Settlement cluster in Limerick

Laurence Esmonde was a scion of the Esmonde family of Johnstown castle (WX042-017----). Unlike the rest of the family he was a loyal Protestant and became one of the two Commissioner for the Plantation of Wexford in 1611, and an MP for the county in 1613 (McHugh 2001). He was rewarded with grants of about 5500 acres centred on Lemmeneagh that became Limbrick or Limerick where he was required to build a castle. It had been built by 1621 and became the centre of the manor which had the right to hold courts and weekly markets with fairs once a year. Sir Laurence was also the Commander of Duncannon Fort (WX044-015001-) from c. 1603 until his death in 1645 and he spent much time there. At the outbreak of the Rebellion in 1641 he was able to provide 140 men for the defence of Limerick castle, most of whom would have been his tenants, fleeing to Limerick for safety. His own son, Sir Thomas Esmonde, was amongst the rebels and Sir Thomas held the castle until he burnt it at the approach of Oliver Cromwell in 1649. According to the Civil Survey (1654) Sir Thomas owned all the land in the parish of Kilkeavan in 1641 but the castle is described as ruined in 1654 (Simington 1953, 14-15). Prior to 1641 Limerick seems to have been a prosperous place as two innkeepers, a gentleman and a merchant were on a list of those from Limerick suspected of rebellion in 1641, together with a tailor and a cook in the neighbouring townland of Coolnagloose (Whelan 1990, 25-6). By his rebellion Sir Thomas forfeited the Limerick lands which became part of the estates of the Duke of Albemarle and were finally confirmed to him in 1668 (Griffiths 1890, 105-08). Although the castle might be ruined the rebellion did not destroy the settlement as in 1659 the village had a population of 11 Englishmen and 55 Irish (Pender 1930, 553). However, it was in decline, although four fairs continued to be held there into the nineteenth century (Lewis 1837, 2, 116). It was finally destroyed by evictions in 1837, at which time, on the eve of the Great Famine, it still had a hundred inhabitants (Gahan 1999). A survey of 1669 (Loeber and Stouthamer-Loeber 1987, 191-2) describes the settlement as: ‘The manor house was a large Stone Building, situated on the southside of a A large Hill, but in the time of Rebellion was all Burnt to ye Ground only ye Wales, some say by Sir Thomas Esmonde’s order. To it Joyunes A large Garden and orchard, and severall very large vines Against ye House wale. And from it Eastward is A long straggling Irish Towne. At the East end a Chapple. And about ye Middle of it A Reasonable good slate House in which Mr. Daulton lives, though badly in repayre and all ye rest to ruine.’ The settlement site is situated on a gentle SE-facing slope. Local tradition maintained that the village associated with Limerick castle (WX003-024----) was located between the castle and the church (WX003-026001-). It is not known if it was fortified, but the small circular feature (WX003-025----) marked on the 1837 edition of the OS 6-inch map in this area could have been a tower on its defences. Its suitability as an archaeological resource was assessed in 2012-13 (Harte 2013, 2012-13). A magnetic gradiometer survey and an earth resistance survey (12R0118) identified numerous subsurface features in a rectangular field (dims c. 250m ENE-WSW; c. 100m NNW-SSE) which even had the surface remains of some relict earthen banks, but the precise character of the features was unclear. Archaeological testing (13E0018) established the existence of between eight and nine burgage plots as well as earlier features including curvilinear ditches. (Harte 2012-13) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 17 December 2020