- Type
- Castle
- Origins
- 1210 · 13th century per Wikidata: founding, first mention or construction
- Location
- Limerick, Ireland
- Commissioned by
- John, King of England
- Visiting
- probably – Wikidata lists it as a museum or gives tickets, opening hours or visitor numbers; check before you go
- Coordinates
- 52.6697°, -8.6256°
History
On the site of an earlier Viking settlement, King John ordered a stone castle to be built around 1200, completed roughly a decade later. With its mighty round towers and gatehouse, the fortress guarded the bridge over the Shannon and was the centre of English power in the west of Ireland. In 1642 besieging Irish Confederates undermined its walls, and in 1690–1691 the castle held out during the Williamite sieges of Limerick. It later served as a barracks, and in 1935 houses were built in its courtyard, not demolished until the late 20th century. After a redevelopment of the visitor centre, the castle reopened in 2013.
What to see
From the river side the walls with their round towers and the gatehouse facing Thomond Bridge are in full view. In the visitor centre an interactive exhibition tells the story of the castle and the city, and beneath the courtyard the mine galleries of the 1642 siege and the foundations of Viking houses have been uncovered. The walls and towers look out over the Shannon, and across the bridge stands the Treaty Stone.
Wikipedia article Wikidata Q2533198
Popularity: articles about this site in 17 Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia language editions and others).