NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Architecture of Limerick

As with other cities in Ireland, Limerick has a history of great architecture. A 1574 document prepared for the Spanish ambassador attests to its wealth and fine architecture: Photo of King Johns Castle in Limerick City, Ireland. ... Photo of King Johns Castle in Limerick City, Ireland. ... The River Shannon, Irelands longest river, divides the West of Ireland (mostly the province of Connaught) from the east and south (Leinster and most of Munster). ... Limerick (Irish: Luimneach) is a city and county seat of County Limerick in the province of Munster, in the midwest of the Republic of Ireland. ... Events April 14 - Battle of Mookerheyde. ...

Many examples remain in the city to the present day - though much has been lost also, through wars, decay and modern development. Present-day Limerick has perhaps not as extensive historical architecture as other Irish cities, though some very notable examples remain, such as the 800-year-old St. Mary's Cathedral and King John's Castle. St. ... King Johns Castle sits on the southern bank of the River Shannon. ...

St. John's

St. John's Cathedral, whilst more modern than St. Mary's, has one of the tallest steeples. The exterior of St. John's was completely refurbished in 2004, with new roofing and repointing of all stonework. The cathedral today cuts an imposing presence on an otherwise undeveloped side of the city centre. An important historical Protestant church sits near the cathedral also, and although in need of some repair, is now in use today by the Daghda dance company. The Dagda is an important god of Irish mythology. ...

Georgian architecture

Much Georgian architecture was evident in the city from about the 1800s onwards. Although some has since been demolished, much of the city centre area is built in the Georgian fashion. St. John's Square, in front of St. John's Cathedral, towards the city centre, is an example of this. Stone-faced Georgian offices and townhouses were built in a planned fashion around this square. Although renovated in the 1970s, the area is now somewhat dilapedated. Georgian architecture is the name given in English-speaking countries to the classic architectural styles current between about 1720 and 1840, named after the four British monarchs named George. ... Events and Trends Beginning of the Napoleonic Wars (1803 - 1815). ... Events and trends Although in the United States and in many other Western societies the 1970s are often seen as a period of transition between the turbulent 1960s and the more conservative 1980s and 1990s, many of the trends that are associated widely with the Sixties, from the Sexual Revolution...

One of Ireland's most celebrated museums, the Hunt Museum is based in the historic 18th-century former Custom House. The museum was established to house an internationally important collection of approximately 2000 works of art and antiquities formed by John and Gertrude Hunt during their lifetimes. On display are the 9th century Antrim Cross, a sketch by Picasso and a bronze sculpture of a horse, said to be from a design by Leonardo da Vinci. The Hunt Museum is a museum in the city of Limerick, Ireland. ... John Hunt can refer to: John Hunt, Baron Hunt of Llanfair Waterdine who led the 1953 expedition to climb Mount Everest John Hunt, a British politician John Hunt who was president of the British Virgin Islands from 1741-1750 This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other... A young Pablo Picasso Pablo Picasso, formally Pablo Ruiz Picasso, (October 25, 1881 - April 8, 1973) was one of the recognized masters of 20th century art. ... Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo da Vinci (April 15, 1452 – May 2, 1519) was an Italian Renaissance architect, musician, anatomist, inventor, engineer, sculptor, geometer, and painter. ...

Bridges

As a city situated on a river (the Shannon), and at a crossing point, Limerick's bridges are of vital importance to the region. They connect the northern bank of the river, and County Clare, to the southern bank and County Limerick. Apart from forming part of the Limerick to Galway route, the crossings are important today in connecting Shannon Airport to the city and beyond. The River Shannon, Irelands longest river, divides the West of Ireland (mostly the province of Connaught) from the east and south (Leinster and most of Munster). ... Poulnabrone dolmen in the Burren, County Clare, Ireland, taken 2004. ... Limerick (Luimneach in Irish) is an Irish county in the province of Munster, located in the Mid-west of Ireland with County Clare to the north, County Cork to the south and County Kerry to the west. ... Galway (Irish: Gaillimh) is a city in the province of Connacht in Ireland and capital of County Galway. ... Shannon Airport (IATA Airport Code; SNN, ICAO Airport Code; EINN) is Irelands main transatlantic airport. ...

The earliest bridge, Thomond Bridge, was built near a fording point. It was the scene of a failed defending of the city during the Siege of Limerick. At one ends sits the Treaty Stone, upon which the Treaty of Limerick is said to have been signed. The bridge still stands today, alongside King John's Castle, and carrying traffic on the Northern Relief Road. The bridge consists of several stone arches, with stone walls. It was rebuilt in 1836. A ford is a section of water (most commonly a section of a river) that is sufficiently shallow as to be traversable by wading. ... The city of Limerick in south-western Ireland was besieged several times in the 17th century, first during the Irish Confederate Wars of the 1640s and’50s again in the Williamite war in Ireland. ... The Treaty of Limerick ended the Williamite war in Ireland between the Jacobites and the supporters of William of Orange. ... 1836 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

Sarsfield Bridge is still a historic bridge, though much newer than Thomond bridge, having been built around 1827. It is rather more grand than the Thomond bridge, being wider, and having elegant walls with inbuilt pillars with gaps to see the river. Graceful lamp-posts adorn the walls. The style is borrowed from a bridge at Pont Neuilly, on the River Seine in France. The bridge also consists of a number of arches, apart from the section at the southern end.Originally, the bridge had a section that swung aside to allow river traffic to pass along a canal at the southern end of the bridge. This was left as a fixed section in the early 20th century. A boating clubhouse, and a house stand on an island between the canal and the rest of the river. A statue to the Easter Rising has been erected on the bridge at this point. In 2002, the canal was reopened as part of the construction of a new marina beyond the bridge. New lock gates now allow boat traffic to pass below the bridge. A narrow road between the city's quays also passes below this portion of the Sarsfield bridge. Until the late 1980s, it was the main road bridge in the city. 1827 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... This article is about the river in France; it should not be confused with the Senne, a much smaller river that flows through Brussels. ... Categories: Water-transport stubs | Canals | Water transport ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... The Easter Rising (Irish: Éirí Amach na Casca) was a militarily unsuccessful rebellion staged in Ireland against British rule on Easter Monday in April 1916. ... 2002 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Events and trends The 1980s marked an abrupt shift towards more conservative lifestyles after the momentous cultural revolutions which took place in the 1960s and 1970s and the definition of the AIDS virus in 1981. ...

The Shannon Bridge is by far the newest bridge in Limerick. It was built in the late 1980s, and connects to a pseudo-bypass of the northern part of the city (running through a bird sanctuary). As of 2004, the bridge is still referred to commonly as "The New Bridge". For some time after its construction, the bridge was also termed "The Whistling Bridge" – the fencing on the bridge resonated with the winds coming up the Shannon Estuary, producing a shrill whistling sound. In extreme winds, the sound was quite deafening. Simple grills were added, and the effect was ceased. Events and trends The 1980s marked an abrupt shift towards more conservative lifestyles after the momentous cultural revolutions which took place in the 1960s and 1970s and the definition of the AIDS virus in 1981. ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

There is another bridge at the northern end of King's Island, connecting to Corbally on the north of the city. This is a simpler bridge, further up the Shannon. The only other road bridge across the Shannon near the city, is the "University Bridge", at the University of Limerick. Opened in 2004, this fashionable modern bridge connects the recently commenced north bank campus to the main southern campus. A "fourth" (referring to the city centre) river crossing is in the planning stages. A dual-tunnel under the Shannon is to be built as part of the southern ring road, along the lines of the Jack Lynch Tunnel in Cork, but larger. Kings Island is an area of Limerick City, Ireland. ... The University of Limerick (UL) was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989. ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Jack Lynch Tunnel is a integral part of the southern ring road of Cork in Ireland. ... Cork (Corcaigh in Irish) is the second city of the Republic of Ireland. ...

Modern Architecture in Limerick

Mostly shit. Most new buildings have to be in the red-brick style, it's like, gentrification, nigga.

Architecture Lost and Found

Much of Limerick's architectural heritage has been compromised. The main streets in the city centre were originally fronted by mostly uniform Georgian townhouses. Nowadays significant gaps and oddities (out of place modern buildings) may be found, in addition to the dilapidated state of some buildings. The most recent example of a controversial demolishment was the Cruises Hotel. This was the oldest hotel in Limerick; Daniel O'Connell himself stayed in it. It was demolished in or around 1990 to allow Cruises Street pedestrian area. Sadly, the site of what was this illustrious building is now home to a McDonald's and HMV music store on either corner of the street entrance. Leinster House Henrietta Street In the United Kingdom, Ireland and in some other countries, a townhouse was a residence of a peer or member of the aristocracy in the capital or major city. ... Daniel OConnell Daniel OConnell (August 6, 1776 – May 15, 1847), known as The Liberator or The Emancipator, was Irelands predominant politician in the first half of the nineteenth century. ... 1990 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... McDonalds Corporation ( NYSE: MCD) is the worlds largest chain of fast-food restaurants [1]. Although McDonalds did not invent the hamburger or fast food, its name has become nearly synonymous with both. ... His Masters Voice, often abbreviated to HMV, is a famous trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record company. ...

Other areas of the city have similar tragic tales. Since the late 1990s, Ireland has had somewhat tougher development requirements. This has resulted in an increasing number of Georgian and other historical buildings being refurbished rather than demolished. Shining examples include the conversion of an historic bank to an up-market pub, also the conversion of old stone-built warehouses and Georgian townhouses to up-market apartments. The latter even included original design window railings and street railings, with detail down to the brass catches on the sash windows! Ironically however, the tougher development requirements have resulted in tracts of wasteland on King's Island remaining undeveloped due the discovery of historical remains of demolished structures. Events and trends Technology Explosive growth of the Internet; decrease in the cost of computers and other technology Reduction in size and cost of mobile phones leads to a massive surge in their popularity Year 2000 problem (commonly known as Y2K) Microsoft Windows operating system becomes virtually ubiquitous on IBM... A public house, usually known as a pub, is a drinking establishment found mainly in the Great Britain, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other countries influenced by British cultural heritage. ...

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Georgian architecture

Bridges

Modern Architecture in Limerick

Architecture Lost and Found

See Also

St. John's