masonry is of roughly coursed rubble limestone. Westropp mistakenly believed that this was part of an Augustinian monastery'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 14 November 2019

• LI005-017014 Castle - Anglo-Norman masonry castle
  Description

  National monument No. 288. The Anglo-Normans first established a presence in Limerick in 1171 when Donal O’Brien, King of Limerick and Thomond, paid homage to King Henry II at Cashel, and afterwards King Henry II sent ‘Keepers’ to Cork and Limerick (Furnivall 1896, 60). In 1175, Donal O'Brien, King of Limerick, rebelled against the King of England and Raymond le Gros assembled an army of 120 men-at-arms, 300 horse solider and 400 archers on foot and marched on the 1st of October to attack Limerick (Scott and Martin 1978, 149-53). In 1217, King Henry III granted Reginald de Breouse [Braose], 'custody of the castle and city of Limerick, to hold till the K.'s 14th year' (Cal. doc. Ire. No. 787, 118). In this year the King notified the 'knights, free tenants, and others on the lands of William de Breouse in Ireland, that Reginald de Breouse having come to his fealty, the K. restores to him all the lands which belonged to his father ere Meyler Fitz Henry, then justiciary of Ireland, divided them between Munster and Desmond' (Cal. doc. Ire. No. 786, 118). In 1223 King Henry III granted Richard de Burgh the seneschalship of Munster along with the castle of Limerick with the condition that he serve as the king's bailiff under the justiciary (Cal. doc. Ire. No. 1114, 170). The royal castle of Limerick known as King John’s (1199-1216) Castle was described in the Urban Survey (Bradley et. al. 1989, 288-99) as following: ‘Work on this castle appears to have commenced in the first decade of the thirteenth century possibly on the site of the "fort" (LI005-017124-) referred to in the Cogadh Gaedhel re Gaillibh (Todd 1867, 81). There was a substantial building here by 1211-12 because the Irish pipe roll of John states that £733 16s. 11d. was needed for repairs to the castle (Davies and Quinn 1941, 69; Sweetman 1980, 1327). Substantial repair works were also carried out in 1327 (Tresham 1828, 35: no. 34) but by 1585 the castle was again in need of considerable repair (Sweetman 1980, 208). Further repairs were carried out in 1608, 1618 and 1624 (ibid.). The castle is situated on the west perimeter of English Town overlooking the Shannon and Thomond Bridge. It is based on a rough quardangle, measuring 75m north-south by 65m east-west externally. It originally had round towers at each angle and a large twin-towered gatehouse in the centre of the north wall. The buildings have been considerably modified, most of the towers and curtain wall have been lowered and topped with modern parapets. The south-east angle tower is completely missing and was replaced in the early seventeenth century by a rectangular bastion which itself survives only in a fragmentary state. The east curtain wall is entirely missing, while the west curtain wall is not visible above ground internally although much of it is visible externally where ground level is lower. The masonry of all phases consists of coursed limestone rubble. Much of the original masonry displays alternating courses of large blocks and small pinnings while the doors and windows have jambs of red and yellow sandstone. Gatehouse The castle is entered through a gatehouse of twin D-shaped towers (overall width 21.5m externally)with, originally, a barrel-vaulted chamber 7.3m wide (externally) behind the entrance passage. The towers are of three floors. The west tower is 17.6m high externally of which the upper 2.1m is modern parapet. The east tower is 15.5m high of which the upper 1.2m is modern parapet. Both have basal batters, 1.5m and 2m high respectively. On the ground floor is an entrance passage c.2.5m wide leading to a door with a pointed arch and dressed sandstone jambs, which is c.5m high internally but externally is approached by a modern stairs rising from street level, 2-3m below. The door was protected by a portcullis and a murder hole, concealed behind a round arch some 12m high between the towers externally. Each of the flanking towers has a round chamber, whose interiors are plastered, making it difficult to distinguish between original and later masonry. The west chamber is entered from the castle yard through an unsplayed doorway with segmental rear arch on the south; three tall splayed loops with dressed sandstone jambs and segmental rear arches, which seem to be of brick, face west, north and east respectively. The east chamber is entered from the castle yard through a tall pointed doorway whose chamfered sandstone jambs seem to be modern; the pointed rear arch is of brick. Two splayed loops, with sandstone jambs and segmental rear arches face west and north. All that remains of the chamber behind the entrance passage are the north returns of the east and west walls, c.6.5m high with the line of a barrel vault c.6m high in between,in the south wall of the gatehouse. It would appear that the only approach to first floor level was from the wall-walk of the curtain wall to the west, unless it was, as it is now, by means of an internal wooden stairs within the towers. The two tower chambers are circular, with modern floors supported on ledges in the walls. The west chamber is entered from the curtain wall through a modern round headed door on the west via a short passage with pointed vault in which there are traces of plank centering. This passage overhung the curtain wall to the north. Two splayed loops, with sandstone jambs and pointed rear arches with plank centering face north-west and north-east. On the south east is another modern round-headed door and a passage with pointed vault leading to a balcony occupying the space above the entrance. A portcullis chamber presumably originally occupied this space and perhaps first floor level of the structure behind the entrance. At the E end of the balcony is another passsage with pointed vault entering the east chamber through a pointed door (probably modern) on the south-east. The chamber is lit by a splayed loop with sandstone jambs and segmental rear arch facing north-west and a twin-light rectangular window with chamfered limestone jambs, in a large flat lintelled embrasure with modern window seats facing north-east. On the south-east a round headed doorway leads to a spiral stairs giving access to the upper floors, located at the junction of the east side of the tower with the north curtain wall. The second floor chambers are circular with modern roofs, flat in the east chamber, domed in the west chamber. This is approached through the mural stairs in the east from which the east chamber is entered through a modern rectangular doorway on the south-east. The chamber is lit by a splayed loop with sandstone jambs and a modern pointed rear arch facing north-west, while on the south-west is a modern rectangular doorway leading to a balcony connecting the east and west towers, which has on its south side a modern open arcade of three round-headed arches. The west chamber is entered from the balcony through a modern rectangular door on the south-east. It is lit by a modern twin-light rectangular window with chamfered limestone jambs and segmental rear arch facing south (the wall on the south is refaced, if not rebuilt, externally), a modern broad segmental arched window splaying externally and internally with limestone jambs and segmental rear arch facing west and a splayed loop with sandstone jambs and a broad modern segmental arched window with limestone jambs, both set within the same large embrasure with segmental rear arch facing NNW. The spiral stairs in the east tower rises to roof level, where it terminates in a modern turret c.2.5m high. Both towers are topped by modern parapets above string courses; that on the east tower is low (c.lm high) and broad, while that on the west tower is taller (c.2.1m high) and has four crenels. Over the entrance is a passage connecting the towers. NE Tower A D-shaped tower, at present of one floor, with wall-walk above but originally of at least two floors. It is 13.4m in maximum external width, and c.13m high o

• LI005-017015 Cathedral
  Description

  The cathedral church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the city of Limerick was described in the Urban Survey (Bradley et. al. 1989, 300-15) as following; 'The cathedral appears to have been established at the Synod of Rathbressail in 1111 (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 90) but the earliest parts of the present structure date to c. 1180-95 (fig. 61; Leask 1955-60, ii; Clapham 1952, 29). This late twelfth century building was essentially a cruciform structure consisting of nave, chancel, transepts and side aisles. A number of side-chapels were added in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries and these have obscured somewhat the original cruciform plan; they have caused considerable alteration to the side aisles and a large tower has also been added onto the west end of the nave. There have also been extensive modern restorations, especially in the chancel. The masonry of all medieval phases is roughly coursed rubble limestone, but the original work is distinguished by the use of sandstone quoins and mouldings in contrast to the limestone of the later phases. Choir Externally the walls are c.10m high with the east gable rising to c.14-15m. The angles retain the original sandstone quoins and a battered plinth below a roll moulding in sandstone at the base. Angle buttresses in limestone ashlar, of late medieval date, have been added. The walls are topped with stepped battlements above a parapet c.2.5m high also of late medieval date, which are carried on moulded sandstone corbels which Hewson (1944, 55, 58) interpreted as the original cornice. The east window and much of the east wall is modern. The window consists of three graduated lancets set in a large pointed embrasure, with a modern reredos below. Most of the north wall is occupied by the large pointed recess of the late seventeenth century Thomond monument, which is flanked by two contemporary ogee-headed doorways. The doorway to the east has chamfered jambs and arch while that to the west, which is larger, has a double ogee chamfer on the east side and a plain chamfer with pyramidal stops bearing spiral ornament on the west side. The west side of the door seems to be of earlier date (late 15th/16th century) than the east side. At the east end of the north wall were two tall, twin-light windows, having pointed rear arches with chamfered jambs which were largely destroyed by the insertion of the Thomond monument. The easternmost window had pointed twin-lights with a multi-foiled rosette above. The south wall also has two twin-light windows at the east end, corresponding to those in the north wall; the easternmost window is modern with pointed lights and rosette above while the westernmost (which is blocked externally by the wall of a later chapel) has ogee-headed lights. Below the windows is a pointed recess containing the credence table; the arch was originally of two orders but only the outer survives, having limestone mouldings with three rolls, the outer two filleted and with a hood moulding consisting of a large filleted roll and a smaller roll. The arch springs from short columns above the mensa; the columns are engaged marble shafts, banded near the top and flanked by filleted rolls with moulded capitals and bases. The marble mensa is largely replaced by a modern one but it had a roll moulding at the edge and a chamfered underside. It is supported by filleted nook-shafts on the outer angles and inside these by short columns with moulded capitals and bases, the capitals having nail head and cable ornament. West of this recess is a modern doorway although the arch may be original. Hewson (1944, 56) noted wall foundations found about 14 feet [4.25m] west of the east wall and suggested that these marked the site of the original reredos of the high altar, behind which was a retro-chair. Crossing There is no evidence for a crossing tower, nor for arches to the chancel or nave. There may have been arches to the transepts originally because there seems to be an original sandstone abacus on the east face of the easternmost pier of the south nave arcade, at a higher level than the abaci on the other nave piers. The present arches, however, are later medieval inserts. They are large pointed arches with chamfered jambs having pyramidal stops bearing spiral and floral ornament, and chamfered soffit ribs springing from corbel shafts, the capitals of which bear low relief foliage decoration. The arches spring from plain hollow chamfered abaci. Nave The north and south walls have four-bay arcades of large pointed arches springing from massive square piers. The piers have sandstone angle-shafts rising from simple round bases, and sandstone abaci which, in most cases, especially in the south arcade, have trumpet scalloping although many are plain and may be replacements. Above the arcades are seven clerestory windows arranged over the apex of each arch and over each intervening pier. The windows are round headed, with chamfered and rebated sandstone jambs and round rear aches, although two of the windows in the north wall have twin trefoil-lights inserted. In the sides of each clerestory window embrasure are rectangular openings for a mural walk-way around the north, south and west sides of the nave. This is reached via a spiral stairs in the west wall, while spiral stairs at the east end of both the north and south walls originally led to the roof (Westropp 1898, 114). In the west wall is a round-headed door of four orders, in sandstone. The door is largely a reconstruction of the 1890s and Westropp (1898, 113) states that only the inner order and the hood moulding are original. The inner order has a plain arch and jambs of quarter round section with moulded bases and capitals having worn traces of foliate decoration. The 2nd order is chamfered with pendant chevrons in relief on the arch, incised horizontal zig-zag lines on the jambs, and moulded bases and capitals with foliate interlace in low false relief. The third and fourth orders are similar to the first, although the arch of the fourth order has alternating petal and gargoyle motifs in relief. The hood moulding is chamfered with foliate stops. The door has a round rear arch, outlined by a large pointed roll moulding in sandstone. The door is flanked by projecting buttresses, the southernmost of which contains the spiral stairs leading to the clerestory wall-walk. The stairs are entered from the nave through a round-headed doorway with chamfered sandstone jambs and flat lintelled rear arch, in the west wall. The stairs are lit by two splayed loops in the west face of the external buttress, and c.4.5m above ground a segmental-arched doorway leads from the stairs to a mural walk across the base of the west window, and thence via a mural stairs to the clerestory wall-walk in the south wall. The west window consists of three tall, graduated pointed lancets with pointed rear arches; the mouldings are modern. The west gable is missing, due to the insertion of a later tower. Transepts Both transepts have modern stepped gables, c.14-15m high. The SOUTH TRANSEPT is lit by a modern window of five graduated trefoil-pointed lancets, in the south wall. Hewson (1944, 56) suggests this is an imitation of the original window. Beneath the window, internally in the south wall, is a trefoil pointed piscina with twin foliated bowls, and mouldings having three rolls, the central one filleted. West of this is the fifteenth century Bultingfort-Galwey monument, and west of this again is a sedilia with three cusped pointed openings. The arches have multi-moulded jambs and a hood moulding with double ogee chamfer which spring from sugar-barley columns with moulded octagonal capitals and bases. The spandrels of the cusps are decorated, two with foliage, three with a monogram of the leters P and T, and one with a Gothic inscription "IONS BUDSTONS’. Between two of the arches is another monogram of the letters I and B set within a heater shaped shield. Westropp (1898, 38-9) point

• LI005-017016 Graveyard
  Description

  Graveyard belonging to St. Mary's Cathedral (LI005-017015-) in Limerick City described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 300) as following; 'The cathedral appears to have been established at the Synod of Rathbreasail in 1111 (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 90) but the earliest parts of the present structure date to c. 1180-95 (Leask 1955-60, ii; Clapham 1952, 29)'. A large graveyard (approx. dims. 100m NE-SE x 82m NW-SE) enclosed by a post 1700 stone wall lies to the S and W of the cathedral church. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 25 July 2019

• LI005-017017 Graveslab
  Description

  14th/15th century graveslab in the Arthur family chapel in St. Mary's Cathedral (LI005-017015-) described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 316) as following; ‘Tapering limestone slab in two pieces under the O’Brien monument in the choir. Decorated in false relief with a two line encircled cross. The slab has four panels with a horse, a winged creature and two horse-like animals with interlaced tails. The tomb was found under the western entrance (Meredyth 1887, 5). The attribution of the tomb to Donal Mor O Briain is fanciful. Dims: L. 1.53m W. 0.53-0.42m. Described by FitzGerald (1910, 128) as following; ' In what is now known as "the Arthur family Chapel", which adjoins the north transept, there are several slabs and fragments of others laid in the pavement. The most interesting one is a narrow brown slab bearing animals, foliage, and a cross, all cut in bold relief. According to tradition this slab, which measures 5 feet [1.5m] in length, marked the grave in the choir of Donal "more" O'Brien, King of Limerick, and founder of St. Mary's (circa 1172), who died in 1194. It is not quite correctly illustrated in the Rev. J. Dowd's History of the Cathedral, as the animals necks are not shown crossing over the shaft on the cross; this error also appears in our Journal, vol. iii, p. 88'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 15 November 2019

• LI005-017018 Cross-slab
  Description

  14th/15th century cross slab in St. Mary's Cathedral (LI005-017015-) described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 316) as following; ‘Black limestone slab set into a tomb transept. It has an incised two-line on a fleur-de-lis base and the head of the cross. Dims: L. 2.33m W. 0.63m T. 0.08m'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 15 November 2019

• LI005-017019 Wall monument
  Description

  15th century wall monument in S transept of St. Mary's Cathedral (LI005-017015-) described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 316-7) as following; ‘Bultingfort and Galwey. Large tomb niche consisting of a cinquefoil arch rising from piers with a pedimented hood above, richly and moulded and terminating in an elaborate finial. There are three armorial tablets, one of Bultingfort and two of Galwey. An inscribed panel is set into the wall at the back of the niche and is badly damaged. Gothic lettered inscription: [HIC IACET IN] TUB[A ... VENER]ABILIS [V]IR RICARDUS/ [BULTIG]FORT QUODA ... CIVITATU LIM[ERICI ET]/ CORCAGIE Q [OBI]IT .... ANO DOI MCCCCV .... / HIC IACET ... VENERABILIS VIR GAL[FR]IDU[S]/ GALVEY QUODA CIVIS [CIVI]TATU LIMERICI CORCA[GIE ET]/ VATFORDIE Q OBIT ... DIE JANUARII ANO DO MCCCCXL.. [E]DMU/ DUS FILIUS TALIS GA[LFR]IDI ET MARGARETE FILIE TALIS RCI BULTIGFORT/ ISTA TUBA FIERI [FECER]UT In 1907 this wall monument was described by FitzGerald (1910, 133-5) as following; 'The Galwey Monument in the South Transept. ' The following description of this interesting monument is taken from an account of it written by Mr. T. J. Westropp in the "Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland" for 1898, consecutive volume xxviii : 'About the middle of the fifteenth century, Edmund, son of Geoffry Galwey, and Margaret, daughter of Richard Bultingfort, erected a handsome tomb in memory of their relatives in the south transept. The monument consists of a low, cinquefoil arch, the cusps of which enclose triangular designs of foliage, while their points ended in leaves. It rests on octagonal piers of clumsy design, two on each side, and has a lofty angular hood richly crocketed and moulded, and ending in an elaborate finial. To each side a buttress with a rich terminal rests on a corbel adorned with a small angel holding a blank shield. ' Three armorial tablets are set in this monument; the first, in the tympanum above the recess, has the letters "S.R.B." (Scutum Ricardi Bultingfort), and, below this, the arms, a fess engrailed with a label of five points in chief. The second, to the left, "S.G.G." (Scutum Galfridi Galwey). Arms, for Galwey—A cross, over it a bend, impaling a double eagle displayed. The third, to the right. "S.E.G." (Scutum Edmundi Galwey). The Galwey arms, impaling for Arture a chevron between three clarions. There are traces of dark-red and blue-grey paint on these carvings. Of a much later date is a tablet overhead ; it displays as crest the chained cat of the De Burghos. Arms quarterly :— 1st—Galwey. 2nd—A double eagle displayed. 3rd—Baltingfort. 4th—Ball's Bridge. 'Below it, in strangely combined capitals LVMNIA (sic) QVAE LECTOR TVI (sic) CERNNVT (sic) HISCE IOHANI MVRIS SCVLPTA SACEIS QVADRAT INSIGNIA GALWEY. [I.e., Reader, what thy eyes behold graven on these walls are the armorial bearings of John Galwey.] A long tablet is embedded in the back wall of the recess. The middle is much injured; Ireton's soldiers are reputed to have defaced it out of hatred to Sir Geoffrey Galwey, mayor of the city in 1652. It is most improbable that Puritans who spared the shields, and still more the figures, of angels on the corbels and the crosses on the sedilia, deliberately defaced an unobtrusive black-letter inscription which probably none of them could read. More probably the heat of a memorial lamp hanging in the recess injured and cracked the tablet. 'Mr. Westropp adds that an inventory of Geoffrey Galwey's goods was taken on January 5th, 1445, and his Will was proved seven days later, so that his death took place between the 1st and the 5th of January in that year ; he had live sons, viz, :—Richard, Geoffry, Edmund, Walter, and William; the second son, Geoffry, was ancestor of the Galweys Baronets. The Richard Bultingfort mentioned in the first half of the above inscription was married to Katherine Roche, who proved his Will before Bishop Cornelius O'Dea on the 1st August, 1406. The Will was dated the day after either the 1st or 8th of March (i.e., the day after the Feast of St. Senan), 1405'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 15 November 2019

• LI005-017021 Graveslab
  Description

  15th century graveslab of Cornelius O'Dea in St. Mary's Cathedral (LI005-017015-) described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 317-8) as following; ‘Cornelius O’Dea. 1434 (restored 1621). An undecorated limestone slab which is said to have held the recumbent effigy of O’Dea is on the south side of the choir and a seventeenth century inscription is on the front panel: HAEC EST EFFIGIES REVEREDISSIMI VIRI CORNELII O’DAE/ QUONDAM EPISCOPI LYMERICENSIS QVI AD MONVMENTVM/ HOC NOVVM EPISCOPORVM LYMERICENSIVM AD/ PERPETVANDVM MEMORIAM ET HONOREM TANTI PRAESVLIS/ TRANSLATVS FVIT VT HIS CVM FRATRIBVS SVIS REQVIESCERET/ 14 DIE IVLII ANO DOMINI 1621 REMOTVS AVTEM HVC FVIT/ SVMPTIBVS NOBILISSIMI HEROIS DONATH COMITIS THOMONIAE/ TVNC HONORATISSIMI DOMINI PRAESIDENTIS PROVINCIAE MOMONAE Described by FitzGerald (1910, 125-6) as following; 'On the opposite side of the choir is a plain, limestone monument resembling an altar- tomb, which is said to have borne the robed and mitred effigy of a bishop, but of which not a trace now exists. Cornelius O'Dea was Bishop of Limerick from 1400 to 1426. On the front of the tomb is cut the above inscription. Translation from the Rev. J. Dowd's History of the Cathedral, "This is the effigy of that most reverend man, Cornelius O'Dea, formerly Bishop of Limerick, who, to perpetuate the memory and honour of so great a prelate, was transferred to this new burial place of the Bishops of Limerick, that here he might rest with his brethren, on the 14th day of July, 1621. But his body was removed hither at the charge of that most noble hero Donat, Earl of Thomond, then the Most Honourable Lord President of the Province of Munster'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 15 November 2019

• LI005-017022 Graveslab
  Description

  16th century graveslab in St. Mary's Cathedral (LI005-017015-) described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 322) as following; ‘’Thomas and Peter Creagh. 1497 & 1546. Limestone slab with Gothic lettered inscription, in the Arthur chapel: ORATE P AIA THOME CREAGH FILII DAVID Q/ OBIIT V DIE IUNII Ao 1497 ET P AIA …./ UXORIS EI ET P AIA PETRI CREAGH FILII EOR Q/ OBIIT NO DIE MAII AD 1546 (Fitzgerald 1910, 128; Talbot 1976, 23)'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 18 November 2019

• LI005-017024 Memorial stone
  Description

  16th century Galfrid Arthur memorial in St. Mary's Cathedral (LI005-017015-) described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 318) as following; ‘Galfrid Arthur wall memorial. 1519. Rectangular limestone slab decorated in high false relief with a Gothic lettered inscription. Attached to the wall in a trefoil tomb niche in the north transept: HIC IAC I TUMULI FUDO SBLAT A MUDO/ GALFRID ART:UE THE QOND ISTI ECCIE/ XVI LUCE MAYA REQIET I PACE PPETUA/ ANO CEIT DNI Mo Vc XIX/ TU TNSIES CAVE QD HIC DICES PR ET AVE Dims: L. 1.56m x W. 0.65m Translation from Canon Meredyth's "Guide to the Cathedral" - Here lies in the bottom of the tomb, withdrawn from the world, Geoffry Arthur, formerly Treasurer of this Church. He rested in perpetual peace on the 16th light of May, in the year of the Crucified Lord 1519. Thou who passest by take heed that thou sayest here a Pater and an Ave (Fitzgerald 1910, 126)'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 15 November 2019

• LI005-017025 Memorial stone
  Description

  16th century memorial in the N transept of St. Mary's Cathedral (LI005-017015-) described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 318-9) as following; ‘John Fox. 1519. A mural slab in the north transept, set into a round arched niche, with Gothic lettered inscription: HIC IACET REV ... DUS IOHES FFOX/ QUODA POS SCE CRUCIS Q DIE CLAUSIT/ EXTREMU XXVIII DIE MESIS AUGUSTI/ AN DNI M V XIX CUI AIE PPICIET DEUS' Described by Fitzgerald (1910, 127-8) as following; 'To the right of the last-named monument, and in similar lettering, is a mural slab, which Mr. Dowd states belongs "to a Prior of the Augustinians, whose establishment was also called Holy Cross." The date he incorrectly gives as 1519, whereas it should have been read 1531. With the exception of one word, the inscription is very legible. Can it be that the "dus" at the end of the illegible word is a "dns" or " Dominus," a common Latin title with ecclesiastics? The translation of the inscription would then be — Here lies the Reverend (?) lord John Fox, formerly Prior (?) of Holy Cross, who closed his last day (i.e. died) on the 28th day of the month of August, in the year of Our Lord 1531 ; on whose soul may God have mercy.' Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 15 November 2019

• LI005-017026 Graveslab
  Description

  16th century graveslab in chapel of St. Nicholas (Arthur Chapel) St. Mary's Cathedral (LI005-017015-) described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 319) as following; ‘Andrew Creagh. Post 1543. Rectangular black fossiliferous limestone slab is in the chapel of St. Nicholas (Arthur). The lower half has a Gothic lettered inscription in deep false relief: HIC IACET MAGISTER/ ANDREAS CREAGH/ H QUONDAM/ ISTIUS ECLESIE/ DECANUS Dims: L. 1.72m W. 0.89m (Talbot 1976, 22-3)'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 15 November 2019

• LI005-017027 Graveslab
  Description

  16th century graveslab in N transept of St. Mary's Cathedral (LI005-017015-) described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 319) as following; ‘Grave slab. 16th cent. Rectangular limestone slab with a Gothic lettered inscription set into the wall under the "leper squint" in the north transept. Dims: L. 1.84m W.0.7m'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 18 November 2019

• LI005-017028 Armorial plaque
  Description

  16th/17th century armorial plaque in N side of the chancel in St. Mary's Cathedral (LI005-017015-) described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 319-20) as following; ‘Donogh O’Brien. 16th-17th cent. Square limestone plaque with a chevron between three lions in relief. The name DONOH is inscribed above the arms in Gothic lettering. On the wall to the left of the Thomond memorial (LI005-017029-). The ascription of this monument to Bishop Donough O’Brien is incorrect on chronological grounds. (Talbot 1976, 60)'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 18 November 2019

• LI005-017029 Tomb - effigial
  Description

  17th century effigial tomb in N side of the chancel of St. Mary's Cathedral (LI005-017015-) described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 320-1) as following; ‘Thomond monument. 1624 (restored 1678) Large wall memorial set in an arch on the north side of the chancel. It consists of three tiers with reclining effigies of Donough O’Brien, 4th earl of Thomond, in the lower tier and his wife, Elizabeth FitzGerald, above. Incised inscription on a slab at the back of the third tier: THIS MONVENT BEING DEFACED IN YE TIME OF YE LATE REBEL/ LION OF IRELAND WAS BY HENRY YE SECOND [sic, ?seventh] EARLE OF THOMOND/ OF ANEVE REEDIFYED AN 1678 IN MEMORY OF HIS MOST NOBLE/ GRANDFATHER DONAGH O’BRIEN EARLE OF THOMOND, BARON/ OF IBREACAN, PRESIDENT OF MVNSTER, & ONE OF HIS MAIS PRI/ VY COVNCIL, WHO HAVING DERIVED HIS TITLES FROM AN AN-/ CIENT & HONOVRABLE FAMILY SOMETIME FOVNDERS OF THIS/ CHVRCH LEFT THEM TO POSTERITY MORE ENNOBLED BY HIS OWN/ VERTVE FOR GIVING EQVALL PROOFES BOTH FOR COVRAGE &/ CONDVCT OF HIS LOYALTY & WORTH HE WAS REWARDED BY YE/ HIGH & MIGHTY MONARCHS QVEEN ELIZABETH & KING/ IAMES WITH HONOVRS ABOWE YE NOBILITY OF HIS TIME The monument is flanked by ionic columns in its lower register with Corinthian columns above. It is surmounted by obelisks and, in the centre, the sculpted arms of the O’Brien's still retaining its colours and gilding. Projecting from the monument on a rod is a coroneted helmet with a barred visor. (FitzGerald 1910, 124-5; Talbot 1976, 83). Described by FitzGerald 91910, 124-5) as following; 'On the north side of the choir is a very large monument in black and white marble, erected by the O'Brien's, Earls of Thomond. It is somewhat similar in style to the Cork and Ranelagh monuments in St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, and, like them, dates from the first half of the seventeenth century. On the base of the monument reclines Donough O'Brien, Earl of Thomond, who died on the 5th September, 1624; and on a tier above him reclines his wife, the Lady Elizabeth FitzGerald, second daughter of Gerald, 11th Earl of Kildare. Both the effigies are much broken. They are carved in sandstone in the elaborate costume of Elizabeth's time. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 18 November 2019

• LI005-017030 Memorial stone
  Description

  17th century memorial stone in St. Mary's Cathedral (LI005-017015-) described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 321) as following; ‘Bernard Adams. 1625. Limestone monument on south wall of the chancel, above Bishop O’Dea’s tomb. Painted inscription in two compartments BARNARDUS JACET HIC EN ADAMUS PISCOPUS OLIM OMNIA/ NON VIDIT SOLOMIS, AT OMNIA VANA/ SUFFICIENT GOD DID GIVE ME, WHICH I SPENT;/ I LITTLE BORROWED, AND AS LITTLE LENT;/ I LEFT THEM WHOM I LOVED ENOUGH IN STORE/ INCREASED THIS BISHOPRIC-RELIEVED THE POORE/ NEMO MIHI TUMBAM STATUAT DE MARMORE FAXIT/ URNULA EPISCOPOLO SATIS ISTA PUSILLA PUSILLO ANGLI/ QUIS VIVUS FUERAM ET TESTENTUR HYBERNI/ CAELICOLAE QUIS SUM DEFUNCTUS TESTIFICENTUR The side jambs are carved with emblems of the passion. (Talbot 1976, 7)'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 18 November 2019

• LI005-017031 Graveslab
  Description

  17th century graveslab in the floor of St. Mary's Cathedral (LI005-017015-) described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 321) as following; ‘Floor slab. Creagh 1632. This slab in the Arthur chapel is decorated in high relief with a Gothic lettered inscription: [ORATE] PRO ANIMAB DOMINICI ... ET GENETE CR/ EAGH UXORIS EIVS/ EIVS [sic] QUAE .... 28 NOVEMBRIS 1632 (FitzGerald 1910, 129)'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 18 November 2019

• LI005-017032 Graveslab
  Description

  1tth century graveslab in St. Mary's Cathedral (LI005-017015-) described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 321-2) as following; ‘Grave slab. Thomas Mahon & Anna Creagh. 1634. Rectangular slab with worn marginal inscription in the baptistry: [ORATE PRO ANIMABUS THOMAE MAHON] QUI OBIIT 10 NOVEMB: 1631/ ET UXOR [ ]/ EIVS ANNA CREAGH [QUAE OBIIT NOVEMB: ] 1634 (FitzGerald 1910, 132)'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 18 November 2019

• LI005-017033 Graveslab
  Description

  17th century graveslab in St. Mary's Cathedral (LI005-017015-) described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 322) as following; ‘Grave slab Anna Faning 1634. Fragmentary slab in the Arthur chapel with a coat of arms, initials and an incised inscription: ANNA/ FANNING/ UXOR EIVS/ OBIT 13 MAR/ CII'. Described by FitzGerald (1910, 130) as following; 'On a fragment is a shield bearing two coats-of-arms, viz., on the dexter side, a chevron between three birds; on the sinister side, a chevron between three heraldic roses. 'The initials S R W appear above and at the sides of the shield. Upside down to the shield is cut in incised letters ': — ANNA. FANING VXOR EIVS OBIT 13 MAR CII . ANO . DOI 1634'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 18 November 2019

• LI005-017034 Graveslab
  Description

  17th century graveslab in St. Mary's Cathedral (LI005-017015-) described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 322) as following; ‘Grave slab. Arthur 1649. Large slab with two coats of arms and the initials POA, EPR and the date 1649, is in the Arthur chapel'. Described by FitzGerald (1910, 130)' as following; 'Close to the above is a large slab bearing no inscription, but at the top end is a coat-of-arms—a chevron between three clarions for Arthur, and the initials P O A, 1649. At the foot of the slab is another shield, bearing a lion rampant, and the initials E P R'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 18 November 2019

• LI005-017035 Memorial stone
  Description

  17th century graveslab in St. Mary's Cathedral (LI005-017015-) described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 322-3) as following; ‘Wall Memorial. Standish Hartstonge 1663. The slab, in the north transept, has an incised Roman lettered inscription: THIS SMAL MONVMENT WAS ERECTED/ BY STANDISH HARSTONGE ESQE RECO/ RDER OF THIS CITTY IN MEMORY/ OF HIS DEARE/ WIFE ELIZABETH YE/ DAVGHTER OF FRANCIS IERMY OF GON/ TON IN THE COVNTY OF NORFFOLKE ESQ BY ALICE HIS WIFE THE DAVGHTER OF SR AN/ THONY IRBY OF BOSTON KNT WHO DYED YE/ 5TH OF IULY 1663 AND LYETH BVRIED IN THIS CHVRCH WHO HAD ISSVE ELEAVEN/ CHILDREN WHEREOF 7 ARE NOW LIVEING/ 1677 Dims: H. 0.72m W. 0.6m T. 0.05m (FitzGerald 1910, 126)'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 18 November 2019

• LI005-017036 Graveslab
  Description

  17th century graveslab in St. Mary's Cathedral (LI005-017015-) described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 323) as following; ‘Grave slab of John Wools. 1673. Fragmentary limestone slab between the 1st and 2nd pier on the north side of the nave. Incised Roma lettered inscription: HEERE LAYETH/ IOHN WOOLS/ [16]73 Dims: L. 0.42m W. 0.34m’ Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 18 November 2019

• LI005-017037 Memorial stone
  Description

  17th century graveslab in St. Mary's Cathedral (LI005-017015-) described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 323) as following; ‘William York. 1679. This slab is inserted in a column on the left of the choir: THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED BY/ WILLIAM YORKE, TO YE MEMORY OF HIS/ DECEASED FATHER, ALDERMAN/ WILLIAM YORKE, WHO LIES HERE IN/ TERD: WAS THRICE MAOIR: GAVE ABOVE/ FOUR HUNDRED POUNDS FOR BUILDING YE/ EXCHANGE FREELY BESTOWED IT ON THE/ CORPORATION: CONTRIBUTED TO YE BELLS AND/ CHYMES WHICH WERE CAST AND/ SET UP IN HIS MAOIRALTYES: WAS/ CHARITABLE TO THE POORE: CONSTANT/ TO HIS FRIENS: DYED IN THE TRVE CHRI/ STIAN FAITH THE LAST YEAR OF HIS/ MAOIRALTY APRIL 1 1679 AETATIS/ SUAE 42 LEAVING WIELLIAM ROGER/ & JANE HIS ISSUE BY ANNA THE DAVG/ HTER OF HENRY HART ESQ (FitzGerald 1910, 133; Talbot 1976, 108)'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 18 November 2019

• LI005-017038 Memorial stone
  Description

  17th century graveslab in St. Mary's Cathedral (LI005-017015-) described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 323-4) as following; ‘Wall memorial. Samuel Barinton 1693. Plaque on a pillar near the south entrance: ’MEMENTO MORY/ HERE LEITH LITTELE SAMVELL/ BARINTON THAT GREAT VNDER/ TAKER OF FAMIOVS GIFTES/ CLOCK AND CHIME MAKER/ HE MADE HIS ONE TIME GOE/ EARLY AND LATER, BVT NOW/ HE IS RETURNED TO GOD HIS CREA/ TOR/ THE 19 OF NOVEMBER THEN HE/ SCEST, AND FOR HIS MEMORY/ THIS HERE IS PLEAST BY HIS/ SON BEN 1693 (Fitzgerald 1910, 132-3)'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 18 November 2019

• LI005-017039 Wall monument
  Description

  One of two stone plaques on the Sexten vault in the graveyard (LI005-017016-) of St. Mary's Cathedral (LI005-017015-) described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 324) as following; ‘Plaques in the Sexten vault. In the churchyard. Two plaques, one showing a pelican in piety, the other a seven headed dragon.’ Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 18 November 2019

• LI005-017040 Wall monument
  Description

  One of two stone plaques on the Sexten vault in the graveyard (LI005-017016-) of St. Mary's Cathedral (LI005-017015-) described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 324) as following; ‘Plaques in the Sexten vault. In the churchyard. Two plaques, one showing a pelican in piety, the other a seven headed dragon.’ Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 18 November 2019

• LI005-017046 Religious house - Augustinian nuns
  Description

  The Augustinian Priory of St. Peter in the city of Limerick (LI005-017----) was described in the Urban Survey (Bradley et. al. 1989, 330) as following; 'Founded by Donal O’Brien for Augustinian Black nuns at about the time of the arrival of the Anglo-Normans (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 322). The priory is shown on the 1590 map as situated between Bishop Street and the town wall (LI005-017010-) in the area known today as St Peter’s Cell. At the time of the dissolution in 1541 the buildings were already ruinous but occupied three-quarters of an acre (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 322). A stone head was discovered in the area in 1946 and Hunt (1949-52,16-7) suggested that the carving, which considered to be Romanesque in style, may have come from the priory. This limestone head is now in the Limerick Museum'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 18 November 2019

• LI005-017069 Mill - unclassified
  Description

  Leask refers to Nicholas Arthur's Mill located 'about the middle of the present George's Quay' (1941, 100), which is shown on a late 16th century map of Limerick City (TCD, MS 1209/57). Also Comyn's Mills, it was demolished in 1763 (O'Flaherty 2010, 30) when George's Quay was built (Hill 1991, 82-3). Excavations carried out in the Abbey River under licence No. 98E0581 ext. by Ed O'Donovan on behalf of Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd were summarised as following; 'Over the past year and a half, excavations in advance of construction work associated with the Limerick Main Drainage Scheme have been carried out. The report on the first phase of these excavations (Excavations 1999, 169–71) included brief reports on excavations along George’s Quay and at Broad Street. The Phase I excavations also included an account of the various artefacts recovered from the bed of the Abbey River between Matthew Bridge and Baal’s Bridge. This year the excavations in the riverbed extended from Matthew Bridge to the mouth of the Abbey River, with its junction with the Shannon at Curragour Point, and from Curragour Point in the Shannon to Sarsfield Lock, and also included a short programme of excavation on George’s Quay. Town wall along George’s Quay Two further sections of the medieval town wall were uncovered along George’s Quay (at Manholes E and F). Deep excavation was not required as the construction work was relatively shallow; however, the laying of new pipes along the quay at the junction of Creagh Lane and George’s Quay did reveal a substantial wall running parallel to the quay. The preliminary interpretation of the structure suggested that it formed part of a bastion or building standing proud of the line of the town wall. Structures standing proud of the town wall along the Abbey River are illustrated on the early historic maps of the city (Pacata Hibernia map, Hardiman’s map and Speed’s map). Organic deposits of 16th-century date abutting the structure contained the grain weevil Sitophilus granarius. This insect is a pest of stored grain in particular and is entirely dependent on humans for its dispersal (Eileen Reilly, pers. comm.). These deposits are possibly related to grain stored around Nicholas Arthur’s Mill, depicted on Hardiman’s map (c. 1590) (www.excavations.ie). 16th/17th-century weir in the Abbey River The foundations of an early weir (LI005-017186) were identified in the Abbey River. The structure pre-dates Charlotte’s Quay and Bank Place and is thought -to form a head-race for two mills on either side of the river, one under Bank Place (LI005-017098-) and the other at the junction of Creagh Lane and George’s Quay. This again may relate to Nicholas Arthur’s Mill depicted on Hardiman’s map, c. 1590 (O'Donovan et. al. 2003). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 18 November 2019

• LI005-017072 Quay
  Description

  The potato market stands at the junction of Quay Lane [Bridge Street] and Merchant's Quay which was an important harbour or port in medieval Limerick. This merchant's harbour or port protected by a quay wall was described by Leask (1941, 101) as following; 'Where the Potato Market now is there was one of the most interesting features of ancient Limerick — the ship dock or port — enclosed by pier-like arms of the walls terminating in towers. The southern pier or wall, nearly 400 feet [122m] long, started from a tower seemingly three-sided, at the foot of the "Rue du Quay" of the French map: the modern Bridge Street, and formed the south boundary of the port. In 1500, say Fitzgerald and McGregor, "a wall and vault were built on the south side of the Quay. This vault had its entrance by a flight of steps at the end of Quay Lane, and formed a covered way to a six-gun battery at the Pierhead near the flood-gate. This is the south wall and tower shown (the former by a double line) on the French map [Lenihan 1866, 258], which also shows the entrance steps minutely. This south wall of the Quay was repaired in 1640-41, when Wm. Comyn was Mayor, and bore a long inscription to that effect which is given in Ferrar's History, 1st edition, 1767. The tower fell in 1693, the collision of the falling stones detonating the 250 barrels of gunpowder in store there, with most destructive effects: fatal casualties and much injury to persons and property houses were wrecked, many windows broken and roofs stripped. The battery at the pier-head seems to have been a successor to the tower. The entrance to the port was bounded, on the north side also, by a wall-pier about 100 feet [30m] in length and the same distance from the south wall. It also terminated in a tower. Within the entrance lay the dock itself, an irregular piece of water surrounded by quays and projecting jetties and backed by the quay. The view in Pacata Hibernia shows a sort of half-moon quay, but the French map and that of 1590 [TCD, MS 1209/57] are more precise and detailed and probably more accurate. The piers and terminal towers—which must have been most interesting and picturesque objects—have quite gone and so also has the whole of the river wall of the town from the dock northwards to the nearest tower of King John's Castle [LI005-017014-]. Its trace passes across the County Court House diagonally at the river end of the building, and in the same way over the yards west of the City Court House'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 19 November 2019

• LI005-017073 Battery
  Description

  A six-gun battery on the S wall of the medieval quay (LI005-017073-) of Limerick described by Leask (1941, 101) as following; 'Where the Potato Market now is there was one of the most interesting features of ancient Limerick — the ship dock or port — enclosed by pier-like arms of the walls terminating in towers. The southern pier or wall, nearly 400 feet [122m] long, started from a tower seemingly three-sided, at the foot of the "Rue du Quay" of the French map: the modern Bridge Street, and formed the south boundary of the port. In 1500, say Fitzgerald and McGregor, "a wall and vault were built on the south side of the Quay. This vault had its entrance by a flight of steps at the end of Quay Lane [Bridge Street], and formed a covered way to a six-gun battery at the Pierhead near the flood-gate. This is the south wall and tower shown (the former by a double line) on the French map [Lenihan 1866, 258], which also shows the entrance steps minutely. This south wall of the Quay was repaired in 1640-41, when Wm. Comyn was Mayor, and bore a long inscription to that effect which is given in Ferrar's History, 1st edition, 1767. The tower fell in 1693, the collision of the falling stones detonating the 250 barrels of gunpowder in store there, with most destructive effects: fatal casualties and much injury to persons and property houses were wrecked, many windows broken and roofs stripped. The battery at the pier-head seems to have been a successor to the tower'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 19 November 2019

• LI005-017074 Mill - unclassified
  Description

  Thomas Arthur's mill, one of a pair of mills (LI005-017075-) located between King John's Castle (LI005-017014-) and the medieval quay (LI005-017072-) (Leask 1941, 101). This is marked as 'Upper Mills' on map in O'Flaherty (2010, 3, Fig. 3) where it is described as 'Newgate Lane, W. end, in Curragour Castle. Mill 14th-15th cent.' (ibid., 30). It is very closely associated with 'Golding Mill' which is also described as 'Newgate Lane, W. end, in Curragour Castle. Mill 14th-15th cent.' (ibid., 30). The two mills were described by Leask (1941, 101) as following; 'At or near the foot of Newgate Lane—the "Rue des Moulins" of the French map [Lenihan 1866, 258] — were two water mills (J on Map). They stood out from the wall [LI005-017010-] just below the Curragower reef. These mills are specifically mentioned in the Civil Survey (Simington 1938, 442-3). There seem to have been two stone houses (36ft. by 30ft. [10.8m x 9.1m] and 45ft, by 27ft. [13.7m x 8.2m]) "with two mills (wheels?) therein seated and a thatched house. The map of 1590 [TCD, MS 1209/57] shows them as "Thos. Arthur's" [LI005-017074-] and the "Queen's Mills," and connected with the city wall (LI005-017010-) by a bridge'. Both of these probably formed 'the King's Mills' mentioned by Hodkinson (2009, 23) who recorded that 'half of the mill building still exists within the grounds of City Hall, where two stubs of walls can be seen projecting out into the river (ibid.). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 19 November 2019

• LI005-017075 Mill - unclassified
  Description

  Queen's mill, one of a pair of mills (LI005-017074-) located between King John's Castle (LI005-017014-) and the medieval quay (LI005-017072-). The two mills were described by Leask (1941, 101) as following; 'At or near the foot of Newgate Lane—the "Rue des Moulins" of the French map [Lenihan 1866, 258] — were two water mills (J on Map). They stood out from the wall just below the Curragower reef. These mills are specifically mentioned in the Civil Survey (Simington 1938, 442-3). There seem to have been two stone houses (36ft. by 30ft. [10.8m x 9.1m] and 45ft, by 27ft. [13.7m x 8.2m]) "with two mills (wheels?) therein seated and a thatched house. The map of 1590 [TCD, MS 1209/57] shows them as "Thos. Arthur's" [LI005-017074-] and the "Queen's Mills," and connected with the city wall (LI005-017010-) by a bridge'. Both of these probably formed 'the King's Mills' mentioned by Hodkinson (2009, 23) who recorded that 'half of the mill building still exists within the grounds of City Hall, where two stubs of walls can be seen projecting out into the river (ibid.). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 19 November 2019

• LI005-017101 Castle - unclassified
  Description

  Curragower Castle described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 259) as following; ‘In 1657 this was located near the Curragour weir [LI005-110----] parish of St. Nicholas (Westropp 1906-7, 81)'. Westropp (1906-7, 81) recorded the following details on Curragower Castle; 'The weir [LI005-110----] of Coradoguir is named in 1201 in the Inq. M. f. Henry (B.B.L., p. 15). 1577 The mills [LI005-017074-/075-] of Cordower granted to Hercules Rainsford (Fi. 3027). 1627 W. Creagh f. Martin held the C[astle]. and two mills of Carrowdarrower in the parish of St. Nicholas (Inq. Chan. 50). 1657 Curragowr stone house and C[astle] (C.S., xxviii., p. 64). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 21 November 2019

• LI005-017103 House - fortified house
  Description

  Galwey's Castle (Ireton’s House) described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 262) as following; ‘Located near the cathedral [LI005-017015-]. It may have been built in the early 17th century and was repaired in 1650-54. It was demolished in 1894 (Westropp 1906-7, 80)'. This castle and its demolition was described by Barry (1894, 386-9) as following; 'The only matter I have to report on is the history of the disappearance of one of the most remarkable and interesting of the castellated houses of old Limerick, viz. Galwey's Castle, commonly known as Ireton's House. It was a large stone structure, with pointed gables in the Elizabethan style, with stone-mullioned windows, and a round-headed stone-arched doorway leading into Gridiron-lane, which separated it from St. Mary's churchyard [LI005-017016-] and the old Exchange. Its high Dutch gable front of red brick, evidently an insertion of later date, facing Nicholas-street the main street of the English town gave one a good idea of the houses of old Limerick. This front of imported Dutch brick was, according to local tradition, the first brick-fronted house erected in Limerick. In 1661 Lord Orrery was made Governor of the Castle and City of Limerick. In a letter from King Charles, he is directed to "employ himself" in getting English and Dutch merchants to settle in Limerick. By a letter of Orrery's, he would seem to have been successful, as he says he expects more Dutch merchants to settle in the city. We know a considerable portion of the city was granted to Lord Orrery, General Ingoldsby, and other Cromwellians after the siege, and these grants were confirmed by the Act of Settlement. Sir Geoffrey Galwey, Bart., the owner of this house, was hanged by Ireton, and his property was confiscated. It is not, therefore, improbable that one of these Dutch settlers, having got possession of Galwey's Castle, modernised it, so to speak, by the insertion of a brick front in the Dutch style. Ferrar, in his "History of Limerick," says the only houses which remained habitable after the siege of 1691, were certain castellated ones in the main street. New houses, in the Dutch style, then replaced the old ones both in the English and Irish town. Picturesque old Limerick, now fast disappearing, dates therefore from after the siege of 1691, excepting these ancient castellated mansions. "Galwey's Castle" was so called from Sir Geoffrey Galwey, an eminent lawyer, who was mayor of the city in A.D. 1600. It was built, or rather remodelled, in the reign of Elizabeth [1558-1603]. It was on the site of a more ancient structure, said to be a portion of the palace of the kings of Limerick. On learning that the Dean and Chapter had purchased "Galwey's Castle," with other houses adjoining, and were about to apply to the Corporation for a presentment to close Gridiron-lane, which separated these houses from the cathedral (this lane was called from a well-known inn, "The Gridiron," which existed early in this century the last proprietor was a popular character named Pat M'Grath, otherwise "Paddy the Chopper"'. Westropp (1906-7, 80) recorded the following details; 'Galwey's Castle, near the Cathedral [LI005-017015-]. The family was a branch of the Burkes. "John de Burgo, of Galway, was knighted by Lionel Duke of Clarence, for his brave defence of Balls Bridge [LI005-017001-], Limerick, against the O'Briens, 1361. The fine monument [LI005-017019-] in the Cathedral dates 1414. Sir Geoffrey Galwey was Mayor in 1600, and strongly asserted the independence of the Corporation, being, in consequence, fined by Carew. He probably built the C[astle], and died 1636. His grandson, Sir Geoffrey, was excepted from terms at the surrender of Limerick to Ireton, 1651. In 1650-54, Thomas White paid for work done in preserving Jeoffrey Gallowaye's House, £20" (Acct. R. 15). The "Castle" has been illustrated in Journals R.S.A.I., xxiv., pp. 386-9 and Limerick Field Club, vol. i. It was demolished in 1894, being an object of prejudice from its name, "Ireton's House," and the Corporation refused to preserve it'. See attached photograph and drawing of 'Galwaye's Castle' dating from 1894, taken from Barry 1894, 385-6-. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 21 November 2019

• LI005-017114 Church
  Description

  St. Nicholas Church was situated at the N end of Nicholas Street on the W side of the street just S of the castle barracks. The Urban Survey of Limerick recorded the following details about St. Nicholas’ Church; ‘First mentioned in the inquisition of 1200-1 (MacCaffrey 1907, 27, 28) it is listed as the dean’s parish in Bishop Donatus O’Brien’s ordinance of 1204-6 (ibid., 116). It was included among the Limerick churches to which Geoffrey Galwey bequeathed a legacy in 1445 (Westropp 1898, 122-3). It was located near the Castle Barrack and is shown on the Hardiman map of c.1590 as having a side aisle to the north of the main building, a central tower with low pointed spire and a planted cemetery. It was destroyed in 1651 (Westropp 1904-5, 358-9)’(Bradley et. al. 1985, 329). In 1827 the following details were recorded; 'St. Nicholas's Church was situated near the Castle-barrack, on the ground afterwards occupied by the old Post-office. It was probably demolished during one of the sieges in the seventeenth century, as it is mentioned as being a particular scene of action in 1642. The parish, which contains 4,307 inhabitants, is a Rectory and Vicarage, united with St. Mary's, and forms part of the corps of the Deanery' (Fitzgerald 1826-7, 561). Westropp gives the following details on St. Nicholas’ Church ‘In 1204 Wm. de Burgo names it "Sci. Nicholai, cum ear. ptin," " ex donacione litteris vero Regis Momonie," i.e. Donaldmore, ante 1194 (B.B.L., p. 109), also M.F.H., 1201. It is named in the wills of Martin Arthur, 1376, and Geffry Galwey, 1445. It was in good repair in 1615. Fabric - It is shown in the Hardiman map of c. 1590 (No. 57) as having a side aisle to the north of the main building ; a central tower with a low, pointed spire, and a planted cemetery. It was destroyed in the siege of 1651; the cemetery lies near the castle barrack’ (1904-5, 358-9) Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 3 October 2018

• LI005-017115 Religious house - Fratres Cruciferi
  Description

  Priory & Hospital of St Mary & St Edward described in the Urban Survey (Bradley et. al. 1989,329-30) as following; 'PRIORY & HOSPITAL OF ST MARY & ST EDWARD, alias HOLY CROSS (FRATRES CRUCIFERI) - According to Ware, Simon Minor placed Augustinians in the priory of SS Mary & Edward before 1216. This was, in fact, a house of Augustinian Cruciferi dedicated to SS Mary, Edward and the Holy Cross (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 214; Begley 1906, 270-4). Described as "near the bridge" in 1321 (Westropp 1904-5, 360) it is shown on the 1590 map as situated in the angle of the town walls, south of the Franciscan Friary, at Sir Harry’s Mall. In 1559 it consisted of the body of the church, a hospital, steeple and a waste garden, barns and close (Westropp 1904-5, 361). Gwynn and Hadcock (1970, 214) have suggested that there were two sets of buildings St Mary and St Edward, and Holy Cross, one the priory the other the hospital. It is possible that the references to the church of "Sancte Marie Rotunda" in the inquisition of 1201-2 (MacCaffrey 1907, 28) relates to this site. It cannot be the same, however, as the church of St Mary Magdalen listed in Bishop Donatus O’Brien’s ordinance of 1204-6 (MacCaffrey 1907, 116) because the dedication of the Cruciferi house was clearly to the BVM (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 214)'. Archaeological testing carried out at 57-8 Mary Street and 1-4 Sir Harry's Mall by Frank Coyne, Aegis Archaeology Ltd, under licence no. 03E1610, uncovered the remains of the graveyard (LI005-017154-) belonging to the abbey along with some architectural fragments. Further excavations by Linda G Lynch took place in 2005 under licence no. 05E0376, which uncovered the remains of 90 skeletons belonging to the graveyard of the abbey. Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 20 December 2019

• LI005-017123 House - medieval
  Description

  Medieval house revealed during excavations carried out at this site by Celie O'Rahilly (Excavations 1994, 58; Excavations 1995, 56, 94E0071). The results of the excavation carried out by O'Rahilly under licence No. 94E0071 were summarised as following; 'The site was within the Englishtown, on the east side of Nicholas Street and north of Peter Street. The latter, positioned opposite the northern end of St Mary's Cathedral, was formed between 1840 and 1870 and presumably was so named as it led to Peter's Cell, off Bishop's Street to the east. Nicholas Street was the main street and has its origins in the medieval town. There were four properties in the site, Nos 36-39 (consisting of two buildings, each subdivided into two units), facing onto Nicholas Street, and a range of three cottages extending down the northern side of Peter Street. Building 1 (Nos 36 and 37), to the north, was a three-storey, two-bay building, 9.5m deep by 6m wide. The front wall, on Nicholas Street, was a mixture of brick- and blockwork. The rear wall was mass concrete. These units were inserted between the standing remains of two stone side-walls of a late medieval house, the southern one containing, at first-floor level, the sides and part of the lintel of a late medieval fireplace. The sides were finely carved limestone, with the eastern side intact but the western side damaged. It was obvious from the vertical building breaks in the two side-walls that the walls of the medieval house did not originally extend as far as the present street line but c. 4m short of it. Between the two side-walls, towards the rear of the property, were the remains of a vaulted undercroft (Excavations 1994, 58-9; Excavations 1995, 56). The Urban Archaeology Survey also mentions 'a round headed doorway with chamfered limestone jambs in the north wall between Nos. 35/36' (Bradley et al. c. 1989-90, 263, House B). At the rear of the property was another building, of which only the northern gable and eastern side-wall survive. Building 2 (Nos 38 and 39), to the south, was a two-storey, two-bay building at the corner of Nicholas Street and Peter Street. The original building was 8.5m wide and 6.5m deep. At the rear the northern unit had a lean-to (total depth 3.5m and 1.5m wide) against the party wall with a tiny open space beyond it. The remainder of the area was covered with an extension, measuring 7m north-south by 3.75m, accessed from Peter Street. The Peter Street range consisted of three single-storey houses (artisan dwelling type), each with a central door and one window on either side. All opes were defined with brick arches set in stone walls. The total length was 21.5m, and they were 5m wide. At the rear, between the house walls and the party wall to the north, were sheds/outhouses. The three houses were at the same floor level, which was at street level at the west end of the street, but, given the drop in the latter, there was a flight of five steps to the footpath at the eastern end of the third house. Both the Peter Street cottages and the building on the corner were built between 1840 and 1870, but Nos 36 and 37 dated to the 1930s. The recent work on this site, in April 1999, following the demolition of Nos 36 and 37, consisted of a cutting, Cut 9, and limited access to the undercroft. A report was prepared incorporating an account of all the archaeologically supervised work done, together with historical and cartographic research, 18th-century descriptions and a brief inventory of comparative structures in Limerick. The standing remains of the medieval walls were recorded photogrammetrically, and structural analysis by an architectural historian is pending. Cut 9 was 2.3m east of the front wall, parallel to the dividing wall of Nos 36 and 37, and extended eastwards as far as the mass concrete back wall. There was a possible cross-wall 5m from the front of the property. It was very poorly built, with a layer of soft, cement-like substance with underlying brick, and its total width was 1m. Given its instability, it appears unlikely to have been load-bearing. West of this wall the cut was 2.7m long and 1.4m wide. There was 2m of rubble overlying soft, brown, silty fill with a high bone content. This may be of archaeological significance, although no finds were recovered that could be used to date it. Given the unstable nature of the rubble fill, no further digging was done. To the east of the cross-wall the cut was 1.6m wide and 2.7m long, and the fill consisted of a high amount of large stones, slabs and brick. The base of the back wall was 1.3m below the floor level and was set on a stone plinth from the base of which a cut and carved stone was recovered, identical to one in situ in the mantelpiece. The dividing wall of Nos 36 and 37 defined the southern side of the cut. To the west of the cross-wall it was of a very poor quality, mainly brick, which curved vertically, possibly because it was vaulted (?cellar). It was 1.6m high. East of the cross-wall it was built with 0.25m of concrete overlying courses of brick. The total exposed height was 0.45m. Given the instability of the dividing wall, it is unlikely that the 1930s buildings had separate cellars. It is possible, however, that there was a single cellar for the building they replaced, with an arched longitudinal dividing wall. The underlying fill was very loose, which would suggest that the preceding building was demolished into an existing cavity. Apart from the dividing wall with possible vaulting, no other cellar walls were identified, and it was not possible for reasons of safety to make a cutting close to the side-walls. Given that the two side-walls relate to the original late medieval house, if there was a cellar belonging to the 18th/19th-century building it is likely that it was a conversion of the existing undercroft, with an extension westwards, as it would have been structurally very difficult to have inserted a cellar at a later stage. The vaulted undercroft was initially identified towards the rear of the property, where its eastern end wall was found. This consisted of a blocked arch, with the blocking done in two parts, northern and southern. The wall itself may be original, but this was not confirmed. At the western end the vault, or at least the central part of it, was partly destroyed by the levelling of the area immediately east of the mass concrete wall of the 1930s building, in order to accommodate the concrete floor of their backyards. It was clear from the accumulation of debris here and on both sides of the eastern end wall that it was backfilled with household-type rubbish that, judging by the pottery, was dumped in the 18th and 19th centuries. The undercroft It had been intended to record the undercroft. To do this it was necessary to reduce the ground level east of the end wall. The access ramp, first made in 1995, extended from the south, through the existing gap in the property wall at the rear of the last house on Peter Street. It then curved westwards down the centre of the plot to meet the arch just north of its centre point, cutting a thick deposit of sand. The front wall of the building at the rear of the property (on the 1840 and 1870 OS plans) was identified during the removal of this fill. Its base was cut into the upper layers of the sand, at a depth of 0.5m, implying that, once the end wall of the undercroft was blocked, the area was infilled with sand before the construction of the house. This building used the end of the northern late medieval wall as its northern gable. Visible in the northern section of the ramp was 0.35m of overburden over 0.5m of sand. Nearer the arch, however, was 0.9m of dump material under the sand. This material consisted of brick, mortar etc., with 18th/19th-century pottery, over 0.55m of brown sand with bits of slate and some stones. This fill pattern was also identified when the blocking wall was exposed in 1997. Below this and at the level of the base of the

• LI005-017124 Castle - ringwork
  Description

  Ringwork identified during 1990-1 excavations of King John's Castle (LI005-017014-), the discovery of which was described by Wiggins (2001, 30-3) as following; 'In February 1990 two terraces of corporation houses in the castle were demolished, allowing the development of the castle as a tourist attraction to get under way. Archaeological involvement was commenced by Celie O'Rahilly of Limerick Corporation, who monitored preliminary groundwork activity by the building contractor Brian O'Connell Ltd, which quickly evolved into full-scale excavation under the direction of the writer, until work was completed in September 1991. The purpose of the investigation was to uncover the surviving remains of the eastern curtain wall of the castle, together with the northern flank and eastern face of the bastion, which had been demolished around 1800. The excavated area measured approximately 47.5m north—south, extending from the standing north-eastern tower of the castle to the standing southern wall of the bastion. The width of the excavated area east—west varied between 17m and 30.5m, covering a wide area on both sides of the eastern curtain wall, including the whole interior of the bastion, as well as an area outside the bastion to the east. In the course of the excavation a good many structural remains other than those of the eastern curtain wall and the bastion emerged. Several features originating in the twelfth century were found, pre-dating the construction of the castle. These included part of the large-scale ringwork enclosure incorporating a stone-revetted bank and broad external ditch, originally constructed by the Anglo-Norman garrison around 1175—6. These early defences were aligned east—west, at right angles to the surviving foundations of the eastern curtain wall. The remains of both the ringwork bank behind the retaining wall and the ditch in front of it were disturbed by the digging of countermines during the siege of 1642'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 26 November 2019

• LI005-017125 House - medieval
  Description

  Three houses of late 12th / 13th century date identified during 1990-1 excavations of King John's Castle (LI005-017014-), the discovery of which was described by Wiggins (2001, 33) as following; 'The remains of both the ringwork (LI005-017124-) bank behind the retaining wall and the ditch in front of it were disturbed by the digging of countermines during the siege of 1642. In addition, the excavation was notable for the discovery of the earliest house sites relating to urban Limerick. The remains of three Ostman-type dwellings with characteristic sunken floors (Sunken-Featured Structures) were found in a line to the south of the ringwork ditch, and were constructed in the period following the departure of the Anglo Normans in 1176'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 28 November 2019

• LI005-017126 House - 16th/17th century
  Description

  Walls of late 16th/early17th house at 11 Peter Street- see report in file by Barry O'Reilly (Denis Power 16th August 2011).

• LI005-017128 House - 16th/17th century
  Description

  The ruins of a stone-built house on N side of Gaol Lane which is indicated on the Urban Survey map (Bradley 1989) but is not described in the text. It appears to have had chamfered limestone jambs for window opes at first floor level and therefore could be late medieval in date (Denis Power 18th August 2011). See attached location map from urban Survey showing building in red outline. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 28 November 2019

• LI005-017129 House - medieval
  Description

  Excavation carried out by Celie O'Rahilly under licence No. 94E072 at No.'s 3-6 St. Nicholas Street uncovered the remains of two late medieval houses (LI005-017007-). The results of this excavation were summarised as following; 'This site is located on the west side of Nicholas St. within the Englishtown and is erroneously identified as "St Nicholas Abbey" on the OS 1840 map and "St Nicholas's Abbey, (remains of)" on the 1870 edition. There was no St Nicholas Abbey in Limerick, but there was a medieval parish church dedicated to St Nicholas further north where the "Widows Alms Houses" are now, immediately south of King John's Castle. The church was demolished after the siege of 1692 and the Alms Houses built by the then Corporation. The substantial walls stretching east-west along this site are, in fact, the remains of two late medieval castellated town houses which fronted onto Nicholas St. Three cuttings were opened: the first in No. 3, the second in No. 6 and the third to the rear of No. 5. The first two were infilled cellars. It was hoped that the third would be undisturbed but this was, in fact, infilled with cut stone masonry rubble. It appears that it was also originally cellared. Judging by the quality of the stone - some architectural fragments were found and an arched doorway in the northernmost wall was noted by the Urban Survey - the rubble may be from the late medieval houses which were partly demolished prior to houses being built in the 1930s. Unfortunately, most of the dividing wall (between Nos. 4 and 5), which had survived the various rebuilds of this site, was demolished in 1992, under the Dangerous Buildings Act, as was part of the northernmost wall where the door is located. The southern wall which is the wall of the house to the south of the site was in very poor condition and was recently repaired. No archaeological deposits were identified within the cuttings. The surviving late medieval walls are to be retained within the new development' (www.excavations.ie)'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 25 November 2019

• LI005-017130 House - medieval
  Description

  Excavation carried out by Celie O'Rahilly under licence No. 95E120 at Creagh Lane on the plot for No. 21 uncovered the remains of a late medieval house. The results of this excavation were summarised as following; 'Three test-cuttings were dug in the south-eastern half of the site to determine the archaeological potential in advance of a proposed development. Access to the other half of the site was restricted. The first cutting was at the rear of No. 22. One deposit, 1.5m below ground level and 0.5m thick, contained some bone and oyster shell, but nothing which could be used for dating purposes. In the second cutting, located near Creagh Lane on the plot for No. 21, and running north-east by south-west, the side wall of what appears to be a late medieval building was identified. This stone wall had the springer stones for a vault in situ 0.7m below the ground level. The inside face of the wall reached a total height of 2.7m, including the springer block and 0.5m of wall above it. At the south-west end of the cut, the remains of a small section of the voussoirs could be seen. The crown of the vault would have been located under No. 20, now a vacant site. At a level roughly corresponding to the base of the wall was a thin mixed layer overlying what could be the clay floor of the cellar. Below this was another thin dark mixed layer over the natural sandy silt. The total depth was 3.1m but, owing to the loose overlying fill, it was not possible to record accurate depths for the various deposits. The last cutting was dug near the frontage on a continuation of the line of the same wall. A brick cellar was identified below No. 21 Mary St.'(www.excavations.ie). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 25 November 2019

• LI005-017131 Excavation - miscellaneous
  Description

  Site excavated by Celie O'Rahilly under licence No. 97E0097 on Mary Street the result of which were summarised as following; 'The site, located within the medieval walled part of the Englishtown on the south-western side of Mary Street (referred to as High Street in the medieval period), was tested in advance of development. Previous assessment had been carried out in June 1995 (Excavations 1995, 55, 95E0120). Four additional cuttings, placed within the area of the proposed development, were opened following the demolition of the row of house Nos 22-24. To avoid confusion with the previous work these have been numbered 4-7. Two cuttings, 4 and 5, both fronting onto Mary Street, each contained a deposit of possible archaeological potential. In Cutting 4, at a depth of 1.65m below the street level, was a layer of mixed black soil, 0.25m thick. In Cutting 5 was a 0.7m-thick deposit of soft, damp, dark mixed clay, with charcoal, ash, animal bone and a few oyster shells. This occurred at a depth of 2.2m below street level. No finds were recovered from either deposit. Two walls, in Cuttings 4 and 7, coincided with the walls of the houses marked on the 1840 OS map' (www.excavations.ie). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 28 November 2019

• LI005-017132 Excavation - miscellaneous
  Description

  Excavations carried out at Little Creagh Lane by Celie O Rahilly in 1997 under licence No. 97E0453 were summarised as following; 'This site is located within the walled medieval Englishtown, behind (to the north-east of) Nos 4–9 George’s Quay but separated from it by an alley (now defunct). The site is defined by Creagh Lane to the south-east, Court House Lane to the north-east and Little Creagh Lane to the north-west. Previous testing was carried out for the development of Nos 4–5 George’s Quay—between the site and the Abbey River—in September 1991. The town wall was not identified. It was concluded that it was located either further south, under the path/road on George’s Quay, or within the bounds of the present site. According to the plot layout described in the Civil Survey, the town wall would appear to be located in the former position, i.e. under George’s Quay. The south-western half of this site (immediately behind the alley) was occupied by the chapel, with structures to the north-west. The north-eastern half of the site has been vacant since as least the early 1800s. None of the pre-1827 maps show specific buildings on this portion of the site, but the Civil Survey describes a series of houses, both stone and cagework, within the block defined by the town wall, Creagh Lane, Little Creagh Lane (marked Court House Lane on 1840s plan), and Halls Yard Lane (marked Little Creagh Lane on same). The Civil Survey plots were overlaid on the 1840s plan to give an idea of the layout in 1654. The OS map, 1840 edition, shows an ‘Old RC Chapel’ between the alley and Creagh Lane. This chapel, together with a chapel house, was erected, according to Lenihan (1866, 644), in 1778 by the Hermits of St Augustine, and occupied until 1823. Parts of the south-west and north-west walls of this structure survive. Three cuttings were made: 1, the south-east parallel to Creagh Lane, 2, the north-west parallel to Little Creagh Lane, and 3, the cross-cutting parallel to Court House Lane. In Cutting 1 a wall supporting brick arches was identified; it corresponded with both the north-eastern end of the extant wall and a building line on the 1840s plan. The brick vaulting it supported to the south-east was possibly related to the construction of the chapel. Similar vaulting was recorded during the excavation of Charlotte’s Quay; these were built, not as cellars, but to raise the overhead buildings above the tide level. At a depth of 2–2.2m was a black organic layer with a high twig content, animal bone, oyster shell, leather offcuts and waste. Three sherds of medieval pottery were recovered from it. On the south-western side of the wall this deposit was removed to a depth of 3.4m. The base was located at 3m below the surface, cutting the organic deposit. The wall face was vertical, i.e. no batter. On the other side of the wall a similar material was identified at a depth of 1.7m. Given the depth of the base, the underlying organic deposits and the lack of batter, this wall can reasonably be concluded not to be the town wall. In Cutting 2 the continuation of this wall was identified; this probably represents the property boundary as shown on the 1840s plan. At a depth of 1.8–3.7m a compacted brown soil occurred. There was no organic material. At the north-western end of Cutting 3, the fill was building debris which may relate to the stone house mentioned in the Civil Survey. At the opposite end, the dark fill, overlying natural, contained 17th-century potsherds. The natural would appear to slope down from the north-eastern side (at 1.8m in Cutting 3), increasing towards the river (3.7m in Cutting 2), with medieval deposits surviving on this slope at least on the south-eastern side of the site' (www.excavations.ie). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 19 December 2019

• LI005-017140 House - medieval
  Description

  Excavations carried out on King's Island by Brian Hodkinson in 1989 were summarised as following; 'To the south of King John’s Castle [LI005-017014-]. Several trenches were excavated in the area between the castle and the new Civic Office Complex to help establish the levels to which the area could be landscaped. The full line of the medieval city wall extending south from the south-west tower of the castle was established along the riverside. In the same area, the undercroft, (Archaeology Ireland, Vol. 2. no. 4, Winter 1988) was investigated. There are two main phases to this building. The earliest of these was the outer shell of the building, measuring 22m long east-west x 7m wide. It was set into the slope to the east and was entered through a doorway in the middle of the north wall with a possible second door through the west wall leading to the river. There was evidence for windows in all but the west wall. The second phase saw the insertion of the impressive arches and wicker-centred barrel vaults. These are carried on the walls built up against the earlier north and south walls and the area was bisected by a 5-arched central wall, forming two long bays. There were similar arches in the side walls which were centred on the openings in the Phase 1 walls. The southern bay has a continuous east-west vault, but that in the northern bay is interrupted in the central portion around the doorway by a vault on the opposite axis, carried on arches which spring from the piers of the central arch of the spine wall. It is assumed that this change in direction is to allow for headroom at the entrance. All the vaults bear traces of wicker centring and, on this basis, the second phase is believed to be of a late medieval date. Limited trial trenching in the northern bay failed to refine this Phase 2 date, but two trenches against the outer wall produced sherds suggesting a 13th- 14th-century date for the earlier phase. The whole of the undercroft was cleared of an accumulation of modern debris and is now to be displayed as part of the amenity area of the adjacent Civic Offices' (www.excavations.ie). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 19 December 2019

• LI005-017144 Graveyard
  Description

  Graveyard belonging to St. Nicholas' Church (LI005-017114-) in Limerick City described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 300) as following; 'First mentioned in the inquisition of 1200-1 (MacCaffrey 1907, 27, 28) it is listed as the dean’s parish in Bishop Donatus O’Brien’s ordinance of 1204-6 (ibid., 116). It was included among the Limerick churches to which Geoffrey Galwey bequeathed a legacy in 1445 (Westropp 1898, 122-3). It was located near the Castle Barrack and is shown on the Hardiman map of c.1590 as having a side aisle to the north of the main building, a central tower with low pointed spire and a planted cemetery. It was destroyed in 1651 (Westropp 1904-5, 358-9)'. Archaeological excavations carried out by Kenneth Wiggins under licence No. 98E0047 revealed skeletal material which may have come from the graveyard belonging to St. Nicholas' Church. The results of this excavation were summarised as following; 'This site lies along the southern side of the Castle Lane development next to King John's Castle. The alms houses were built in the 19th century in the former grounds of St Nicholas's parish church, which was demolished in the second half of the 17th century. The Castle Lane architectural consultants, Murray Ó Laoire Associates, suggested that a combined gas/ESB service trench be dug on the site as part of the groundwork in connection with the construction of Castle Lane. Approval to dig the trench was granted by Limerick Corporation, owners of the alms-house terrace. Work began without archaeological consultation in the garden nearest Nicholas Street on 9 January 1998 but was quickly suspended when some human bone remains were uncovered, denoting the presence of burials relating to the graveyard of the church. Following this discovery arrangements were made to have the digging of the trench archaeologically monitored. However, owing to objections from the residents and other problems, the contractor opted to lay the services along the southern side of the Castle Lane site itself. Therefore the limited area already disturbed at the eastern end of the garden was backfilled and no further work on the site took place' (www.excavations.ie). In 2000 and 2001 archaeological investigations carried out in this area by Celie O'Rahilly of Limerick Corporation and the results were summarised as following; 'This work consisted of a complete refurbishment of both Nicholas Street and Mary Street, in advance of laying a new water main, storm-water sewers and cable ducts. The work extended from the northern end of Nicholas Street, near the Parade (just south of King John’s Castle), to the southern end of Mary Street, near Baal’s Bridge. Additional refurbishment work was carried out along the full length of George’s Quay. In the course of this work, the town wall was identified. As this work is ongoing, it will be dealt with in 2001. All of the work was carried out on what had been the High Street or Great Street of the Englishtown, but for the most part the pipe-trenches were cut through ground that had already been disturbed by a culvert-type sewer down most of the length at a depth of 3m and also by water mains and old and new gas mains (both with individual supplies to the buildings) at different depths. These service trenches resulted in the complete disturbance of the street stratigraphy. The new water main was placed more or less central to the street at an average depth of 1m below the old street level; the ducts were placed under the new footpaths on both sides of the street. Disarticulated human bones, two sherds of medieval pottery and one piece of post-medieval pottery were recovered on Nicholas Street at the entrance to the Corporation’s Almshouse. These were scattered under the concrete footpath on ground that had previously been disturbed by service trenches to the Almshouse and by the restoration of its entrance gate and perimeter wall sometime in the 1970s. The base of these walls seems to be set no deeper than the old street-surface level. Presumably the bones are from the graveyard, which would have been associated with St Nicholas’s medieval parish church to the south of the castle. They are depicted on the Hardiman map of 1590 (TCD MS 1209/57). According to Westropp (1904-5, 354), ‘It was in good repair in 1615’. The church was apparently ‘destroyed’ during the sieges (either 1642 or 1651). Both are mentioned in the Civil Survey of 1654 (Simington 1938, 444): ‘...Church, Churchyard and...is set...by the Comrs of Revenue’, which suggests that they were no longer used for ecclesiastical purposes. A 1658 copy of a taxation of around the early 1400s, made, with annotations, by White, states: ‘The parish church of St Nicholas...Its vicarage belongs to the college of the vicars choral. No traces of this church exist; but it was near the King’s Castle, on the south side’ (Lenihan 1866, 558). Although there were two distinct parishes, St Nicholas’s and St Mary’s, the former was amalgamated to the latter, and the smaller church was presumably deconsecrated and used for secular purposes until it was finally razed. According to Ferrar (1787), the Almshouses were built ‘after the Capitulation of Limerick’ (i.e. the Siege of 1691), probably in the early 1700s. By this stage, the graveyard had not only been out of use for some time, but, presumably, its presence was not remembered' (www.excavations.ie). In 2013 excavations carried out by Aegis Archaeology were summarised as following; 'Monitoring of development works for a parking space near the Widow’s Alms Houses led to the identification of a minimum of seven in situ burials, as well as a quantity of disarticulated human remains. The burials lay directly below the top sod and a thin layer of topsoil. The burials were unexcavated, but were examined by osteo-archaeologist Linda Lynch, on whose report this summary is based. Analysis of the disarticulated bone recovered during the stripping of the site produced an MNI (minimum number of individuals) of three adults and three juveniles. It is possible that these bones originated from some of the seven identified burials, but it is equally likely that at least some of the bones were from burials previously truncated in the area which were not identified during the present works. Development works ceased once the human skeletal remains appeared. It is extremely likely that these are only a small sample of the burials in this location and the likelihood is that there are many more burials both in this site and in the immediate area. The burials also represent the most recent archaeological phase on the site. The site is recorded on www.archaeology.ie as a graveyard, LI005-017144-. In addition, it is known that the site of the medieval church of St Nicholas, LI005-017114-, is located just to the south of the present development. Thus the identification of human burials at this site is not unexpected. As far as could be determined, most of the burials were extended, with the head to the south-west, an entirely normal orientation in terms of Christian burials. The exception was Skeleton 2, c. 3 years, which lay with the head to the north-east. The only adult in the in situ burials was buried in a prone position, lying on the stomach, and was possibly female, although this was based only on morphological features. The pelvis is a more reliable indicator of sex, but exposure of other bones during the present assessment would simply accelerate decomposition of the remains, and the premise was always on minimal disturbance of the remains. After analysis by the osteo-archaeologist, the burials were covered in terram, a layer of sand, then a layer of reinforced concrete, and so are preserved in situ. These works were also monitored' (www.excavations.ie). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 25 July 2019

• LI005-017148 Building
  Description

  Test excavations carried out at 48-50 Mary Street by Tracy Collins, Aegis Archaeology Ltd. under licence no. 00E0635, the results of which were summarised as following; 'This limited excavation was undertaken in advance of a proposed inner-city housing project on the medieval main street (now Mary Street) of the Englishtown of Limerick City. The site is bounded to the south by Fish Lane, to the east by the Northern Relief Road, to the west by Mary Street and to the north by the adjoining property. Owing to extensive cellaring at the site, a trenching brief was formulated by the city archaeologist, Celie O Rahilly, who also monitored the removal of site overburden prior to the excavation. Two trenches were excavated by hand. Trench A was orientated east–west and measured 15m by 4m, reducing to 2m depth. Trench B was orientated north–south and measured 30m by 4m, reducing with depth to 2m. Much of the archaeological stratigraphy of Trench A had been removed by later activities, but the east end of the trench did have in situ archaeological layers. These remains were interpreted as medieval dump deposits, with medieval pottery sherds providing dating evidence. A stone drain only could be identified as an in situ feature. The southern end of Trench B was found to have been disturbed by cellar activity, and all archaeological stratigraphy had been removed. Trench B also yielded several dump deposits, which included some timber planking and an in situ drain, once covered by wattle matting. At the northern end of a trench, a U-shaped cut was exposed, which contained three distinct fills. Because of the narrowness of the trench, it is difficult to interpret the feature, but it appears to be some sort of ditch or layer pit. At the centre of Trench B, two distinct features were excavated. C64 was an area of timber stakes that ran in a general east–west direction and has been tentatively identified as the burgage plot boundary. The second feature, C70, was a stone-lined drain, with timber stakes holding the lining in place and with an associated wattle matting tentatively identified as the drain cover. Finds from the excavation included post-medieval and medieval pottery, animal bone, timbers, mortar bomb fragments and one fragment of human skull. During the overburden clearance, the remains of an undercroft vault were uncovered, with several of its limestone springing stones in situ. The undercroft area measured 6.5m north–south by 10m. The thickness of the vault wall was 0.87m. A precise date has not yet been allocated to the feature, but it is likely to be 16th- or 17th-century in date' (www.excavations.ie). In 2002 a second excavation was carried out by Tracy Collins, Aegis Archaeology Ltd. under licence no. 00E0635 ext., the results of which were summarised as following; 'Part of this site was excavated in 2000 before development (Excavations 2000, No. 594; Collins 2002). The remainder of the site was tested in 2002 to see whether there were archaeological remains in that part and to investigate further an undercroft feature partially exposed during the 2000 excavation. Six trenches were opened on the site, which revealed the remainder of the first undercroft and the remains of two further limestone cellars. Architectural features recorded included corbels, niches and steps, as well as the remains of a red-brick arched passageway, which may be related to the ‘Dutch Billy’ houses that once stood on Mary Street. It was found that access to the undercrofts, averaging 6m wide and 20m long, could be gained from Mary Street to the west, with the northern and southern undercroft also having rear access. The central undercroft did not have rear access. Evidence of vaulting was found only in the northern undercroft. A number of architectural fragments were also recovered during testing. Owing to the lack of secure dating evidence, it is difficult to date the structures, but it appears that at least parts may date to the later medieval period. It was agreed with the developers that part of these features will remain exposed as a component of the new structure, with the remainder being reburied and not affected by the building (Collins 2004) (www.excavations.ie). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 20 December 2019

• LI005-017149 Building
  Description

  Excavations carried out at Sheep Street by Celie O Rahilly under licence no. 00E0423, the results of which were summarised as following; 'This site is located on the eastern side of the King’s Island, Englishtown. Sheep Street, along which the town wall [LI005-017010-] was presumed to run, extends roughly north–south between Meat Market Lane and Gaol Lane and separates two sites. East, and external to the town wall, is Site K.I. 9, a triangular piece of ground, reaching to the Northern Relief Road and defined to the north by Meat Market Lane. West, and inside the town wall, is Site K.I. 10, defined to the north by the yard wall of Mary Street Garda Station, to the west by the eastern boundary of the houses fronting on Mary Street, and to the south by Gaol Lane. In addition to standing remains of the structure known as the Tholsel, located in Gaol Lane, there are ivy-clad walls of a possible late medieval property at the rear of No. 35 Mary Street. Neither of these has been examined in detail to date. Eight cuttings of various lengths were dug with the aim of locating the town wall, determining the nature of archaeological material on both sides of the wall and identifying, if possible, if any structural remains surviving of the houses described in the Civil Survey (Simington 1938). In Cuttings 1, 2 and 7 and the extension of Cutting 2 a wall running for a total distance of 43m along the eastern side of Sheep Street was identified. It followed the changes in direction of the line of the street as depicted on both the 1840 and 1872 OS plans. This wall is presumed to be the town wall. It was located close to the existing ground level, and its external face had been used as a foundation for the 19th-century property boundaries and 20th-century houses fronting the eastern side of Sheep Street. This was in contrast to the area to the south of Gaol Lane, under the Northern Relief Road, where the internal face was used as the foundation, and the rest of the wall was under the houses. The external face of the town wall was exposed to a depth of 2.8m at the southern end of Cutting 2, but elsewhere only the top of the town wall was identified. At the northern end of the site, restrictions of space (due to fencing and underground cables) meant that the wall was not defined, but this should be possible when this area becomes available for investigation. The difference in width at the southern end (1m, compared to 2m in Cutting 2—located more or less central to the site) may be due to this part of the wall being a later addition to the foundation of the wall here, or may be due to the presence of the mural gate, Gaol Lane Gate. Here, a second wall abutted the western face of the first. Given its proximity to the site of the gate at the eastern end of Gaol Lane, it is possible that this second wall may be part of that structure. Within the walled town, Cutting 5 was located at right angles to Sheep Street. Here archaeological layers occurred at 1.8–2.2m deep at the western end and at 0.9m at the eastern end. These consisted of black, organic deposits containing bone and shell. A single sherd of local medieval pottery was recovered from this. The fill of the two other cuttings within the walled town, Cuttings 4 and 8, consisted entirely of loose rubble. In Cutting 4, located on the highest part of the site and in an area where there were no buildings depicted on any of the maps (just east of the lane at the back of the houses on Mary Street), this fill was over 2m deep. Cutting 8 was located on the lowest point of the site in an effort to determine if the demolition rubble, found in Cuttings 4 and 5 (upper levels), was ubiquitous. It was located at right angles to Gaol Lane and crossed the side-wall of the last house on the west side of Sheep Street. On both sides of the wall there was loose rubble fill, which kept collapsing, and so the trench was backfilled. It was not possible to determine whether this was cellar fill or demolition spread. Neither cutting, however, contained any evidence of structural remains that could be interpreted as dating to the mid-1650s. In Cutting 5, the walls as exposed all contained brick. Most of the houses described in the Civil Survey (Simington 1938) were cagework, with one exception, which was stone. This was located ‘east upon the Town Wall’ and to the north of Gaol Lane. Archaeological layers were also identified outside the wall: in Cutting 2, at over 1.9m, and in Cutting 3, at 0.8m. Judging by the pottery, these layers would appear to date to the 17th or 18th century. Similar deposits were defined further east, during the monitoring of the Northern Relief Road, on a site located to the north of Athlunkard Street (Excavations 1999, 169, 99E0135), where this material has been interpreted at the lower level as being a late medieval town dump, subsequently reclaimed as gardens by the late 16th century' (www.excavations.ie). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 20 December 2019

• LI005-017151 Excavation - miscellaneous
  Description

  Archaeological testing carried out at 8–20 George’s Quay by Tracy Collins, Aegis Archaeology Ltd, under licence no. 02E0024, the results of which were summarised as following; 'This development was subject to an archaeological impact assessment and subsequent testing. Owing to time constraints, the site was tested while the buildings (three) on the site were still standing. Nine trenches were excavated by machine across the entire footprint of the new development. Trenches to the south of the site identified cellar walls of the older, Georgian buildings that once stood on the quay. A trench in the eastern part of the site tentatively identified the remains of the medieval Mill Lane, which would have provided access from the medieval main street (Mary Street) to the banks of the Abbey River but which is no longer in use owing to extant buildings. The trenches in the northern part of the site yielded a black organic layer, lacking finds for accurate dating. It is supposed that this is a medieval layer relating to urban occupation. The identified archaeological layers on the site were below the level of development and so could remain in situ. The piling plan of the structures was slightly adjusted to avoid the Georgian walls so that they too could remain in situ. Before testing, it was thought that the medieval town wall may have traversed this site, but from the results it seems that the wall is farther south, under the present-day quay' (www.excavations.ie). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 20 December 2019

• LI005-017152 Excavation - miscellaneous
  Description

  Archaeological testing carried out at Sheep Street by Tracy Collins, Aegis Archaeology Ltd, under licence no. 02E1318, the results of which were summarised as following; 'This large plot, which had been vacant for some time, was tested in 2000 by Celie O Rahilly (Excavations 2000, No. 598, 00E0423). The site is bounded to the south by Gaol Lane, to the east by the Limerick Northern Relief Road, to the north by Meat Market Lane and to the west by the rear of properties that face onto Mary Street. The site is bisected by the medieval town wall. The sites of two medieval gates, Gaol Lane Gate to the south and Abbey Gate to the north, are on the line of the site boundary. The purpose of testing was to locate precisely the deposits found in the previous testing. An impact assessment and building inspection were also undertaken. Twelve trenches were dug across the site, most of which yielded archaeological layers, particularly a black organic layer, up to 2m deep and 1.8m thick, in places. Though obviously archaeological in nature, this layer could not be accurately dated because of the lack of diagnostic artefacts. A later feature, tentatively identified as a small, local, clay-pipe kiln, was found in the western part of the site, perhaps originally situated in a larger structure, which included large amounts of unused clay-pipe fragments. Fragments of similar pipes were recovered during the excavations at Charlotte’s Quay. They were identified as being of Irish manufacture, bearing a stamp with a cock in relief and the legend ‘While I Live I’ll Crow’ and dated to the 19th century (Lynch 1984, 313–14, fig. 14:11). The excavator did not find a kiln at that time, however, so these pipes may have been made locally in a kiln such as the one found at Sheep Street. The Charlotte’s Quay examples had a spade motif on the spur of the bowl, which was not evident on the examples found during this testing. A second phase of testing was undertaken on a site immediately adjacent to the above site. This investigated an area to the north of Meat Market Lane and to the rear of properties that front onto Athlunkard Street. Only three trenches were dug, as most of the plot is covered by sheds (recorded as part of the project). One trench did not reveal any archaeological material; one encountered an old road surface; and the third revealed the same black organic layer that had already been found. Again, it did not contain any datable material and rested on natural, estuarine clays' (www.excavations.ie). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 20 December 2019

• LI005-017153 Excavation - miscellaneous
  Description

  Archaeological testing carried out at 57-8 Mary Street and 1-4 Sir Harry's Mall by Frank Coyne, Aegis Archaeology Ltd, under licence no. 03E1610, the results of which were summarised as following; 'Four test-trenches were excavated at Nos 57 and 58 Mary Street and Nos 1-4 Sir Harry's Mall adjacent to Baal's Bridge [LI005-017001-], in advance of a proposed development. They varied from 18m to 24m in length and were 2m in width. Substantial archaeological remains were uncovered in all trenches. The medieval town wall [LI005-017010-] was identified in Trenches 1, 2 and 4, running in an east-west direction. It measured a maximum of 3m in width and was of limestone rubble construction, with evidence of facing, rubble core and a basal plinth. A substantial stretch of wall, also orientated east-west, was uncovered in Trench 3 and this is interpreted as the remains of a post-medieval quay wall. Trenches 1 and 2 both contained a black humic layer overlying the natural clay, averaging 1m in thickness. This layer represents human occupation build-up. The layer was only present in the areas inside the line of the town wall, suggesting that different activities were being carried out inside and outside the wall. Human skeletal remains were also identified in all four trenches, with articulated remains present in Trenches 1, 2 and 3. Architectural fragments, probably from the nearby abbey [LI005-017115-] (now no longer extant), and a single fragment of green-glazed post-medieval pottery were also recovered' (www.excavations.ie). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 20 December 2019

• LI005-017154 Graveyard
  Description

  This is the burial ground represented by the burials uncovered by Frank Coyne in his excavation at Mary Street/Sir Harry's Mall (03E1610ext.) (excavation misc. LI005-017153-) which are probably associated with the nearby abbey (LI005-017115-). Archaeological testing carried out at 57-8 Mary Street and 1-4 Sir Harry's Mall by Frank Coyne, Aegis Archaeology Ltd, under licence no. 03E1610, the results of which were summarised as following; 'Four test-trenches were excavated at Nos 57 and 58 Mary Street and Nos 1-4 Sir Harry's Mall adjacent to Baal's Bridge [LI005-017001-], in advance of a proposed development. They varied from 18m to 24m in length and were 2m in width. Substantial archaeological remains were uncovered in all trenches. The medieval town wall [LI005-017010-] was identified in Trenches 1, 2 and 4, running in an east-west direction. It measured a maximum of 3m in width and was of limestone rubble construction, with evidence of facing, rubble core and a basal plinth. A substantial stretch of wall, also orientated east-west, was uncovered in Trench 3 and this is interpreted as the remains of a post-medieval quay wall. Trenches 1 and 2 both contained a black humic layer overlying the natural clay, averaging 1m in thickness. This layer represents human occupation build-up. The layer was only present in the areas inside the line of the town wall, suggesting that different activities were being carried out inside and outside the wall. Human skeletal remains were also identified in all four trenches, with articulated remains present in Trenches 1, 2 and 3. Architectural fragments, probably from the nearby abbey [LI005-017115-] (now no longer extant), and a single fragment of green-glazed post-medieval pottery were also recovered' (www.excavations.ie). Further excavations by Linda G Lynch took place in 2005 under licence no. 05E0376, the findings of which were summarised as following; 'Excavations were undertaken at the site of a proposed development at Sir Harry’s Mall. The site had previously been tested by Frank Coyne (Excavations 2004, No. 1020, 03E1610 ext.) The excavations were confined between the line of the medieval town wall [LI005-017010-], which ran east–west along the north side of the site, and a later quay wall running parallel at the south. Pile foundations were proposed, in order to minimise disturbance of the archaeological deposits including human inhumations, which had been confirmed by the testing of Coyne. The archaeological investigations were localised to the areas of the pile foundations. The development site measured 37m east–west by 10m, of which c. 33% was excavated. A total of 90 human skeletons, as well as considerable quantities of disarticulated bone, were recovered during the excavation. The osteo­archaeological analysis is ongoing at present. Stratigraphic information indicated up to four distinct phases of burial. Between the two earliest phases the site appears to have temporarily ceased to function as a cemetery. This was determined from the presence of a double row of stakes that cut through the earliest burials. These stakes were later truncated to allow further interments. An extensive stretch of the southern exterior face of the medieval town wall [LI005-017010-]was exposed during the excavation. Although the plinth of the wall was exposed, the actual base was not revealed. No evidence of an external ditch was recorded, although the concentration of the excavations to the actual pile foundations of the new development may have influenced this. It is likely that the cemetery was associated with the nearby Priory (LI005-017115-) of Ss Mary and Edward (the Fratres Cruciferi), which was founded in 1211/12. The burials post-date the construction of the town wall in 1237. The priory was dissolved in 1538 and demolished in the later 18th century. Indications are therefore that the site may have been used for formal burial from the fourth or fifth decade of the 13th century up until at least the 16th century. Some inhumations – in particular a late prone burial – suggest clandestine use of the cemetery after it went out of official use' (www.excavations.ie). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 20 December 2019

• LI005-017155 Cross - Market cross
  Description

  Hardiman's map of Limerick (c. 1590 AD) shown the 'steps and shaft of a cross on the south side of the cathedral [LI005-017015-]' (O'Flaherty 2010, 2) which may be the market cross referred to in 13th century documents (ibid.).

• LI005-017164 College
  Description

  The medieval Vicars Choral of St Mary's Cathedral (LI005-017015-) which Hodkinson (2010, 53) locates 'on the western half of the block delineated by the present day Nicholas Street, Newgate Lane, Crosbie Row and St. Augustine Place which for most of its recorded history was called Bow Lane'.

• LI005-017165 Religious house - Knights Hospitallers
  Description

  According to Hodkinson (2009, 37) 'the 1292 charter of Edward I granted the Knights Templar the right to have a frankhouse in the city; however this may simply be the formalisation of an already existing situation. Their house lay in Bridge St., inside what are now the grounds of St. Mary's cathedral [LI005-017015-] just uphill of the present entrance. With the suppression of the order it passed to the Knights Hospitallers who held it to the dissolution, whereupon it passed to the Brownes of Kenmare' (Hodkinson 2003, 118-9).

• LI005-017167 House - medieval
  Description

  Medieval stone house known as the archdeacon's court, located on the N side of Newgate Lane in Limerick City. In 1582 the English crown granted John O'Grady alias Brady of Tuamgraney, Co. Clare, son and heir of Dionysius O Grady alias Brady lands including 'a stone house in the city of Limerick called the archdeacon's court with eight tenements adjoining, in the parish of S. Nicholas, the north part lying to the cemetery of S. Nicholas, the south to the lane called Tray Invollin alias the Millshore and the west to the Back lane, in which house the said Dionysius O Grady, knt., died (Nicholls 1994, 543-4). O'Flaherty (2010, Fig. 3, 53) recorded the following details about this medieval house; 'Archdeacon's house, Newgate Lane N. Stone house called the archdeacon's court 1582 ... converted to cotton manufactory by 1781'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 23 December 2019

• LI005-017168 House - medieval
  Description

  Medieval stone house known as the manor of the Chanter, located on the N side of Newgate Lane in Limerick City. In 1577 the English crown granted a 21 year lease to 'Hercules Raynsforde, gent.; of two water mills [LI005-017074-] now decayed, in one house, called the King's mills in the city of Lymericke, upon the bank of the Shenyne [Shannon], between Cordowerr [LI005-110----] on the west side and the manor of the chantor of the church [LI005-017015-] of the city on the other side, parcel of the queen's ancient inheritance' (Nicholls 1994, 403). O'Flaherty (2010, Fig. 3, 53) recorded the following details about the Chanter's House in Limerick City: 'Chanter's house, Newgate Lane N. Manor of the chanter 1577. Chanter's house 1663'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 23 December 2019

• LI005-017169 House - medieval
  Description

  Medieval stone house which was the residence of the Dean of St. Mary's Church known as the deanery later replaced by the City Gaol on Merchants Quay. In the year 1295 John Dullard, chancellor of the church (LI005-017015-) of Limerick, complained about 'Roger de Lesse sheriff of Limerick, that when he (John) was going to the house of the dean of said church, on a business against Roger, Roger took him and imprisoned him in the castle (LI005-017014-) of Limerick' (Mills 1905, 2). O'Flaherty (2010, Fig 3, 53) recorded the following details; 'Deanery, Newgate Lane West N. Dean's house 1665., yard 1747 (Potter MS, 1/23, 1/127). Dean’s court 1783 (RD 351/147/235372). Deanery, site planned for City Gaol 1788 (Deanery plan)'. City Gaol, Merchants Quay, N. end, on site of former deanery. Built by 1813 (Lenihan 1866, 430), 1827 (McKern). Demolished, replaced by Limerick Civic Offices in 1988 (wall plaque; local information). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 23 December 2019

• LI005-017170 Town hall
  Description

  O'Flaherty (2010, Fig. 3, 28) recorded the following details about the medieval Tholsel located at the junction of Mary St and Gaol Lane in Limerick City; 'Tholsel, junction Mary St/Gaol Lane (80057505). Tholsel 1406 (Westropp 1898, 41). Built or rebuilt in 1449 (Ferrar 1767, 20). Tholsel or courthouse 1629 (Sexten MS, 89). Rebuilt in 1640 (Shirley, 443). Courthouse or Town Hall, formerly town clerk’s hall, with gatehouse 1654 (CS). Town Hall, offices transferred to City Courthouse premises in 1654. Ruinous, rebuilt in 1664 (Dineley, 443). Converted to City Gaol (q.v.) after 1673 (Hill, 1991, 52). Illustration 1681 (Dineley MS, 140). Demolished in c. 1740 (Potter, 2006, 68)'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 23 December 2019

• LI005-017173 Excavation - miscellaneous
  Description

  Excavations undertaken at Convent St. by Celie O Rahilly under licence No. 94E073 was summarised as following; 'This site is located within the walled town on Convent St., stretching east-west from Convent St. to Bishop's St. Machine excavation was carried out in both May and September 1994. In the initial investigation, five openings were located along the site. In the first four of these, a layer of dark material occurred below the surface: Cut 1: 0.5m, Cut 2: 0.7m, Cut 3: 0.95m, Cut 4: 0.6m. This material is probably a medieval deposit. However, no features were found. In Cut 1, at the east end of the site, the natural clay sloped down from west to east. It was concluded that this could represent a ditch which may have defined the original line of the town wall prior to the incorporation of the grounds of St Saviour's Priory within the walled town. There is a reference to this inner town wall in the Civil Survey of 1654. Further openings were made in this area in September in an attempt to clarify this and locate the actual wall. The work, however, only revealed walls of the houses and a possible shed built on the site in the 19th century and there was no trace of any early stone wall which could be identified as a town wall. The eastwards slope of the possible ditch was confirmed and its overlying fill is archaeological. Since this end of the site will not be built on as Bishop's St. is to be widened, excavation was not deemed necessary. In the fifth opening, located at the Nicholas St. end of the site, cellars were found, the walls of which might have been of a late medieval town house. Due to the loose fill, it was not possible to examine these in order to confirm this. Further work was attempted in September but due to fencing and an E.S.B. cable, space was restricted. These walls will be left in situ as the proposed development of Local Authority housing will not interfere with them. A cut stone font was found in the cellar fill. It consists of a block of limestone, 0.23m high. The top part is 0.23m square by 0.11m high with a central circular bowl, 0.18m diameter by 0.1m deep. The sub-circular base measures 0.22m x 0.23m by 0.12m high. The corners at the base of the top are faceted where the change in shape occurs and each side has a flat surface, 1m wide, extending the full height. One face is inscribed across the top with the letters : "P U 1731." (www.excavations.ie)'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 23 December 2019

• LI005-017175 Excavation - miscellaneous
  Description

  Excavations undertaken at Exchange Street by Mary Henry under licence No. 96E0263 was summarised as following; 'The condition attached to planning permission only provided for the archaeological monitoring of all underground works. However, it soon became apparent, during the monitoring of the digging of foundations, that the site warranted an archaeological assessment prior to the commencement of any development works. The site was located in the heart of medieval Limerick. Exchange Street extends at right angles to Nicholas Street, the main medieval street in Limerick. Following consultations with the OPW, it was decided that monitoring was not sufficient and that the site should be tested in advance of the construction of townhouses. A number of the test-trenches contained large quantities of finds of medieval date. The material, however, was out of context, and the presence of post-medieval finds in the same layers as the medieval pottery sherds indicated that much of the material was redeposited in the post-medieval period. The redeposited material sealed a paved street and a well. The paved area occurred between 1.6m and 1.7m below modern ground level. The well, although predominantly built of limestone, contained some eighteenth-century red and yellow brick, indicating that it was in use during the post-medieval period. The isolated fragments of brick may have been used in repair works on the well and therefore cannot be of help in securing a date for its construction, and no finds were recovered. Rich organic deposits were found on the part of the site nearest to Nicholas Street, but it was not possible, owing to the restrictive timeframe, to excavate them. However, the deposits were protected, as much as possible, from development works' (www.excavations.ie). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 24 December 2019

• LI005-017176 Excavation - miscellaneous
  Description

  Excavations undertaken at Fish lane / Sir Harry's Mall, King's Island, by Kenneth Hanley under licence No. 96E0334 was summarised as following; 'The excavation was conducted between 14/10/1996 and 25/7/1997, in advance of the Northern Relief Road running from Athlunkard Street, King’s Island, through to a proposed new bridge across the Abbey River. The site is located on the south-east corner of King’s Island, between Fish Lane and Sir Harry’s Mall. This area of the island is clearly depicted on Hardiman’s map of Limerick (c. 1590). The south-east corner of the medieval town wall [LI005-017010-] is depicted with what appears to be a corner-tower. Inside this the priory of the Fratres Cruciferi [LI005-017115-] is marked as St Mary’s House. This priory is referred to in the Irish Pipe Rolls of 1211–12 and was dissolved in 1537, when it was partially converted into a fish-house. The excavation was confined to the line of the proposed road and its principle aims were to locate and examine the medieval town wall, if present; to examine whether or not a corner-tower existed; and to locate and examine the priory of the Fratres Cruciferi. As the new road was designed to rise above the site, it was decided that it was not necessary to remove all the archaeology from the site. Once the key research goals were met, the remaining archaeology would be covered and left undisturbed. The site was partially cleared in September 1996 by Celie O Rahilly (Excavations 1996, 70–1, 96E0213). The excavation proper commenced in October 1996 with Cuttings 1 and 2. Cutting 2 was later extended to the west and Cutting 3 was opened to the south. An initial trial-cutting by O Rahilly had revealed a large limestone wall running north–south, roughly in line with the perceived line (based on mapping evidence) of the medieval town wall. This area was extended to form Cutting 1. The cutting measured 7.5m north–south x 14m east–west and was excavated in tandem with Cutting 2. The cutting revealed a series of limestone walls that subsequently turned out to be one of six Georgian houses built by Sir Harry Hartstonge c. 1779, facing east onto the then newly constructed Sir Harry’s Mall. After approximately 80–85 years of use the house was eventually abandoned and destroyed. By 1870 the plot was vacant and owned by the corporation. The Georgian houses were known to have been built outside the town wall in order to be ‘free…from corporation claims and other city taxes’. This suggested that the town wall was located to the west of Cutting 1. As the aim of the cutting was to examine whether the exposed walls were part of the town wall (and because it was outside the line of the road) the excavation of Cutting 1 was discontinued at c. 1.13m OD before any medieval levels were exposed. The main aim of Cutting 2 (12m east–west x 14m north–south) was to identify the line of the town wall and locate the priory [LI005-017115-]. This cutting was to the south of Cutting 1. To the west of the cutting (at 1.43m OD) was a limestone paving area. It is not known if this was an internal or external feature and there were no associated finds or features. This was followed by the development of c. 0.55m of organic and humic deposits. In one area a large limestone building was inserted. This measured 9m x 7m (min.). This was possibly an earlier priory structure. To the north of this a low revetment wall was built with a pathway to its south. Both structures ran in an east–west direction. To the north of these was an industrial kiln area. Finds from these features suggested an early medieval date. A series of organic deposits developed across the site, covering the kiln activity and the large limestone building. Some other sections of thick medieval limestone walls were revealed, but their function could not be identified. One of these was truncated by a late medieval vertical shaft, lined at the base by a series of limestone flags. Pick-dressed steps led from this to the west. They were flanked to the north by a limestone revetment. To the east of the cutting another large limestone building, 1.2–2m wide, was uncovered. It may have been part of the medieval priory [LI005-017115-]. The western end of this structure was originally misinterpreted as being part of the medieval town wall. This building was eventually destroyed in the post-medieval period. The continuation of the Georgian properties was also exposed leading from Cutting 1. To the rear of two of the excavated houses a garden wall was revealed that divided two post-medieval garden areas, each of which appeared to have had an external limestone latrine. There is strong evidence to suggest that the foundation trench for the Georgian houses in Cutting 2 consisted of a large, single, rectangular box trench. This foundation trench appears to have destroyed a large volume of medieval strata. At the western end of the cutting was a large 18th/19th-century ‘hall-shaped’ structure, linked (to the north) to an earlier medieval wall. On its western side it had two large openings in the wall. It is not clear whether this structure was ever roofed. The internal area consisted largely of mixed clays with a small residue patch of cobbling. To the east a long limestone wall was built, parallel to the hall-shaped structure. This formed an early lane running north–south through the heart of Cutting 2. The lane was initially cobbled and later resurfaced, forming O’Doherty Terrace. To the north was a series of post-medieval properties flanking Fish Lane. They consisted of small, 6m x 6m, limestone-built ‘rooms’. Below these was a series of cobbled surfaces, probably representing some external yard spaces. Cutting 3 was situated to the south of Cutting 2 along the line of the proposed road. The aim of this cutting was to examine whether the town wall [LI005-017010-] ran below or near the medieval Little Fish Lane. It was also intended to examine whether or not a corner-tower existed, as some of the early mapping evidence suggested (Hardiman, 1590; Speed, 1611). After the initial clearance, the line of the town wall, abutting an earlier (10m x 1m) limestone wall which ran east–west, was revealed. To the south of this wall a series of three human burials was exposed. It was decided to excavate a small trial-cutting (7m x 1m) in order to examine whether the town wall continued south beyond the large medieval wall and to examine the nature of the burials. The test-trench revealed that the town wall did not continue and that the burials represented a prolonged period of inhumation, medieval in date. This suggested the presence of a medieval cemetery. [LI005-017177-]. It was decided to widen Cutting 3 in order to evaluate the extent of the cemetery. This revealed that the eastern part of the cemetery had been largely destroyed by subsequent post-medieval activity. No burials were identified to the north of the large medieval wall, suggesting that the wall delimited the cemetery to the north. There was also evidence that some of the burial activity post-dated the medieval wall. The function of this wall was unclear. It was abutted to the north by the town wall, which ran from Cutting 2. The extent of the cemetery to the south and the east is not clear as these areas ran beyond the limit of the cutting. In all, 31 burials (including partial burials) were excavated. Based on the concentration of burials found in the 7m x 1m trial-cutting and the known extent of the cemetery, it is broadly estimated that the total number of burials in the cemetery could be between 100 and 200. Other features identified included some structural remains involving the remains of a wall with a triple row of stake-holes leading west from it. It is not clear what this feature represents. So far their age is unknown but they are believed to be medieval. The significance of the burial-ground is twofold: to date there is no known record of a cemetery in this area of King’s Island (though more d

• LI005-017177 Burial ground
  Description

  Excavations undertaken at Fish lane / Sir Harry's Mall, King's Island, by Kenneth Hanley under licence No. 96E0334 was summarised as following; 'The excavation was conducted between 14/10/1996 and 25/7/1997, in advance of the Northern Relief Road running from Athlunkard Street, King’s Island, through to a proposed new bridge across the Abbey River. The site is located on the south-east corner of King’s Island, between Fish Lane and Sir Harry’s Mall. This area of the island is clearly depicted on Hardiman’s map of Limerick (c. 1590). The south-east corner of the medieval town wall [LI005-017010-] is depicted with what appears to be a corner-tower. Inside this the priory of the Fratres Cruciferi [LI005-017115-] is marked as St Mary’s House. This priory is referred to in the Irish Pipe Rolls of 1211–12 and was dissolved in 1537, when it was partially converted into a fish-house. The excavation was confined to the line of the proposed road and its principle aims were to locate and examine the medieval town wall, if present; to examine whether or not a corner-tower existed; and to locate and examine the priory of the Fratres Cruciferi. As the new road was designed to rise above the site, it was decided that it was not necessary to remove all the archaeology from the site. Once the key research goals were met, the remaining archaeology would be covered and left undisturbed. The site was partially cleared in September 1996 by Celie O Rahilly (Excavations 1996, 70–1, 96E0213). The excavation proper commenced in October 1996 with Cuttings 1 and 2. Cutting 2 was later extended to the west and Cutting 3 was opened to the south. An initial trial-cutting by O Rahilly had revealed a large limestone wall running north–south, roughly in line with the perceived line (based on mapping evidence) of the medieval town wall. This area was extended to form Cutting 1. The cutting measured 7.5m north–south x 14m east–west and was excavated in tandem with Cutting 2. The cutting revealed a series of limestone walls that subsequently turned out to be one of six Georgian houses built by Sir Harry Hartstonge c. 1779, facing east onto the then newly constructed Sir Harry’s Mall. After approximately 80–85 years of use the house was eventually abandoned and destroyed. By 1870 the plot was vacant and owned by the corporation. The Georgian houses were known to have been built outside the town wall in order to be ‘free…from corporation claims and other city taxes’. This suggested that the town wall was located to the west of Cutting 1. As the aim of the cutting was to examine whether the exposed walls were part of the town wall (and because it was outside the line of the road) the excavation of Cutting 1 was discontinued at c. 1.13m OD before any medieval levels were exposed. The main aim of Cutting 2 (12m east–west x 14m north–south) was to identify the line of the town wall and locate the priory [LI005-017115-]. This cutting was to the south of Cutting 1. To the west of the cutting (at 1.43m OD) was a limestone paving area. It is not known if this was an internal or external feature and there were no associated finds or features. This was followed by the development of c. 0.55m of organic and humic deposits. In one area a large limestone building was inserted. This measured 9m x 7m (min.). This was possibly an earlier priory structure. To the north of this a low revetment wall was built with a pathway to its south. Both structures ran in an east–west direction. To the north of these was an industrial kiln area. Finds from these features suggested an early medieval date. A series of organic deposits developed across the site, covering the kiln activity and the large limestone building. Some other sections of thick medieval limestone walls were revealed, but their function could not be identified. One of these was truncated by a late medieval vertical shaft, lined at the base by a series of limestone flags. Pick-dressed steps led from this to the west. They were flanked to the north by a limestone revetment. To the east of the cutting another large limestone building, 1.2–2m wide, was uncovered. It may have been part of the medieval priory [LI005-017115-]. The western end of this structure was originally misinterpreted as being part of the medieval town wall. This building was eventually destroyed in the post-medieval period. The continuation of the Georgian properties was also exposed leading from Cutting 1. To the rear of two of the excavated houses a garden wall was revealed that divided two post-medieval garden areas, each of which appeared to have had an external limestone latrine. There is strong evidence to suggest that the foundation trench for the Georgian houses in Cutting 2 consisted of a large, single, rectangular box trench. This foundation trench appears to have destroyed a large volume of medieval strata. At the western end of the cutting was a large 18th/19th-century ‘hall-shaped’ structure, linked (to the north) to an earlier medieval wall. On its western side it had two large openings in the wall. It is not clear whether this structure was ever roofed. The internal area consisted largely of mixed clays with a small residue patch of cobbling. To the east a long limestone wall was built, parallel to the hall-shaped structure. This formed an early lane running north–south through the heart of Cutting 2. The lane was initially cobbled and later resurfaced, forming O’Doherty Terrace. To the north was a series of post-medieval properties flanking Fish Lane. They consisted of small, 6m x 6m, limestone-built ‘rooms’. Below these was a series of cobbled surfaces, probably representing some external yard spaces. Cutting 3 was situated to the south of Cutting 2 along the line of the proposed road. The aim of this cutting was to examine whether the town wall [LI005-017010-] ran below or near the medieval Little Fish Lane. It was also intended to examine whether or not a corner-tower existed, as some of the early mapping evidence suggested (Hardiman, 1590; Speed, 1611). After the initial clearance, the line of the town wall, abutting an earlier (10m x 1m) limestone wall which ran east–west, was revealed. To the south of this wall a series of three human burials was exposed. It was decided to excavate a small trial-cutting (7m x 1m) in order to examine whether the town wall continued south beyond the large medieval wall and to examine the nature of the burials. The test-trench revealed that the town wall did not continue and that the burials represented a prolonged period of inhumation, medieval in date. This suggested the presence of a medieval cemetery. [LI005-017177-]. It was decided to widen Cutting 3 in order to evaluate the extent of the cemetery. This revealed that the eastern part of the cemetery had been largely destroyed by subsequent post-medieval activity. No burials were identified to the north of the large medieval wall, suggesting that the wall delimited the cemetery to the north. There was also evidence that some of the burial activity post-dated the medieval wall. The function of this wall was unclear. It was abutted to the north by the town wall, which ran from Cutting 2. The extent of the cemetery to the south and the east is not clear as these areas ran beyond the limit of the cutting. In all, 31 burials (including partial burials) were excavated. Based on the concentration of burials found in the 7m x 1m trial-cutting and the known extent of the cemetery, it is broadly estimated that the total number of burials in the cemetery could be between 100 and 200. Other features identified included some structural remains involving the remains of a wall with a triple row of stake-holes leading west from it. It is not clear what this feature represents. So far their age is unknown but they are believed to be medieval. The significance of the burial-ground is twofold: to date there is no known record of a cemetery in this area of King’s Island (though more d

• LI005-017186 Weir - fish
  Description

  Excavations carried out in the Abbey River under licence No. 98E0581 ext. by Ed O'Donovan on behalf of Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd were summarised as following; 'Over the past year and a half, excavations in advance of construction work associated with the Limerick Main Drainage Scheme have been carried out. The report on the first phase of these excavations (Excavations 1999, 169–71) included brief reports on excavations along George’s Quay and at Broad Street. The Phase I excavations also included an account of the various artefacts recovered from the bed of the Abbey River between Matthew Bridge and Baal’s Bridge. This year the excavations in the riverbed extended from Matthew Bridge to the mouth of the Abbey River, with its junction with the Shannon at Curragour Point, and from Curragour Point in the Shannon to Sarsfield Lock, and also included a short programme of excavation on George’s Quay. Town wall along George’s Quay Two further sections of the medieval town wall were uncovered along George’s Quay (at Manholes E and F). Deep excavation was not required as the construction work was relatively shallow; however, the laying of new pipes along the quay at the junction of Creagh Lane and George’s Quay did reveal a substantial wall running parallel to the quay. The preliminary interpretation of the structure suggested that it formed part of a bastion or building standing proud of the line of the town wall. Structures standing proud of the town wall along the Abbey River are illustrated on the early historic maps of the city (Pacata Hibernia map, Hardiman’s map and Speed’s map). Organic deposits of 16th-century date abutting the structure contained the grain weevil Sitophilus granarius. This insect is a pest of stored grain in particular and is entirely dependent on humans for its dispersal (Eileen Reilly, pers. comm.). These deposits are possibly related to grain stored around Nicholas Arthur’s Mill, depicted on Hardiman’s map (c. 1590) (www.excavations.ie). 16th/17th-century weir in the Abbey River The foundations of an early weir (LI005-017186-) were identified in the Abbey River. The structure pre-dates Charlotte’s Quay and Bank Place and is thought to form a head-race for two mills on either side of the river, one under Bank Place (LI005-017098-) and the other (LI005-017069-) at the junction of Creagh Lane and George’s Quay. This again may relate to Nicholas Arthur’s Mill depicted on Hardiman’s map, c. 1590 (TCD, MS 1209/57). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 19 November 2019

Architectural heritage

• Almshouse, 1690–1700 · Regional interest
  Description

  Terrace of five three-bay two-storey limestone almshouses, reputedly built in 1691, restored in 1970 and renovated by Limerick Corporation in 1993. Pitched slate roof with six limestone chimneystacks with plain clay pots. Coursed rubble limestone front elevation and side elevation with limestone ashlar quoins and red brick to chimney flue on side elevation, partially replaced c. 1995. Segmental-headed boarded-up window openings with red brick arches, red brick and limestone reveals, limestone sills. Segmental-headed blocked-up door openings with red brick arches, red brick and limestone reveals, some with limestone steps. Terrace perpendicular to the street located within grounds enclosed by coursed rubble limestone to south and east, with limestone capping. Two limestone ashlar piers joined by rusticated limestone plinth wall with coping surmounted by replacement mild steel railings, c. 1990. Low level wall to west has matching detailing. To north is a rusticated stone with pronounced horizontal joints. Railings and piers have been moved since 1870.

• Prison/jail, 1810–1815 · Regional interest
  Description

  Five-bay two-storey limestone breakfront façade to former gaol, built between 1811-13, with recessed double-height arch dividing pediment. Rusticated limestone ashlar partially engaged piers grouped in pairs with square stringcourses. Stone generally tooled limestone ashlar. Square-headed blind window openings with limestone sills flanking breakfront, with replacement powder coated aluminium windows to first floor. Square-headed blind door openings flank central three-centred arch with recessed panels above. The whole is integrated into a coursed rubble limestone wall forming the northwest elevation of the City Hall.

• Saint Mary's Cathedral, cathedral, 1160–1250 · National interest
  Description

  Freestanding cruciform-plan limestone Church of Ireland cathedral, begun c. 1160, with subsequent phases of construction and alterations, belonging to the succeeding centuries. Incorporates two-bay two-storey former school building to northeast. Pitched slate roof on cruciform plan with lead ridging. Secondary pitched roofs over aisles and school. Western elevation with tower rising above entrance bay with decorated Romanesque sandstone portal, and three lancet windows overhead. Buttresses to entrance bay, which is prolonged to either side by two-storey crenellated aisle and chapel elevations. Flanking bays composed of rubble limestone recently re-pointed with hammer finish. Limestone ashlar window surrounds and crenellations. Four double lancet traceried windows to ground floor of west elevation, each of different design. Central Romanesque doorway with chevron carving and individually decorated capitals enclosed within semi-circular hood moulding with carved stops. First floor windows all gave squared drip mouldings. Those to the south of the entrance are round-headed, pointed arch openings with drip moulding to each side of tower at second stage with quatrefoil over double lancet. Tracery with vent. Stringcourse over with crenellated parapet and crenellated turrets to each corner. Multiple-bay coursed and squared rubble limestone south elevation with Irish style crenellated ashlar limestone parapet with four limestone gargoyles. Squared and snecked hammered limestone transept bay with stepped gable parapet. Gabled entrance porch with crenellated crenellated parapet and central pointed-arch door with flanking slit windows and silt window overhead. Two abutting mausoleums, one with bas relief carved lintel. Varied pointed-arch windows with limestone tracery, ranging from geometric to Perpendicular Gothic, all with drip mouldings and leaded stained glass to most, quarry glass to easternmost bay. Two bipartite windows under square drip mouldings with limestone mullions and quarry glazing. Five pointed-arch trefoil lancet windows to transept bay. Trefoil in round open with stone cross to apex of transept bay. East elevation faced in rubble limestone to window sill level, squared and snecked faced elevation above, terminating with a stepped gable parapet with crucifix finial and flanked by angle buttresses. Triple pointed-arch lancet window arrangement to chancel formed in limestone ashlar. Two-bay two-storey school building to north of chancel elevation having timber sash windows within pointed-arch openings. Ground floor obscured by perimeter wall. Two-bay two-storey house of no value to northeast corner, built c. 1970. North elevation comprising multiple-bay squared and coursed rubble limestone walls, of varying periods, with squared and snecked face to gabled transept bay. Five pointed-arch and trefoil lancets to north transept bay with three double lancets windows with limestone mullions underneath, of varying periods. Gabled chapel bay to east of transept having five trefoil lancet windows beneath relieving arch. Two pointed-arch traceried windows and one round-arched double lancet to western end. Nave separated from aisles by massive rubble limestone square pillars forming pointed-arch arcades, each with ashlar limestone quadrant corners with a plinth base and cornice. Clerestorey with round-arched window openings above. Exposed timber roof structure with rafters rising from timber plate with stone corbels beneath. Chapels open onto north aisle and one single-height chapel is located to west of entrance porch and two further chapels located to towards the alter. All windows except those to clerestorey have stained glass. The tall lancet windows to the central north chapel have modern stained glass. New slate slab floor finish with ceramic tiles to south aisle and cream limestone to alter, all c. 1995. Barrel and timber groin vaults to other areas. Sculpted wall memorials throughout. Timber choir stalls and assorted loose and fixed timber furniture remaining. Brass chandeliers and corrugated glass lights c. 1890 hang from ceiling. A form of stone rood screen and pewter and glass railings define the extent of the historic alter area. Richly carved limestone reredos with three mosaic and ceramic portraits of Christ. Originally limestone slab alter re-instated centuries after removal by Cromwell. Ornate timber canopy over Bishop's throne. Baroque monument contains effigies of Donugh O'Brien Earl of Thomond and his wife Elizabeth Fitzgerald Mor O'Brien, last king of Munster, and founder of Cathedral located at base. The Pery chapel contains white marble effigy to Edmond Henry, Lord Glentworth, who died in 1844. A white marble statue of a seated figure representing John Jebbs DD, who died 1838, dominates the Arthur Chapel amidst wall plaques. Carved oak misericords, c. 1480 line the transept with individual carving to the centre of underside of seat sedilia tombs dedicated to Geoffrey Arthur, who died in 1519, is located to north transept, also a sprocketed gabled niche tomb to Richard Bultingfort, fourteenth-century mayor of Limerick. Heavily eroded Portland stone, nineteenth-century Gothic wall panel exists in one of the south chapels. West boundary has low wall with new pillared entry with stepped path to Romanesque portal. South boundary has railings on limestone plinth walls. East boundary wall incorporates sixteenth-century round-arched Tuscan order arcade, which is part of the former exchange building. Several inscription plaques and pedestrian gates. North boundary has limestone wall in various locations. The churchyard has many nineteenth-century recumbent grave markers several prominent mausolea.

• Saint Mary's Catholic Church, house, 1700–1720 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached five-bay three-storey limestone parochial house, built c. 1710, with a two-storey three-bay return to the rear, erected c. 1800. Pitched artificial slate roof with rendered chimneystack to apex of gables. Cast-iron rainwater goods. First three-bays of façade faced in squared and snecked limestone, with squared and coursed limestone to the two end bays. Red brick dog-tooth eaves course, introduced c. 1880. Cement rendered gabled side elevation to south and rear elevation, which are without any fenestration. Squared and coursed limestone northeast gable elevation with cement render to apex of gable. Square-headed window openings, one round-arched to side elevation, with handmade red brick flat arches, block-and-start reveals, limestone sills and replacement six-over-six timber sash windows, 1989. uPVC windows to the return. Elliptical-arched door opening with red brick arch, cement rendered reveals, and replacement timber doorcase with double-leaf doors and glazed fanlight. Bas relief plaque over front door representing the Arthur coat of arms. Very much modified interior. A mid eighteenth-century staircase with open thread swan neck balustrade with double Doric newels on pear shaped bases at the landing junctions. Trace of former arch on façade removed, c. 1960. One remaining gate pier, of eighteenth-century origins.

• School, 1730–1780 · Regional interest
  Description

  Attached school building, erected in 1732. It was erected in the scholatic style of Gothic to the north side of Saint Mary's Cathedral. It was revived in 1772, by the bishop and the dean, having fallen into decay. Pointed-headed window openings. Plaque to front elevation refers to its being revised in 1772.

• Barrington's Hospital, hospital/infirmary, 1820–1840 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached five-bay three-storey over basement limestone hospital building, built between 1829-30, with a centrally-placed arcaded portico on a raised podium. Historically incorporated the city dispensary. Four-bay east wing with breakfront end bay, possibly a later addition. Vaguely matching this wing to the west is a stone clad four-bay three-storey wing, built c. 2004, prolonged to west with glazed bay rising to a recessed fourth floor level. Glazed concrete built stair wall and single-storey entrance projection, c. 1960, to east-facing side elevation. Return to rear, with attached five-bay three-storey rendered hostel building built c. 1920. Rear elevation facing onto Mary Street. Roof concealed behind parapet wall. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Limestone ashlar facing to façade with punched finish with draft margins to ashlar blocks; limestone platbands delineating floor levels, elaborated to form cornices on elevation of east wing. Limestone ashlar parapet entablature with blocking course. Square-headed window openings, plain smooth limestone ashlar architraves; six-over-six timber sash windows, replacement casement windows to basement level and second floor level. Tripartite window opening to ground floor of end bay and console brackets supporting entablature over first floor window opening. Elaborate arcaded portico with paired piers sharing impost blocks which support arches and parapet entablature above. Medallions to two central spandrels. Lettering to frieze reads: 'Barringtons' Hospital. Erected 1829.' Portico standing on raised podium accessed by two flights of steps with half-landings having limestone parapet walls with end piers supporting late nineteenth-century cast-iron lamp standards. Basement entrance between steps, bridged above by entrance platform enclosed by limestone balustrade. Round-arch front door opening with rusticated voussoirs and replacement double-leaf panelled timber door with multiple-paned sidelights and fanlight, all c. 2004.

• Mary Street Garda Síochána Station, garda station/constabulary barracks, 1890–1910 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached three-bay two-storey L-plan red brick former garda station, built c. 1900, with two single-storey accretions to the rear. Hipped natural slate roof with black ridge tiles and cast-iron rainwater goods, on a red brick eaves course (slate removed to rear). Red brick walls laid in English garden wall bond. Gauged red brick flat-arched window openings with limestone sills and six-over-six timber sash windows, in various states of intactness. Centrally-placed gabled entrance porch with a slate roof, and gauged brick segmental-arched door opening with overlight. Site enclosed to front by temporary hoarding, with limestone plinth wall with concrete coping to side supporting cast-iron rail posts with horizontal bar railings with red brick supporting piers. Rubble limestone boundary wall to rear with pedestrian door opening.

• Gerald Griffin Memorial Schools, court house, 1760–1770 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached four-bay two-storey over concealed basement limestone former courthouse building, built between 1763-66, with central pedimented breakfront and round-arched window openings to ground and first floor level. Substantial alterations occurring when the building was remodelled from 1846 for use as a school. Further work carried out, between 1906-8, with the addition of a storey for schoolroom space. Facing west with a pedimented entrance opening on rubble limestone screen wall south. Three-bay two-storey north-facing side elevation fronting directly onto Court House Lane. Hipped artificial slate roof behind a parapet wall with decorative cast-iron gutter to north elevation. uPVC rainwater goods to other elevations. One rendered chimneystack to south. Coarsely finished squared and tooled ashlar limestone walls with rusticated quoins to corners and articulating breakfront. Ruled and lined rendered walls to first floor of north elevation and all other elevations. Limestone plinth course and limestone sill course at ground floor level. A limestone ashlar platband joins window openings at the springing of the arches. Parapet entablature and pediment with blind lunette and Celtic cross finial to apex. To window pier to central bays at first floor level is a niche with white marble bust of Gerald Griffin. Above in raised lettering reads: 'Gerald Griffin Memorial Schools'. Round-arched window openings to ground and first floor level with limestone ashlar sill course at ground floor level, sills with apron drops at first floor level, carved limestone architraves to all, having archivolts springing from square-block bases, each finished with a keystone; late nineteenth-century twelve-over-twelve and six-over-six timber sash windows with fanlights above upper sashes, forming leaded coloured glass lights. Door opening to screen wall to south distinguished by a pediment rising raised above coping level with S-scroll ends. Round-arched door with limestone ashlar architrave and archivolt joined by keystone. Replacement plank timber door, c. 1990. Relief lettering over door reading: 'Christian Brothers Schools'. Carved limestone crest plaque to pediment. Enclosed yard to rear not accessed.

• The Exchange, building misc, 1670–1780 · Regional interest
  Description

  Arcaded six-bay single-storey limestone exterior wall forming the remains of the former Exchange, originally built in 1673, rebuilt in 1702 and again in between 1777-78. Forms part of the wall which surrounds Saint Mary's Cathedral graveyard and faces onto Nicholas Street. Historically in use as an evening national school. Now much obscured by vegetative growth. The blind arcade of seven arches is formed by half-engaged Tuscan columns standing on limestone base, breaking to centre arch and end bay to west. Profiled archivolts unseen. Entablature to parapet obscured. Roughly squared and coursed rubble limestone infill between arches. At either end is an ashlar limestone pier engaged with end columns, giving strength of composition to the broad intercolumniation. Plaque to Cathedral wall reads: This Exchange Was Rebuilt At Expense Of The Corporation Of Limerick The First Year Of The Reign Of Queen Anne Anno Dom 1702 William Davis Esquire Mayor Rawley Colroys Robert Wilkinson Sheriffs'.

• Saint Mary's Cathedral, mausoleum, 1840–1850 · Regional interest
  Description

  Freestanding square-plan limestone mausoleum, erected in 1842, on an elevated site within the grounds Saint Mary's Cathedral. Limestone flagged depressed pyramidal roof on limestone ashlar parapet. Limestone ashlar walls with profiled frieze architrave, blank frieze and cornice above, with canted ledge for water run off. To the frieze above the door is a limestone plaque reading: 'Thomas Boyd Esq of Kilmarnock, 44 Years resident in this city. Died the 15th day of June 1839, aged 82 years.' Also raised carved family crest with inscription beneath reading: Confido. Additional commemorative plaque to west elevation reads: 'This mausoleum was erected by James Butler Boyd, Esqe. of Claremont Villa, in the City of Limerick. As a tribute of regard, to perpetuate the memory of the departed worth of Mary, his beloved and affectionate wife, who, in the prime of her life, after a few hours illness, fell asleep in Jesus! On the 24th day of April, 1842, in the 27th year of her age, leaving her afflicted husband inconsolable, at the demise of one of the most virtuous, and amiable of wives. And six young children, to deplore the loss of the best of parents. Having lived the life, she died the death of the righteous, and her end was peace. Daughter of Henry Collis Esqe. nine years High Sheriff of this city.' To north elevation is a Tudor arch door opening with chamfered reveals and a label hood moulding extending below the arch. Heavy iron door with central fillet and two slender Tudor arch panels. Opening onto limestone steps opposite present entrance to Cathedral. East elevation built against rubble stone retaining wall to raised burial area.

• Limerick Courthouse, court house, 1800–1820 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached quadrangular five-bay two-storey rendered courthouse, built in 1809, with a limestone ashlar tetrastyle Tuscan portico to northeast facing front elevation, added in 1817. Five-bay breakfront to nine-bay southeast facing side elevation, articulated by limestone ashlar giant order of Doric pilasters carrying enriched entablature. Five-bay breakfront to seven-bay two-storey northwest facing side elevation and southwest facing rear elevation with round-arched window openings to end bays at ground floor level of the former, and to end bays of breakfront of the latter elevation. Limestone parapet entablature returning to each elevation. Remodelled extensively with the addition of a zinc covered roof and attic level during the 1990s. Painted rendered walls throughout. Rusticated limestone ashlar quoins to corners of elevations and emphasising all breakfronts. Square-headed window openings with limestone ashlar architraves and sills and nine-over-six timber sash windows. Round-headed window openings formally placed within composition of rear elevation and northwest side elevation, each set in arched recess with limestone architrave and timber sash windows. Rusticated three-bay limestone ashlar ground floor entrance elevation behind portico terminating at first floor level with profiled sill course and with responding giant order of Doric pilasters to sides. Metal railings enclose portico and wrought-iron railings return around each elevation enclosing the structure from the public domain. The courthouse is located on Merchant's Quay overlooking the River Shannon from the northeast. The site ends at the rivers edge with a limestone block-faced quay wall.

• The Potato Market, market place, 1830–1850 · Regional interest
  Description

  An irregular-shaped five-sided enclosed former market place, begun in 1843, with a river fronting multiple-bay two-storey rubble limestone faced building, extensively restored during the 1980s, with a covered loggia facing the confluence of the Abbey and Shannon Rivers. Pitched artificial slate roof to this building with steel column supports to loggia, rising from a carved stone coping on rubble limestone quay walls to Abbey River. Two gauged red brick elliptical arches to south; one forming a balcony with steel balustrade; the second opening onto the Sylvester O'Halloran Footbridge. To the north elevation this building appears to be a single-storey facing the cobbled market area, with a gable-fronted platform section. The market area is enclosed on the other sides by squared limestone ashlar wall supporting wrought-iron railings with cast-iron spear and axe-head finials. Massive limestone ashlar Greek Revival gate piers with tapering shafts having incised Greek key motif, and triangular capping stones with cat ear corners; supporting wrought-iron gates with spearhead finial and axe-head finial to slam bar.

• Limerick Institute of Technology, school, 1935–1945 · Regional interest
  Description

  Attached multiple-bay two-storey school, built in 1938, with stepped recessed footprint. Flat roof. Red brick band at ground floor level and surrounding the window and door openings. Concrete for the remainder. Stepped recessed red brick open porch with concrete plinth above. Replacement uPVC windows. Interior light fittings and staircase intact. Extended in 1954. School is set behind railings on a plinth wall and faces onto George's Quay and the Abbey River.

Designated sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service. Recorded monuments: Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service. Buildings: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Works at or in relation to a recorded monument need two months' written notice to the National Monuments Service (National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, section 12).

Radon

About 1 in 10 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

Susceptibility low, low (inferred), on the 1:50,000 map; parts are water.

Terrain model

LiDAR of the Office of Public Works, flown in 2011, at 2 m: tile OPW_950 (ZIP).

Flooding

The flood maps of the Office of Public Works: floodinfo.ie.

Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency; Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland; both CC BY 4.0. LiDAR: contains Irish Public Sector Data (Geological Survey Ireland & the Office of Public Works) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.

No address of the register names Englishtown with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Limerick.

Name

Englishtown · An Baile Gallda

Area

137,070 m² (13.71 ha, 33.87 acres)

Civil parish

St. Mary's, and its townlands

Barony

North Liberties

Electoral division

John's B, the unit of the census

Census 2022

John's B electoral division: 1,038 people in 465 households; 44% of households own their home; 8% of homes were built since 2001; 5% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 0% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

King's Island, St. Francis Abbey

Placenames

Englishtown on logainm.ie, the Placenames Database of Ireland

Townlands, civil parishes, baronies and electoral divisions, National Statutory Boundaries, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. Census 2022, Small Area Population Statistics by electoral division, Central Statistics Office, CC BY 4.0. A townland is the smallest land division of Ireland, and the unit of a rural address; old registers such as the 1901 and 1911 censuses file it under its civil parish and barony.