Limerick Courthouse — Merchants Quay

Detached quadrangular five-bay two-storey rendered courthouse, built in 1809, with a limestone ashlar tetrastyle Tuscan portico to northeast facing front elevation, added in 1817. Five-bay breakfront to nine-bay southeast facing side elevation, articulated by limestone ashlar giant order of Doric pilasters carrying enriched entablature. Five-bay breakfront to seven-bay two-storey northwest facing side elevation and southwest facing rear elevation with round-arched window openings to end bays at ground floor level of the former, and to end bays of breakfront of the latter elevation. Limestone parapet entablature returning to each elevation. Remodelled extensively with the addition of a zinc covered roof and attic level during the 1990s. Painted rendered walls throughout. Rusticated limestone ashlar quoins to corners of elevations and emphasising all breakfronts. Square-headed window openings with limestone ashlar architraves and sills and nine-over-six timber sash windows. Round-headed window openings formally placed within composition of rear elevation and northwest side elevation, each set in arched recess with limestone architrave and timber sash windows. Rusticated three-bay limestone ashlar ground floor entrance elevation behind portico terminating at first floor level with profiled sill course and with responding giant order of Doric pilasters to sides. Metal railings enclose portico and wrought-iron railings return around each elevation enclosing the structure from the public domain. The courthouse is located on Merchant's Quay overlooking the River Shannon from the northeast. The site ends at the rivers edge with a limestone block-faced quay wall.