Limerick

the seat and the chief town of the county of that name in southern Ireland. It is situated on both sides of the Shannon, at the head of deep water navigation. It is about fifty miles due north from Cork. Limerick was one of the early centers of Irish civilization. It was the seat of the kings of north Munster. In 1174 it was seized by the English, and was converted by them into one of the strongest fortifications in Ireland. In importance, it is the fourth port of Ireland. The shores of the Shannon are provided with quays and floating docks. The river is spanned by numerous bridges. The city is the seat of linen, lace, and glove industries. There are large breweries, distilleries, tanneries, and flour mills. The population in 1901 was reported at about 45,806. Although Limerick is a traditional Irish name, and is, in the popular mind, a type of all that is Irish, the city itself, like Dublin, is essentially English. See Cork; Killarney; Ireland