KING JOHN'S CASTLE
Limerick City, County Limerick

The city of Limerick has a strong Viking history, along with the rest of Ireland. The first Viking settlement was founded along the banks of the Loch Luimnigh, the Shannon Estuary, in 812. But it was when the Viking sea king, Thormodr Helgason, established the first permanent stronghold on Inis Sibhtonn (King's Island) in 922 that Limerick City took its rightful place on the map. Helgason used his base here to access the River Shannon where he could travel the 240 mile length of the river pillaging ecclesiastical settlements, from the city and through Lough Derg to Lough Ree and onto Lough Allen.

The River Shannon is Ireland's longest river and virtually divided Ireland east and west. By 937, Helgason's Vikings had a firm hold on land west of the Shannon, but when troops from Dublin met with Limerick troops on Lough Ree and were

defeated, Helgason's power wavered. In 943 Limerick Vikings were joined by local clan chiefs and Ceallachan, King of Munster, yet they were defeated again. They were forced to pay tribute to the Dublin clans, and from that point, Limerick Vikings never recovered the power they once had. There were many power struggles over the centuries, but the Limerick Vikings were reduced to little more than a minor clan.

1172 saw the arrival of the Anglo-Normans. During their campaign across Ireland, Limerick was burned to the ground in 1174 by Domhnall Mor O'Brien in an effort to keep the city our of the hands of the new invaders. It was 21 years later in 1195 that the city was finally taken under the leadership of John, Lord of Ireland from 1185, soon to be King of England. The city was given its first charter in 1197, and the first Mayor was Adam Sarvant, and John ordered a castle built in his name. Limerick Castle, also called King John's Castle, was completed in 1200.

The Norman's imposed a general peace and Limerick prospered as a shipping port and trading center. Over time, the city became divided into two areas -- "English Town," which was located on King's Island near the castle, and "Irish Town," which had grown up on the south bank of the river. Documents of 1574 that were prepared for the Spanish ambassador indicated the city's wealth:

Limerick is stronger and more beautiful than all the other cities of Ireland, well walled with stout walls of hewn marble... There is no entrance except by stone bridges, one of the two of which has 14 arches, and the other 8 ... for the most part the houses are of square stone of black marble and built in the form of towers and fortresses.

During the Siege of Limerick 1642 the castle walls were damaged in the first of five sieges of the city in the 17th century. At that time, the castle was occupied by Protestants fleeing the Irish Rebellion of 1641 and was besieged by an Irish Confederate force under Garret Barry. Barry didn't have any siege artillery so he undermined the walls of the castle by digging away at their foundations. Before the walls collapsed, the castle was surrendered. It was determined that there was so much damage to the walls that they had to be pulled down in the end.

What remains today are high curtain walls and five drum towers, two of which protect the original entrance to the inner courtyard. Within the castle walls is another story. Visitors enter through the modern glass-fronted interpretive center that encompasses part of the original walls. Within the interpretive center is an audio/visual theater, museum, gift shop and cafe.
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Exit from the center into the inner courtyard, also called the bailey. Displays include recreated medieval siege machinery and tents full of people keeping knights supplied with tools of their trade in the 16th century.

Surrounding the courtyard are the high walls and fortified drum towers. These towers are located at three corners of the site, the fourth destroyed along with the section of wall where the interpretive center is located, in the 17th century. Two towers make up the original gatehouse, which overlooks Thomond Bridge and the River Shannon. Originally, much of the castle would have been surrounded by water, called a moat. There would have been a drawbridge from Thomond Bridge to the portcullis, a lattice of timber, iron or both, that protected the entrance of the keep.

There are also displays in some of the towers. Window seats in some of the towers shows the domesticity of the keep as a family home as well as a barracks. Windows in castles were very small in order to keep out intruders, let light into chambers during the day, and offered seating for those who needed additional light, such as for reading or needlework, or who simply wished to admire the views.

The towers not only allowed domestic tasks and provided shelter for soldiers, they often also had other uses, such as being used as a weapons room, mint, and often below the tower would have been the fresh water well.

At the top of the walls are battlements, or walkways, some of which are open to visitors, as they connect to the drum towers. Battlements allowed soldiers to cross between towers to patrol the perimeter of the keep.

Between 1993 and 1995, archaeological excavations were carried out on the site, which revealed foundations, walls, doorways and paths, including a sallyport, or secret entrance, all of which are currently being restored and will eventually open to the public. These are some exciting discoveries, as they offer an intriguing insight into medieval life in Ireland.

Some previously excavated areas lay beneath the interpretive center are currently open to the public.

Cross Thomond Bridge and turn left onto Clancy Strand. Not only can visitors get an exceptional view of King John's Castle, but also view the Limerick Treaty Stone. It's believed that the Limerick Treaty was signed upon this stone in 1691, when Limerick City fell into English hands.

It should be noted, that Clancy Strand was used in the making of Angela's Ashes in 1999. Just a few meters up from the Treaty Stone are steps down to the stony edge of the river, a popular place for fishermen. The view of the castle and bridge make for stunning picture.

~ Paid attraction
~ Parking available
~ Easy access from car park, limited access around medieval site, visitors center accessible

http://www.shannonheritage.com/Attractions/KingJohnsCastle