The Irish standard., 1907-11-09

The women fought before the men.
Each man became a. match for ten.
And back they drove the Saxon then,
From Limerick, on the azure river.
There is no city In Ireland that to
anybody interested in her chsckered
history can surpass the historic old
"City Of the Violated Treaty. by
which, as swelled by many a rtvulet'
the lordly Shannon flows" Proud OF its
storied past which will link Vt in the
irish mind imperishably through all the
ages In connection with the last great
armed struggle for Irish freedom. Linz
erick still maintains its national tradt-
tions, and is Justly proud Of them says
John OCallaghan in the Boston Globe.
Built in a Magnificent Plain.
The names OF sarsfield, O'Brien.
Lord Glare. before whom on Families
bloody field, the victor Saxon backward
reeled,"- and in later times Of William
Smith O'Brien, who was sentenced TO
be- hanged, drawn and quartered for his
connection with the Young Ireland ris-
inx OF 1s4s, have all been closely iden-
tilted with the storied old city of Linn
crick. The city is built in magnificent
Main, through which flows the river
shannon, after having wound its way
al
and watering one half the length OF Ire
land on It's way. Limerick Is built OH
the southern shore of the Shannon. the
river dividing into two streams, Just
above the city, enclosing what is called
Kings Island. The city consists Of two
practically distinct portions. one known
as Irish town, the other as English
town.
Limerick, whose ancient name was
Lumneach, was an important place us
early as the fifth century, when IT. was
visited by st. Patrick. The name meant
spot made bare by feeding horses. IT
was given to the island on which the
ancient city stood because of a band OF
freebooters occupying It and taking
there their plumber and horses on ac-
count of the security the place af-
forded. Comparatively little is known
of its history, however. until the ninth
century, when the Danes captured 1t
fortifying and holding 1t until 1913
when Brian Boru made the invaders
tributary To the King of Munster. Lat
er on the city became the seat Of the
Kings Of Thomond. or North Munster
who were, therefore, called Kings OF
Limerick.
Received Ito Charter a Century Be-
| ,. fore Dublin.
upon the arrival Of Strongbow, Don
aid O'Brien swore fealty to Henry IL
He subsequently revolted. however, and
then Raymond lie Gros laid siege to tho
city and captured it. 1t was tho scene
of fierce fighting from time to time, be-
ing alternately In the possession or the
Irish and the British. until 1t finally
became an addition to the British
crown. Richard I. in the ninth veal
Of his reign granted the charter tt
elect q mayor. In this respect 1t ante
dated the city Of London, and 1t was
century later before Dublin's charter
was received. King John, when he Wis.
ttsd Limerick, was so struck with it'
importance that he caused Thomone
Bridge. and castle to guard its pass
age; to be erected and established there
a mint. '.''.' 90
When Edward Bruce invaded Ire
land in 1915 he made Limerick the rem
devious for his troops and burnt IT.
suburbs. In the war succeeding thu
rebellion Of 1e41 Limerick was seizet
by the Catholics under Lords Musker
ry and skerrin, and became in 1854;
the headquarters Of the party. Ireton
with the Parliamentary army. bcsieget
lit in 1851, and after severe siege o
six months it capitulated. Ireton him
self, like thousands of the besieget