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Earthlore Introduction | Earthlore Contents | Ireland Introduction | Ireland Contents | E-mail
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 King John Sovereign of England From 1199 to 1216 John was the youngest son of King Henry II and Queen Eleanor of Aquitane. The conflict and betrayal which marked this family would be reflected on into John's own reign. When John was only eighteen, Henry II sent him to Ireland to represent the crown and learn the duties of rulership. John proved ill suited for the task and not only worsened the relationship with the Irish but created troubles with English landholders as well. Within less than a year John returned to England, his efforts in Ireland a disaster.  Ireland Introduction Ireland Contents  eirelore@elore.com |
Limerick, IrelandKing
John's Castle lies at the very heart of Limerick's medieval core,
the old English town on The King's Island, just north of Limerick's City
center. Today, an extended riverside section of English town is known
as the Heritage Precinct, and is undergoing major restoration, becoming,
once again, the administrative and visitor center of the city.The Welcoming ShannonLimerick
City is magnificently sited on one of Europe's finest rivers, the
Lordly Shannon, here where the soft bog and fresh water meet the salt
of the sea. Today, it is difficult to picture the 9th century scenes,
when fleets of Viking vessels sailed upriver to plunder and terrorize
the Monastic Midlands. In later centuries these Norsemen settled and founded
the trading port of Limerick. A nineteenth century romantic depiction of Viking warriors. King
John's Castle was built to defend the river frontier between the Gaelic
west and Norman Leinster and Munster. This was the original Thomond bridge.
Today, at Limerick, three bridges span the winding river, as it spreads
itself towards the Atlantic Ocean.The
River Shannon and King John's Castle live side by side, a little above
the Curraghour Falls, at Thomond Bridge. This majestic river, the longest
in Ireland or Britain opens its tidal waters to welcome the international
fleets of the world, just as it has done for the mariners of countless
years. King John's Castle at Evening Guarding the Shannon Many
have sailed on its hospitable waves from the sea inland to the very
heart of Ireland, very often pausing awhile on the now walled banks of
this wondrous city of Limerick. In the past, King John's Castle acted
as a watchdog on these sailors and their diverse cargoes, both human and
otherwise. But, today, it can throw caution to the wind, and warmly welcome
all.The
King's Island, approximately 80 hectares in extent, created by a loop of the River
Shannon, locally called the Abbey River, is connected to the city mainland by four
bridges: Thomond, Matthew, Baal and O'Dwyer. Sited, as this island is, at the lowest
fording point of the River Shannon above the estuary, its strategic location attracted
Viking colonies from the 9th century on. Then the O'Briens, Kings of Thomond, held
sway, endowing St. Mary's Cathedral in the late 12th century. Subsequent Anglo-Norman
occupation fortified the fledgling city, erecting King John's Castle as its administrative
center, and walling what became known as English town. The gate towers of King John's castle. |
 Queen Elizabeth 18th Century Painting  Elore Ireland's E-mail Newsletter is Distributed Freely to Viewers. Receive Updates on: Request Your Free Subscription to:
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