Meanwhile in Ireland

    SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER!

    What's Hot

    Top 5 all-time STRONGEST Irish accents EVER on film

    February 3, 2023

    Top 10 things that were illegal in Ireland 100 years ago

    February 2, 2023

    10 tongue-twisting longest PLACE NAMES in Ireland

    February 2, 2023
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Meanwhile in Ireland
    • Home
    • News
    • Craic
    • Sports
    • More
      • Culture
      • Dublin
      • Funny
      • Irish People
      • Interesting News
      • Satire
      • The Drink!
      • Travel
      • TV and Movies
      • Viral
    Facebook YouTube Instagram TikTok
    Meanwhile in Ireland
    You are at:Home » News » Culture » Top 10 fun facts about Limerick you never knew
    Culture Features History

    Top 10 fun facts about Limerick you never knew

    Gerald LeinsterBy Gerald LeinsterOctober 5, 2020No Comments5 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Share:
    Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Pinterest Email

    If you’re from Limerick or have even the slightest interest in what could be classed as the most beautiful city in the world — a slight bias here — read on and learn ten fun facts about Limerick.  

    Check out these ten fun facts about Limerick. Tell us how many you already knew.

    10. The city’s motto reflects the city’s history – quite the slogan

    Limerick City’s motto is urbs antiqua fuit studisque asperrima belli (an ancient city well studied in the arts of war.)

    Some might say this is an apt motto considering the city’s long and turbulent history.

    Since the Vikings invaded the place around 800 AD and called the area Hlymrekr, which is pronounced ‘Limerick’, Limerick has had its fair share of war and battles.

    You had Brian Boru versus the Vikings and years later Oliver Cromwell besieging the city.

    Then the vicious war between the Catholic King James II (Jacobites) and the Protestant King William of Orange (Williamites) which only ended when both parties came to Limerick in 1691, had a few pints, and a fish and chip supper from Donkey Ford’s, signed a treaty and ended up the best of friends.

    Well, more or less the best of friends, thus giving Limerick its popular secondary name, the Treaty City.

    9. Imitation a form of flattery – there are dozens of Limericks worldwide

    Imitation is a form of flattery and there are many Limericks across the world.

    According to intensive and detailed research — a quick search on Google Maps — there are ten towns in America called Limerick: Limerick, Georgia, Limerick, Illinois, Limerick, Louisville, Limerick, Maine, Limerick, Mississippi, Limerick, New York, Limerick, Ohio, Limerick, South Carolina, Limerick Township, Pennsylvania, and New Limerick, Maine.

    8. The westernmost castle in Europe – quite the accolade

    The city is home to the most western castle in Europe.

    Limerick boasts the most western castle in Europe, King John’s.

    Built in 1200 by —you guessed it — King John, this castle is one of the best-preserved Norman castles in Europe.

    You won’t find another Norman castle until you get to Hollywood and that will likely be built out of plastic by Walt Disney.

    7. The longest footbridge in Ireland – one of the top facts about Limerick

    The longest footbridge in Ireland is in Limerick.

    The longest footbridge in Ireland is the Living Bridge on the campus of Limerick University.

    At 350 meters, the bridge, which was completed in 2007, spans the River Shannon and links the Clare and Limerick sides of the university.

    Incidentally, it was built by the French construction company Eiffel Constructions Metalliques, founded by the chap who designed and built the Eiffel Tower, which is not in Limerick but would look nice there.

    6. A few dirty poems – not every city gets a poem named after them

    The poetry form of limericks are an accolade to be proud of.

    The often ribald form of five-line poetry the limerick, is said to have originated from the works of 18th-century Limerick poets Seán Ó Tuama and Aindrias MacCraith.

    Limerick is the only Irish town to give its name to a style of poetry.

    “The ‘limerick’ can be furtive and mean,

    You must keep her in close quarantine,

    Or she sneaks to the slums,

    And promptly becomes, Disorderly, drunk, and obscene.”

    5. Limerick was once a Soviet city – it lasted for 12 days

    Limerick was once a Soviet city, another of the top facts about Limerick.

    During the War of Independence, the British government declared Limerick a Special Military Area under the Defence of the Realm Act.

    This didn’t go down well with the locals causing the Limerick Trade and Labour Council to strike in protest and declare the city as Irish Soviet.

    They printed their own money and organised the supply of food. The strike lasted from the 15th to the 27th of April 1919.

    4. Pigstown – we have a certain attachment to pigs

    Another of the top facts about Limerick is that they have an attachment to pigs.

    Limerick is and always has been famous for its ham, pork, and bacon, and the factories that produced them.

    Unfortunately, most of the workers in Limerick were underpaid. They couldn’t afford the finer cuts of the meat that were produced.

    This might explain the Limerick person’s penchant for offal, spare ribs, and pig’s toes and heads. Anyway, it explains the city’s nickname of Pigstown.

    3. Limerick gave the ‘F’ in JFK – you’re welcome, America

    Limerick gave JFK the J, another of the top facts about Limerick.

    American president John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s great-grandfather, Thomas Fitzgerald, was a Limerick man, and that’s where the ‘F’ in JFK stems from.

    2. Stab City – it gets its name from somewhere

    Another of the top facts about Limerick  is that it's called Stab City by some.

    While it might be ok for a Limerick person to use the term Stab City when referring to their home town, woe betides the stranger who says it.

    The term came to wider public attention when used by Limerick writer Gerry Stembridge on the radio show Scrap Saturday. It was also used in Limerick man, Frank McCourt’s novel Angela’s Ashes.

    1. Everyone in Limerick is loaded – it’s well for some

    One of the top facts about Limerick is how well off everyone is.

    While the above statement may be a slight exaggeration. Limerick has the highest estimated disposal income per person in the country except for Dublin.

    Share. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Avatar photo
    Gerald Leinster
    • Website

    Gerald Leinster is one of Ireland's most noteworthy journalists, columnists and commentator on Irish and international issues. Often accused of being more right-wing than Genghis Khan whom he admires greatly, Gerald is an Oxbridge graduate. He has authored many best-selling books including the recent ' The Margaret Thatcher I knew and Loved' and his previous bestseller 'Reagan, Bush, and Trump -- Gods of Their Time.' In his spare time, you might find Gerald relaxing on a golf course in Kildare, watching International rugby or dining out in Dublin's more fashionable restaurants. Although he strives for a professional journalistic apolitical stance, he feels strongly about the reunification of Ireland and the UK. He also holds membership of both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail.

    Related Posts

    Top 10 things that were illegal in Ireland 100 years ago

    By Grainne KavanaghFebruary 2, 2023

    Top 20 IRISH SLANG words for getting DRUNK

    By Grainne KavanaghJanuary 31, 2023

    KILKENNY CATS: the HISTORY of this iconic phrase

    By Grainne KavanaghJanuary 19, 2023

    20 Belfast SLANG words that only LOCALS understand

    By Katie MorrisJanuary 17, 2023
    Latest Articles

    Top 5 all-time STRONGEST Irish accents EVER on film

    February 3, 2023

    Top 10 things that were illegal in Ireland 100 years ago

    February 2, 2023

    10 tongue-twisting longest PLACE NAMES in Ireland

    February 2, 2023

    10 times the BRITISH claimed the IRISH as their own in the media

    February 1, 2023
    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • TikTok
    Don't Miss

    Top 5 Irish TV shows 90s kids loved

    By Grainne KavanaghJune 27, 2022

    A huge part of 90s kid culture was running home from school to watch our…

    A $1,000 in Bitcoin 5 years ago would be worth this mad amount today

    August 12, 2020

    The history of Nollaig na mBan (Women’s Christmas) in Ireland

    January 4, 2022

    The yearly race for Limerick GAA clubs which became a worldwide hit (VIDEO)

    March 22, 2017

    Subscribe to our Newsletter!

    We specialise in Bizarre Irish News, Viral Videos and general Irish Craic.

    • Home
    • About us
    • Contact us
    • Guests Posts
    • Team
    • Work for us
    • Terms of use
    • Privacy policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Copyright
    Follow us

    Connect with us on your favourite social media app.

    Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube TikTok
    Contact us

    19 Arthur St, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT1 4GA.

    [email protected]

    Subscribe to our Newsletter!

    ©Copyright 2019 - Meanwhile in Ireland | Trading under Emerald Green Media

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.