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King John's Castle (Limerick), County Limerick
Photograph: Eric The Fish · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Province of Munster

County Limerick

Luimneach

“LIM-nakh” · bare spot, or bare marsh, from loimeanach, bare or barren ground

Known as The Treaty County. For the Treaty of Limerick, signed in 1691 to end the Williamite war, and broken so quickly that Limerick has been called the city of the violated treaty ever since. The stone it was supposedly signed on still stands by the river.

Did you know? The Treaty of Limerick (1691) was reputedly signed on a stone still displayed in the city — and its promises to Catholics were broken, it was said, 'before the ink was dry'.
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Limerick by the numbers
Munster province 209,536 people · 2022 census 2,756 km² · 10th of 32 by size County town Limerick -21% in the Famine · 330,029 people in 1841, 262,000 in 1851 (approx.) 15 baronies · 1,982 townlands 1930s folklore · the Schools' Collection ↗ 63 surnames 5 towns on the site 1,853 daily Irish speakers Highest point Galtymore, 918 m 15 senior All-Irelands 29 notable people born here 2,192 historic buildings recorded Everything on the site about Limerick ↓
Carlow Cavan Cork Donegal Dublin Clare Galway Kerry Kildare Kilkenny Laois Leitrim Limerick Longford Louth Mayo Meath Monaghan Offaly Roscommon Sligo Tipperary Waterford Westmeath Wexford Wicklow Antrim Armagh Down Fermanagh Londonderry Tyrone

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The history of Limerick

People were at Lough Gur by about 3000 BC, and the megalithic remains at Duntryleague go back to 3500 BC. From the 4th to the 11th century most of what is now County Limerick was the kingdom of the Uí Fidgenti, whose capital was Dún Eochair near Bruree; the O'Donovans and Collinses were among its leading families. The Ardagh Chalice, one of the masterpieces of early Irish metalwork, was found in a west Limerick fort in 1868.

Vikings founded the city on an island in the Shannon in 922. After the death of Domnall Mór Ua Briain in 1194 the Normans took control, King John's Castle was built around 1200, and the county was formally established in 1210. The Desmond Rebellions from 1569 laid the whole province waste and ended with the confiscation of the Geraldine estates.

Limerick city was besieged again and again: by the Confederate general Garret Barry in 1642, by Ireton for twelve months until October 1651, and twice in the Williamite War, in 1690 — when Patrick Sarsfield destroyed the Williamite siege guns at Ballyneety — and 1691. The Treaty of Limerick that ended the war was not kept, and the city became known as the City of the Broken Treaty. In the 18th century the Maigue Poets kept Gaelic poetry alive at Croom and Bruree; the Famine brought mass emigration and the collapse of spoken Irish in the county.

Drawn from the History section of the Wikipedia article on County Limerick ↗, rewritten here and adding nothing it does not say; licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. The chronology above is this site's own; where the two differ, the article is the one to check.

The land — from Wikipedia

Limerick borders four other counties: Kerry to the west, Clare to the north, Tipperary to the east, and Cork to the south. It is the fifth-largest of Munster's six counties in size and the second-largest by population. The River Shannon flows through the city of Limerick, then continues as the Shannon Estuary until it meets the Atlantic Ocean past the far western end of the county. Because the estuary is shallow, the county's most important port is several kilometres west of the city, at Foynes. Limerick City is the county town and is also Ireland's third-largest city. Newcastle West, Kilmallock and Abbeyfeale are other important towns in the county.

Read the full article ↗ · Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Clans & surnames of Limerick
Canty Ó an Cháinte Gaelic learned family · “descendant of the satirist, from cáinteach” Carmody Ó Cearmada Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cearmaid — a very ancient personal name” Casey Ó Cathasaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cathasach, 'vigilant in war'” Clohessy Ó Clochasaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Clochasach” Collins Ó Coileáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Coileán, 'young hound / whelp'” Creagh Craobhach Gaelic sept (Dalcassian) · “'of the branch' — from craobh, a branch” Cremin Ó Cruimín Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cruimín, a diminutive of crom, ‘bent’” Culhane Ó Cathláin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cathalán, 'battle-mighty'” Curtin Mac Cairteáin Gaelic sept · “a softened form of Mac Cartáin” Danaher Ó Duineachair Gaelic sept · “descendant of Duineachar, ‘man-loving’” Donovan Ó Donnabháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Donndubhán, 'dark brown-haired chief'” Duane Ó Dubháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Dubhán, 'black'” Enright Mac Ionnrachtaigh Gaelic sept · “son of Ionnrachtach, 'unlawful'” Fitzgerald Mac Gearailt Norman dynasty · “fitz Gerald — son of Gerald (of Windsor)” Fitzgibbon Mac Giobúin Norman dynasty · “son of Gibbon — Norman French fitz, 'son of', and a pet form of Gilbert” Flannery Ó Flannabhra Gaelic sept · “descendant of Flannabhra, 'red-eyebrows'” Gleeson Ó Glasáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Glasán — from glas, grey” Griffin Ó Gríobhtha Gaelic sept · “descendant of Gríobhtha, 'griffin-like'” Hallinan Ó hAilgheanáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Ailgheanán, 'noble offspring'” Halpin Ó hAilpín Gaelic sept · “descendant of Ailpín” Hannigan Ó hAnnagáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Annagán — from annadh, delay” Hannon Ó hAnnáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Annán — from annadh, delay” Hanrahan Ó hAnradháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Anradhán, 'warrior, champion'” Harnett Ó hAirtnéada Gaelic sept · “descendant of Airtnéada, 'battle-bear' or 'battle-stone' — a meaning Woulfe reconstructs rather than finds written” Hartigan Ó hArtagáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Artagán, 'little Art'” Hassett Ó hAiseadha Gaelic sept · “descendant of Aisidh, 'strife'” Hayes Ó hAodha Gaelic sept · “descendant of Aodh, 'fire'” Heffernan Ó hIfearnáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Ifearnán” Hehir Ó hAichir Gaelic sept · “descendant of Aichear, ‘sharp, bitter, angry’” Hickey Ó hÍcidhe Gaelic learned family · “descendant of the healer (íce, 'healing')” Hurley Ó hUrthuile / Ó Muirthile Gaelic sept · “descendant of Urthuile — 'sea-tide'” Hynes Ó hEidhin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Eidhean, ‘ivy’” Jenkins — (Welsh / Cornish name) Welsh & Cornish settlers · “'little John' — Jenkin, a pet-form of John with the '-kin' ending” Kiely Ó Cadhla Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cadhla, 'graceful'” Kirby Ó Ciarmhaic Gaelic sept · “descendant of Ciarmhac, 'dark son'” Lacey de Léis Norman & Gaelic sept · “Norman ‘de Laci’, of Lassy in France; or Ó Laitheasa, descendant of Flaitheas” Langan Ó Longáin Gaelic septs (several) · “descendant of Longán, a diminutive of long, ‘tall’” Leahy Ó Laochdha Gaelic sept · “descendant of Laochdha, 'heroic'” Linehan Ó Luingeacháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Longachán” Madigan Ó Madagáin Gaelic sept · “the same as Ó Madáin (Madden)” McInerney Mac an Airchinnigh Gaelic learned family · “son of the erenagh — the hereditary steward of church lands” Moloney Ó Maoldhomhnaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Maoldomhnaigh, 'devoted to Sunday, or to the Church'” Moroney Ó Maolruanaidh Gaelic septs (several) · “descendant of Maolruanaidh, ‘follower of Ruanaidh’” Mulcahy Ó Maolchathaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of the devotee of St Cathach ('battle')” Mulqueen Ó Maolchaoin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Maolcaoin, 'gentle chief'” Mulvihill Ó Maoilmhichil Gaelic sept · “descendant of the servant of St Michael” Noonan Ó Nuanáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Ionmhaineán, 'the beloved'” Normoyle Mac Confhormaoile Gaelic sept · “son of Cú Fhormaoile, ‘hound of Formoyle’, a place in Co. Clare” O'Brien Ó Briain Gaelic dynasty · “descendant of Brian (Boru)” O'Gara Ó Gadhra Gaelic sept · “descendant of Gadhra, perhaps from gadhar, ‘a mastiff’” O'Grady Ó Gráda Gaelic sept · “descendant of Gráda, 'noble, illustrious'” O'Rahilly Ó Raithile Gaelic sept · “descendant of Raithile” O'Shaughnessy Ó Seachnasaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Seachnasach” Roche de Róiste Norman · “de la roche — 'of the rock'” Ryan Ó Maoilriain Gaelic sept · “descendant of Maoilriaghain” Sexton Ó Seasnáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Seasnán” Sheedy Mac Síoda Gaelic sept · “son of Síoda, 'silk'” Sheehan Ó Síodhacháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Síodhach, 'the peaceful'” Sheehy Mac Síthigh Scots-gallowglass · “son of Sítheach, 'the peaceful' — or 'the otherworldly'” Shine Ó Seighin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Seighin, 'wild ox'” Wall de Bhál Norman · “du val — 'of the valley'” Wallace de Bhailís Norman-Welsh · “le waleis — 'the Welshman, the foreigner'” Woulfe de Bhulbh Norman · “le woulf — 'the wolf'”

Tap a name for its full page — story, homeland map and neighbours. Or see all surnames from County Limerick, with the other counties each name is tied to.

Towns, saints and legends of Limerick

Towns. Limerick Luimneach (102,287, 2022), Newcastle West An Caisleán Nua Thiar (7,209, 2022), Abbeyfeale Mainistir na Féile (2,206, 2022), Kilmallock Cill Mocheallóg (1,761, 2022), Adare Áth Dara. What every town name means →

Saints. St Íte (15 January).

Legends set here. Lough Gur — Áine's lake. On the atlas →

First names that belong here. Áine, Íde, Gobnait, Manchán.

Irish in Limerick today

At the 2022 census, 78,172 people in Limerick said they could speak Irish. 1,853 speak it every day outside school, and 4,319 weekly.

6 primary schools here teach entirely through Irish (2025/26, 2,013 pupils), and 2 secondary schools.

CSO, Census 2022, table SAP2022T3T2CTY. Every county compared →

The top of Limerick

Galtymore (Cnoc Mór na nGaibhlte), 918 metres, in the Galty Mountains, on the county boundary and shared with a neighbouring county.

Wrecks on its coast: Cicero (1832). Shipwrecks of Ireland →

Rivers and loughs: River Shannon, River Feale, River Deel, River Maigue, Mulkear River.

MountainViews, via Wikipedia. Every county's highest point → · Rivers and loughs →

Limerick in the All-Ireland

Hurling: 13 senior titles (1897, 1918, 1921, 1934, 1936, 1940, 1973, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2026); 9 finals lost.
Football: 2 senior titles (1887, 1896).

Every county's All-Ireland titles →

Born in Limerick

From Wikidata: people whose recorded birthplace is in the county, who have a Wikipedia article and are no longer living, with dates shown only where the article confirms them, ordered by how many languages Wikipedia covers them in. Traditional birthplaces of early saints are as Wikidata records them. Dates are left off where the sources disagree.

Hidden Limerick — the places the buses miss
  • Grange stone circle, Lough Gur
    Ireland's largest stone circle, 113 stones in a great embanked ring, beside a lake that has yielded more prehistoric finds than almost anywhere in Ireland.
  • Treaty Stone, Limerick
    The block on which the 1691 Treaty was supposedly signed — its promises to Catholics broken so fast that Limerick is still 'the city of the violated treaty'.
On the ground in Limerick

Every pin is placed by its documented coordinates. All the monuments of Ireland →

Everything on the site about County Limerick

The county

History

Monuments and heritage

Coast and country

People and culture

Quick answers
What is the Irish name for County Limerick?

Luimneach. Limerick is one of the 6 counties of Munster (Cúige Mumhan).

Who ruled County Limerick in the Middle Ages?

Around 1014 it was held by Thomond (O'Brien); by 1450, Earldom of Desmond (FitzGerald). The full era-by-era chronology is on this page.

What surnames come from County Limerick?

Names historically associated with Limerick include Canty, Carmody, Casey, Clohessy, Collins, Creagh, Cremin, Culhane, among others.

What does Luimneach mean?

Luimneach, said “LIM-nakh”, means bare spot, or bare marsh — from loimeanach, bare or barren ground. The reading is old and not fully settled; the city sits on an island in the Shannon.

What is the population of County Limerick?

209,536 at the 2022 census, against 330,029 in 1841, before the Famine.

What is the county town of Limerick?

Limerick. County Limerick covers about 2,756 km², which makes it the 10th largest of the 32 counties.

Who are famous people from County Limerick?

Among the best-known people born in Limerick are Dolores O'Riordan, G. E. M. Anscombe, John Flanagan, Mary Jane Kelly, Terry Wogan, Patrick James Ryan. The full list, with their birthplaces, is on this page.

What did the Famine do to County Limerick?

The census counted 330,029 people in Limerick in 1841 and 262,000 in 1851 (the 1851 figure is approximate): a change of -21% in ten years, through death and emigration.

Sources for this page

A clean copy for school projects or the family file; collapsed sections print in full.

The chronology of who held the county is this site's own reading of the standard histories onto today's county borders, and says so where the fit is rough. Quoted passages are marked and licensed. Spotted an error? Say so — corrections are credited.

Trace your ancestors in Limerick

Free, from the holding institutions. How to begin: the six-step guide → · Spotted an error on this page? Suggest a correction.