Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Pococke's Tour in Ireland in 1752 (Author: Richard Pococke)
entry 57
On the 28th I went three miles to Six Mile Bridge, where there is a handsome new church, and near it Mr. Ivers has a pleasant new built house. The ride from this place to Limerick is very delightful, being well wooded and in sight of the fine river Shannon, and of the beautiful country on the other side of it. The appearance of the Country on this side Galway is very different from what it was farther north for I observed the corn ready for the sickle, and when I passed Gort, I found the
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harvest in several places far advanced: It is all a hot lime stone which makes the harvest very forward; and I was told that the cattle turn themselves frequently in the night on account of the heat of the ground. In about 2 miles I saw a large old house, near the river called Bunratty, which was the Mansion house of the O'Briens, the ancient Earls of Thomond. I came to Limerick very strongly situated by nature on the Shannon: To the east of it is Irish town, which is pretty strongly fortified, the whole being about two miles in circumference; excepting the principal street; All the rest of the town consists of narrow lanes, and it is a very dirty disagreeable place; tho' so large there is not one good Inn where strangers can he well accommodated; they have a tavern indeed which has lodgings in it, commonly filled by officers: Both the air and water are looked on as unwholesome, and the army commonly loose many of their men here: They are chiefly quarter'd in a barrack within the citadel on the west side of the town, and this large city, which has such conveniency of water, has not so much as a fire Engine to make use of, in case of any accident of fire. The Cathedral is a very mean heavy building, but the Quire is fitted up in a neat manner; and in it is a magnificent tomb of black marble, erected to the memory of the Grandfather the Earl of Thomond who lived in the time of King Charles the Second, in the place of an old one defaced, of which two couchant Statues remain. This Cathedral was built by Donald O'Brian King of Limerick, and there is a church, in Limerick called St Munchin, now a Parish Church which is said to have been the Cathedral, and that it was founded by St Munchin first Bishop of Limerick. It is remarkable that the present Cathedral stands near north and south; and they have a tradition that it was a palace
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of the O'Brians: The Bishoprick of Ardfort probably taking in the County of Kerry is united to this see, and in that is the absorbed Bishoprick of Hoghadoe the church of which I formerly saw over the lake of Killarne. There is an old Convent turned into a Tan-yard, which they call the Abby; it is on the north side of the town. They have a good Mole for shipping to lie in: There is a great manufacture of Serges here, and a very great number of working people in the town, greater perhaps than in any place of the size; and I cannot think they can be less than 40 thousand souls in the town and suburbs. They import wine, timber and all sorts of goods for the supply of this country, and great part of the County of Tipperary, as well as the Counties of Clare and King's County: But Cork lies much more convenient for the Export. I walk'd round the town either on the walls or within them and went to the Cathedral service.