•  Limerick, County Limerick

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In 1887, John Bartholomew's Gazetteer of the British Isles described Limerick like this:

Limerick, parl. and mun. bor., city, and co. of itself, and important commercial port, N. co. Limerick, on river Shannon, 50 miles from the sea, 64 N. of Cork, and 129 SW. of Dublin - parl. bor., 33,380 ac., pop. 48,670; mun. bor.,2075ac., pop. 38,562; 4Banks, 5 newspapers. Market-days, Wednesday and Saturday. ...

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The city stands upon low ground, and is composed of 3 parts - the Irish Town, the English Town (situated on King's Island in the river), and the fine suburb of Newtown-Pery. The river is crossed by 5 bridges. The public structures, for the most part, are large and handsome. There are barracks for cavalry, infantry, and artillery. The trade and commerce of Limerick are extensive. In addition to the quay walls of the city, there is a magnificent floating dock, where vessels of 1000 tons can discharge. There is also a large graving dock. (For shipping statistics, see Appendix.) Bacon-curing is a very extensive industry, and a considerable export trade is carried on in bacon, butter, eggs, butterine, &c. The lace mfr. is less important than formerly; there is a clothing factory, which gives employment to upwards of 1000 hands. Other industries are the mfr. of flour, tobacco, salt, agricultural implements, and manures; there is 1 distillery. Limerick is an ancient city; it was plundered by the Danes in 812; was the seat of the kings of Thomond; was taken by the English in 1174; was unsuccessfully besieged by William III. in 1690, but capitulated to General Ginkell in 1691; and the dismantling of its fortifications commenced in 1760. The bor. returns 1 member to Parliament; it returned 2 members until 1885.

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