Books Collection

We have a vast resource of books on all subjects related to Limerick City & County and its rich culture and history. The collection ranges from the very first book published on the history of Limerick in 1787 to the most recent titles available.

Titles displayed here represent a sample of the whole collection, which can be accessed at the local studies department. Topics covered include art & architecture, literature, archaeology, sport, biography, as well as social, military and political history.

For purposes of brevity, the library holdings information provided here are mostly snapshots – full holdings information should be gleaned from the library catalogue.

NOTE – We have added some of these books to our digital collection. Click the link where displayed.

Reference

Limerick - a Bibliography of the City and County by Margaret Franklin (2005)

Limerick City Street Names by Gerry Joyce (1995)

100 women of Limerick by Sharon Slater

100 women of Limerick by Sharon Slater (2022)

Limerick: Irish Historic Towns Atlas by Eamon O'Flaherty (2010)

This book examines the topographical development of Limerick’s three urban centres, Viking, Anglo-Norman and Georgian, depicting the strategic importance of the city on the Shannon for military and trading purposes from the ninth century. Histories of over 4,000 sites are documented, with a collection of maps and illustrations.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1754086

 

History

Limerick History and Society: interdisciplinary essays on the history of an Irish county, editors Liam Irwin and Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh

Limerick History and Society: interdisciplinary essays on the history of an Irish county, editors Liam Irwin, Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh and Matthew Potter (2009)

The History of Limerick, Ecclesiastical, Civil and Military: from the earliest records to the year 1787 by John Ferrar (1787)

The History of Limerick, Ecclesiastical, Civil and Military: from the earliest records to the year 1787 by John Ferrar (1787)

The History, Topography and Antiquities of the County and City of Limerick [2 vols.] by P. Fitzgerald and J. J. McGregor (1826)

Limerick: its history and antiquities, ecclesiastical, civil, and military: from the earliest ages by Maurice Lenihan (1866)

Limerick: its history and antiquities, ecclesiastical, civil, and military: from the earliest ages by Maurice Lenihan (1866)

Limerick: historical reflections by Kevin Hannan (1996)

The History of Limerick City by Seán Spellissy (1998)

Dowd's history of Limerick by Rev. James Dowd, ed. by Cian O'Carroll (1890, 1990)

The Cromwellian Settlement of the County of Limerick by James Grene Barry (1900)

This is a general account of the confiscation of lands during the Cromwellian period and a listing of former proprietors and grantees. It was published as a monograph in 1900, and also as a series of articles in the Journal of the Limerick Field Club.  Contents include introductory essay followed by listings from the Books of Survey & Distribution on a barony by barony basis.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/WPAC/BIBENQ/129263927/6104419,1

View the book at our digital library

The Glamour of Limerick by A. J. O'Halloran (1928)

A general history and description of Limerick City, it includes biographical profiles of notable Limerick people.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/WPAC/BIBENQ/129264276/5610603,1

View the book at our digital library

Limerick: 100 stories of the century by Denis O'Shaughnessy (c.2000)

Limerick: the Rich Land by Sean Spellissy and John O'Brien (1989)

Limerick: the Rich Land by Sean Spellissy and John O'Brien (1989)

Exploring Limerick's Past: an historical geography of urban development in city and county by Patrick J. O'Connor (1987)

Georgian Limerick 1714 - 1845 [2 vols.] edited by David Lee & Bob Kelly/Christine Gonzalez (1996 & 2000)

The Widow's Penny: the memorial record of the Limerick men & women who gave their lives in the Great War by Patrick J. McNamara (2000)

The Widow's Penny: the memorial record of the Limerick men & women who gave their lives in the Great War by Patrick J. McNamara (2000)

The War of Independence in Limerick 1912-1921 by Thomas Toomey (2010)

The War of Independence in Limerick 1912-1921 by Thomas Toomey (2010)

'The inevitable conflict': essays on the Civil War in County Limerick edited by Seán William Gannon (2022)

The Inevitable Conflict: Essays on the Civil War in County Limerick comprises thirteen original essays authored by professional and local historians, and Ph.D. students from Mary Immaculate College. They employ a wide range of traditional and newly released archival resources to shed new light on the experience of the Civil War in county Limerick.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2808527

See full digital copy here: https://www.limerick.ie/sites/default/files/media/documents/2022-08/The-Inevitable-Conflict.pdf

Cuimhníonn Luimneach: Cásg 1966 (1966)

Archaeology and Early History

An Archaeology of Southwest Ireland, 1570-1670 by Colin Breen (2007)

An Archaeology of Southwest Ireland, 1570-1670 by Colin Breen (2007)

Anatomy of a Siege: King John's Castle, Limerick, 1642 by Kenneth Wiggins (2001)

Anatomy of a Siege: King John's Castle, Limerick, 1642 by Kenneth Wiggins (2001)

The Antiquities of Limerick and its Neighbourhood by T. J. Westropp, R. A. S. MacAlister and G. U. MacNamara (1916)

Survey of the archaeology of Limerick City & County by three of the most renowned antiquarians of the early twentieth century.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/WPAC/BIBENQ/129270511/5631084,4476

View the book at our digital library

Biography

Revolutionary Woman by Kathleen Clarke edited by Helen Litton (2008)

Aubrey de Vere: the Bard of Curragh Chase by Patrick J. Cronin (1997)

There is a Time by Johnny Duhan (2001)

There is a Time by Johnny Duhan (2001)

A vivid and elegantly written autobiography, this is the story of the legendary Irish rock singer, Johnny Duhan, who fronted a band of innocents called ‘Granny’s Intentions’. His search for fame turned out to be a bug-infested, drug-ingested odyssey towards betrayal and heartache but after the band’s demise he reincarnated himself as a songwriter and is now best known for his work with Christy Moore, Mary Black, Mary Coughlan and a host of others. ‘It’s all here in ‘There is a Time’ by Johnny Duhan; let me recommend it’ – Christy Moore

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=974516

 

 

The Farm by Lough Gur: the Story of Mary Fogarty by Mary Carbery (1940, 2010 ed.)

An account of the lost world of the strong-farm family in post-famine Munster. It depicts a social hierarchy of dominant men and credulous servants and hangers-on, mirroring the hierarchy of formal religiosity that overlaid the rich landscape of folk belief and custom.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1323644

 

 

Gerald Griffin (1803-1840): a critical biography by John Cronin (1978)

The Tragic Story of the Colleen Bawn: the facts and the fiction by William MacLysaght and Sigerson Clifford (1964)

The Tragic Story of the Colleen Bawn: the facts and the fiction by William MacLysaght and Sigerson Clifford (1964)

Richard Harris: the biography by Michael Feeney Callan (2014)

Richard Harris: the biography by Michael Feeney Callan (2014)

The intimate biography of the celebrated actor Richard Harris, written with his cooperation over ten years by New York Times bestselling author and friend of Harris, Michael Feeney Callan. The book follows Harris’ life from beginnings in Limerick, through the teenage illness that almost killed him to triumph on the London stage and, finally, life in Hollywood. Drawing on lengthy interview sessions with Harris and his friends, co-workers and family, Callan explores the obsessions that forged Harris’ success in legendary movies like This Sporting Life, Camelot and the Harry Potter series. Described by The Guardian as ‘thorough and entertaining’, by Kirkus Reviews as ‘meticulous’ and by the Mail on Sunday as ‘irresistible’ this incident-packed account is destined to remain the definitive life of Richard Harris.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=52713

Catherine Hayes 1818-1861: the Hibernian prima donna by Basil F. Walsh (2000)

Catherine Hayes 1818-1861: the Hibernian prima donna by Basil F. Walsh (2000)

The achievements of the Limerick-born prima donna Catherine Hayes are relatively unknown to the musical world and opera connoisseurs of the present day. This is the first definitive biography of this important nineteenth-century Irish singer, presented in an accessible and entertaining style, with related photographs and a chronology of her performances.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=637373

 

 

Lady Icarus: the Life of Irish Aviator Lady Mary Heath by Lindie Naughton (2004)

The Bard of Thomond: his life, times and poetry, history of Thomondgate by Frank Hamilton (1974)

The Bard of Thomond: his life, times and poetry, history of Thomondgate by Frank Hamilton (1974)

Jim Kemmy: stonemason, trade unionist, politician, historian by Brian Callanan (2011)

Angela’s Ashes: a memoir of childhood by Frank McCourt (1996)

Angela’s Ashes: a memoir of childhood by Frank McCourt (1996)

The phenomenal worldwide bestseller, Frank McCourt’s sad, funny, bittersweet memoir of growing up in Limerick in the 40s. It is a story of extreme hardship and suffering, in Brooklyn tenements and Limerick slums – too many children, too little money, his mother Angela barely coping as his father Malachy’s drinking bouts constantly brings the family to the brink of disaster. It is a story of courage and survival against apparently overwhelming odds.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=17984

 

 

Lola Montez: a life by Bruce Seymour (1998)

Lola Montez: a life by Bruce Seymour (1998)

The exploits of Lola Montez – onstage as a dancer and an actor, in politics as a power behind thrones, and in bedrooms around the world – made her one of the best-known women of the Victorian era. Born Eliza Gilbert, daughter of British and Irish parents, she transformed herself into an aristocratic Spanish dancer, carrying on a masquerade that took her to Europe, America and Australia, and attracting admirers and scandal wherever she went. When she died in 1861 at age 40, her obituary appeared in papers around the world. Yet her true story has always been obscured by the web of lies she constructed about herself. This biography of Lola Montez reveals many of the facts of her life, although her actual birthplace remains in question – she claimed on several occasions to have been Limerick-born, but recent research suggests County Sligo as her birthplace.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2071777

Kate O'Brien: a literary portrait by Lorna Reynolds (1987)

Kate O'Brien: a literary portrait by Lorna Reynolds (1987)

Long neglected by critics, Kate O’Brien is beginning to be accorded her proper due and classed among the great novelists of the twentieth century. A romantic realist, responsive to the lyrical beauty of the Irish landscape and appreciative of Irish wit, O’Brien is also a subtly feminist writer whose heroines are in search of both freedom and love. In this first study of her novels as a whole, her development as a writer is traced and the underlying themes of her work are revealed.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=956597

 

 

There is an Isle: a Limerick boyhood by Criostoir O'Flynn (1998)

There is an Isle: a Limerick boyhood by Criostoir O'Flynn (1998)

Playwright and author Criostoir O’Flynn gives an account of his childhood in 1930’s Limerick. As well as being an account of a lifestyle that has passed, this is an excursion into local and Irish history and politics from a nationalistic and Catholic viewpoint.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1438589

 

 

Frank Ryan by Fearghal McGarry (2010)

Frank Ryan by Fearghal McGarry (2010)

A concise reinterpretation of Frank Ryan’s controversial life and political legacy based on primary sources, including much previously unpublished material.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1510472

Revolutionary Imperialist: William Smith O'Brien 1803-1864 by Richard Davis (1998)

Revolutionary Imperialist: William Smith O'Brien 1803-1864 by Richard Davis (1998)

By 1848 all peaceful means of giving Ireland an equal place within the British Empire seemed exhausted and William Smith O’Brien found himself a reluctant revolutionary leader. An aristocratic Protestant landlord, O’Brien nevertheless commanded unrivalled respect amongst all Irish classes.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1486520

Peter Tait: a remarkable story by John E. Waite (2005)

Peter Tait: a remarkable story by John E. Waite (2005)

Is it Me? Terry Wogan an autobiography by Terry Wogan (2000)

Limerick-born Terry Wogan was one of the best known broadcasters in Britain and Ireland, with a hugely successful career in both radio and television. Here, he brings to the reader a wry take on everyday life, mixed with a self-deprecating humour, as he describes his whole life, both personal and professional.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=476139

Guides and Description

The Grand Tour of Limerick compiled by Cornelius Kelly (2004)

The Grand Tour of Limerick compiled by Cornelius Kelly (2004)

Limerick: snapshots of the treaty city and county 1840 - 1960 by Tom Donovan and Vincent Carmody (2021)

Limerick: snapshots of the treaty city and county 1840 - 1960 by Tom Donovan and Vincent Carmody (2021)

Portrait of Limerick by Mainchín Seoighe (1982)

Portrait of Limerick by Mainchín Seoighe (1982)

Round About the County of Limerick by Rev. James Dowd (1896)

General description of County Limerick in late 19th century.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/WPAC/BIBENQ/129265791/6104256,1

View the book at our digital library

Pictures Of Limerick

Limerick - a Stroll Down Memory Lane [volumes 1 to 22] by Seán Curtin (2000 – 2022)

Limerick - a Stroll Down Memory Lane [volumes 1 to 23] by Seán Curtin (2000 – 2023)

Limerick Through the Lens: pictures from the Limerick Leader archive / Alan English et al. (2014)

Limerick Through the Lens: pictures from the Limerick Leader archive / Alan English et al. (2014)

This extensive pictorial record provides a unique glimpse of the recent past, testimony to the importance of preserving the past for the education, entertainment and enjoyment of future generations. This collection contains some of the best of these pictures from the mid-to-late 20th century.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1391601

Father Browne's Limerick by Francis Browne, compiled by E. E. O'Donnell (2005) [

Father Browne's Limerick by Francis Browne, compiled by E. E. O'Donnell (2005) [

Showcases rural and city landscapes, the Shannon, children at play, the great houses of Adare Manor and Glin Castle, and more. This author’s photographs enjoy international acclaim.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1436798

Society And Politics

The Government and the People of Limerick: the history of Limerick Corporation/City Council 1197-2006 by Matthew Potter (2006)

Cuimhnigh ar Luimneach: a history of Limerick County Council 1898-1998 by Diarmaid Ferriter (1998)

Cuimhnigh ar Luimneach: a history of Limerick County Council 1898-1998 by Diarmaid Ferriter (1998)

First Citizens of the Treaty City: the Mayors and Mayoralty of Limerick 1197-2007 by Matthew Potter (2007)

Limerick Municipal Elections 1841-2009 compiled by John Cusack and Liam Hanley (2010)

Limerick Municipal Elections 1841-2009 compiled by John Cusack and Liam Hanley (2010)

This publication lists the names of all of those councillors elected to the Limerick City Council since 1841 when the electoral system for local government was first introduced to the city.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=137838

View the book at our digital library
The Story of Muintir na Tire 1931-2001: the first seventy years by Mark Tierney (2004)

The Story of Muintir na Tire 1931-2001: the first seventy years by Mark Tierney (2004)

Understanding Limerick: social exclusion and change edited by Niamh Hourigan (2011)

This edited collection features contributions from a range of leading Irish scholars in the fields of sociology, social policy, criminology and urban geography. Limerick city currently has the highest crime rate in Western Europe and contains the areas of most severe urban deprivation in the Republic of Ireland. The collection explores how this profound social exclusion emerged and critically assesses proposed solutions–including the Regeneration programs–to this social disadvantage. The evaluation of social exclusion in Limerick also provides a key opportunity to link the Irish experience of social exclusion to European and American literatures on ghettoization and urban poverty.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1452132

Pauper Limerick: the register of the Limerick House of Industry 1774-93 edited by David Fleming and John Logan (2011)

Pauper Limerick: the register of the Limerick House of Industry 1774-93 edited by David Fleming and John Logan (2011)

Of the twelve houses of industry established under the Irish poor law of 1771-2, this is the only admission book known to have survived. The register of the Limerick House of Industry contains information on the age, sex, place of origin, religion, medical condition, admission and discharge, amongst other details, of 2,747 inmates for the period 1774-1793. While revealing the mechanisms employed to administer a significant institution, the register also provides a singular record for a social group whose history is necessarily elusive. There is evidence of individual strategies for dealing with poverty, infirmity, disease and lunacy.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=249812

City and Cemetery: a history of Mount St. Lawrence, Limerick by Matthew Potter (2015)

City and Cemetery: a history of Mount St. Lawrence, Limerick by Matthew Potter (2015)

City and Cemetery by Dr. Matthew Potter and edited by Jacqui Hayes, details not only the cultural history and symbolism of graveyards and headstones, but it also examines the lives of many of the important figures that are buried in the cemetery itself. It also looks at the different social classes that were buried there, whether the ruling class or workhouse victims.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=343214

View the book at our digital library

Religion

City of Churches: a skyline of spires by Emma Gilleece (2014)

City of Churches: a skyline of spires by Emma Gilleece (2014)

The Church of Ireland in County Limerick: a record of church and clergy in the nineteenth century by Janet Murphy and Eileen Chamberlain (2013)

The Church of Ireland in County Limerick: a record of church and clergy in the nineteenth century by Janet Murphy and Eileen Chamberlain (2013)

This Plain, Artless, Serious People: the story of the Methodists of County Limerick by Rev. Dudley Levistone Cooney

This Plain, Artless, Serious People: the story of the Methodists of County Limerick by Rev. Dudley Levistone Cooney

While the story of the Palatines in Limerick has been well documented, nothing has been written about the Methodists as such. It is to repair that omission that this work is undertaken.

See catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2117679

History of the Quakers of Limerick, 1655-1900 by Hiram Wood (2020)

Limerick Boycott 1904: anti-Semitism in Ireland by Dermot Keogh and Andrew McCarthy (2005)

Limerick Boycott 1904: anti-Semitism in Ireland by Dermot Keogh and Andrew McCarthy (2005)

In January 1904, consequent to the sermons of the Redemptorist priest, Fr. John Creagh, the Jewish community in Limerick experienced a backlash in the form of violent assaults, economic boycott and social ostracism. This book explores one of the most controversial episodes in the history of Limerick.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1439393

Clergy of Limerick, Clergy of Ardfert and Aghadoe: biographical succession lists compiled by Canon J.B. Leslie (2015)

Clergy of Limerick, Clergy of Ardfert and Aghadoe: biographical succession lists compiled by Canon J.B. Leslie (2015)

This 2015 volume contains a complete revision and updating of Canon J.B. Leslie’s unpublished succession lists of the Diocese of Limerick, 1936, combined with a facsimile reproduction of his volume “Ardfert and Aghadoe clergy and parishes” which he published in 1940. This work has also been thoroughly revised and updated.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1996914

Art And Architecture

The Building of Limerick by Judith Hill (1991)

The Building of Limerick by Judith Hill (1991)

This work tells of the genesis and growth of the city of Limerick. It outlines the transformations which the city has undergone in its development. The focus is on the buildings, street patterns and civic structures, setting them against historical events.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1438491

EV+A catalogues/publications

EVA International (previously known as Limerick Exhibition of Visual Art and ev+a) is a large-scale contemporary art exhibition that takes place every two years in the city of Limerick, Republic of Ireland. It is known as Ireland’s biennial, and is held in even-numbered years [Wikipedia]. Each exhibition is accompanied by at least one publication.

See library catalogue record (sample volume, 2008): https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1718383

Limerick Music Throughout the Decades by Paddy Brennan (2018)

Limerick Music Throughout the Decades by Paddy Brennan (2018)

Limerick Music Throughout the Decades celebrates and showcases Limerick’s musical history, featuring articles on important local musical figures and bands and is a record of Limerick’s fine musical heritage.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1037889

Why Can't We? The Story of The Cranberries and their Iconic Front Woman, Dolores O'Riordan, curated by Stuart Clark (2021

Why Can't We? The Story of The Cranberries and their Iconic Front Woman, Dolores O'Riordan, curated by Stuart Clark (2021)

‘Why Can’t We?’ documents the birth and extraordinary rise of a band that made a city – indeed the entire county of Limerick – proud, and, through such instantly recognisable hits as ‘Linger’, ‘Dreams’, ‘Zombie’ and ‘Ode To My Family’, helped to soundtrack the lives of millions of people all over the world. Curated by Stuart Clark of Hot Press magazine, the book includes brand new contributions from Michael Stipe, Simon Le Bon, Olé Koretsky of D.A.R.K., acclaimed Limerick author, Kevin Barry, and many more.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1222247

Sport

One Hundred Years of Glory: a history of Limerick G.A.A., 1884-1984 by Séamus Ó Ceallaigh and Seán Murphy (1987)

Treaty triumph! How Limerick's young hurlers captured the hearts of a county and lifted the Liam McCarthy Cup by Damian Lawlor, photographs by Sportsfile (2018)

Treaty triumph! How Limerick's young hurlers captured the hearts of a county and lifted the Liam McCarthy Cup by Damian Lawlor, photographs by Sportsfile (2018)

In Treaty Triumph, the Sportsfile team of photographers, with writer Damian Lawlor and the Limerick players, retrace each step of the great odyssey, from a pre-season match on a raw December night to the white heat of an All-Ireland final in August and finally to the warm glow of the throng that greeted their heroes in the Gaelic grounds. Published in association with Limerick City & County Council and Adare Manor.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1016155

The Mackey Story by Séamus Ó Ceallaigh and Seán Murphy (1982)

The life story of Mick Mackey, Limerick’s greatest exponent of the game of hurling. In the 1930s, Mackey was central to the exploits of the most successful team Limerick ever fielded, up to its recent history.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=125366

The End of an Era: a history of Limerick senior soccer at the Markets Field, 1937-1984 editor Aidan Corr (1985)

A season-by season account of the progress of Limerick senior soccer during the whole period that its home venue was the Markets Field at Garryowen, Limerick.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=143188

 

View the book at our digital library

Rags to Riches: the story of Munster rugby by Barry Coughlan (2009)

Munster’s journey in pursuit of rugby glory has been long and often heart-breaking. The seeds for their ascent into the pantheon of great teams were sown long before Munster’s current success, built on a reputation as a fearsome side for touring teams to play. These personal contributions of players, coaches, fans and pundits make for fascinating reading.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1390311

The Home of the Spirit: a celebration of Limerick rugby by Michael O'Flaherty (1999)

The Home of the Spirit: a celebration of Limerick rugby by Michael O'Flaherty (1999)

Munster G.A.A. Story 1886-1986, 1985-2001 [2 vols.] by Jim Cronin (1985, 2001)

Munster G.A.A. Story 1886-1986, 1985-2001 [2 vols.] by Jim Cronin (1985, 2001)

Natural History

Flora of County Limerick by Sylvia C. P. Reynolds (2013)

Flora of County Limerick by Sylvia C. P. Reynolds (2013)

History of botanical records and recording in Co. Limerick. General description of Co. Limerick: topography, climate, geology, glaciation, soils. Habitats in Co. Limerick: Estuarine, grasslands and marshes, swamps and fens, bogs, heaths and montane, woodlands and hedgerows , rivers, streams and drainage ditches, lakes, ponds and other water-bodies, exposed rock and gravel/sand pits, artificial habitats and disturbed ground. Analysis of the Co. Limerick flora. Explanatory notes for Species Accounts. Protected sites and protected vascular plants in Co. Limerick. Selected sites of botanical interest in Co. Limerick

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=122912

A Field Guide to the Woodland and Scrub of the Ballyhoura Mountains, Co. Limerick by Rob Lynch (2018)

Transport And Industry

Made in Limerick: a history of trades, industries and commerce [2 vols.] edited by David Lee & Debbie Jacobs (2003, 2006)

Made in Limerick: a history of trades, industries and commerce [2 vols.] edited by David Lee & Debbie Jacobs (2003, 2006)

The Story of Limerick Clothing Factory (LCF), 1850-1950 (1950)

A history of the factory founded in 1850 by Peter Tait. In 1950 Limerick Clothing Factory celebrated its centenary year. This book gives an account of its achievements in that period from the firm’s perspective. LCF finally closed in 1975.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/WPAC/BIBENQ/129269483/765774,1

View the book at our digital library
Falling Gradient: Limerick's railway connections - the people & the times by Joe Coleman (2016)

Falling Gradient: Limerick's railway connections - the people & the times by Joe Coleman (2016)

Are ye going up town? Shops and Shopping in Limerick by Hélène Bradley Davies, Ursula Callaghan and Maura Cronin (2020)

Are ye going up town? Shops and Shopping in Limerick by Hélène Bradley Davies, Ursula Callaghan and Maura Cronin (2020)

A Stitch in Time: a history of Limerick Clothing Factory by Sharon Slater (2015)

A Stitch in Time: a history of Limerick Clothing Factory by Sharon Slater (2015)

Amazing Lace: a history of the Limerick Lace Industry by Matthew Potter (2014)

Amazing Lace: a history of the Limerick Lace Industry by Matthew Potter (2014)

Researched and written by Dr. Matthew Potter and edited by Jacqui Hayes, both of Limerick Museum and Archives, ‘Amazing Lace, A History of the Limerick Lace Industry‘ documents how Limerick lace manufacturing emerged as the largest in the history of Irish lace and one of the largest industries of any kind to operate in Limerick over the past two centuries.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2201216

View the book at our digital library
Ranks Mills: the industrial heart of Limerick City by Edward Whelan (2012)

Ranks Mills: the industrial heart of Limerick City by Edward Whelan (2012)

“An archive has been built from the documents and photographs donated to the City Archives by the former staff and their families”, starting with the papers of Cecil Mercier (Mill Superintendent, 1920-1962) and including an oral history project by Limerick City Archives and students of Mary Immaculate College.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1430659

The Limerick Harbour Directory

Directory covering regulations, tide tables and further information relating to the operation of Limerick docks in 1890.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/WPAC/BIBENQ/129269831/782157,1

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Golden Vale Remembered, 1948-2001 by Peter Somers and Michael McGrath (c.2001)

Golden Vale Remembered, 1948-2001 by Peter Somers and Michael McGrath (c.2001)

This publication tells of the commercial pressures which led to eleven Co-op Creameries in Limerick and North Cork federating to form the fledgling company Golden Vale Food Products Limited in 1946. After amalgamation of twenty-eight Co-ops, the history tells of its growth into one of the major dairy Co-operatives in the country before its takeover by Kerry Group plc.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=13623

The Shannon Scheme and the electrification of the Irish Free State edited by Andy Bielenberg (2002)

The Shannon Scheme and the electrification of the Irish Free State edited by Andy Bielenberg (2002)

This collection of scholarly essays provides a background to the figures involved in the Shannon Scheme and gives a detailed historical assessment of the scheme, which transformed the east Clare landscape and the economic landscape of the Limerick-Clare region.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1322876

Education

The University of Limerick: a history by David A. Fleming (2012)

The University of Limerick: a history by David A. Fleming (2012)

University of Limerick was the first new university created in Ireland since the foundation of the state. Its emergence was the result of a long and determined local campaign that compelled successive governments to respond. Conscious of the importance of higher education and eager to harness it for economic expansion, the state, in 1972, established a National Institute for Higher Education in Limerick. Under the leadership of a young and energetic director, Edward Walsh, the Institute forged a radical curriculum and courted the captains of industry to support its endeavours. The first years were difficult for the new Institute and its neighbour, the National College of Physical Education, later Thomond College of Education, which had been established at the same time to train specialist teachers. Government policy obliged both institutions to become part of the National University of Ireland, and by doing so attempted to marry two very different approaches to higher education. Although the policy proved unsuccessful, these events shaped the Institute and prompted it to strive for university status with power to grant its own degrees. In 1989, the University of Limerick was founded, the result of hard work and careful manoeuvring. This book masterfully recounts the University’s history, detailing the experiences of presidents, governors, staff, and students.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2222074

Passing on the Torch: a history of Mary Immaculate College, 1898-1998 by Sr. Loretto O'Connor (1998)

Passing on the Torch: a history of Mary Immaculate College, 1898-1998 by Sr. Loretto O'Connor (1998)

CBS 200 1816-2016: a celebration of a great Limerick institution of learning… (2016)

CBS 200 1816-2016: a celebration of a great Limerick institution of learning… (2016)

Two Centuries of Popular Education: an historical survey of the educational institutions of Limerick, 1700-1900 by Michael V. Spillane (1973)

A general survey of the history of education in Limerick city & county, written by Mr. Spillane as a thesis for M.Ed. degree.

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/WPAC/BIBENQ/129266529/355194,1

View the book at our digital library

Family History

A Guide to Tracing Your Limerick Ancestors, 2nd ed. by Margaret Franklin (2013)

A Guide to Tracing Your Limerick Ancestors, 2nd ed. by Margaret Franklin (2013)

County Limerick Rathkeale/Newcastle West Family Roots: exploring family origins by Noel Farrell (2002)

County Limerick Rathkeale/Newcastle West Family Roots: exploring family origins by Noel Farrell (2002)

Around The County Parishes

Historical Notes on Adare by Rev. T. E. Bridgett (1885)

Historical Notes on Adare by Rev. T. E. Bridgett (1885)

Cappamore: a parish history (1992)

Cappamore: a parish history (1992)

An Antique and Storied Land: a history of the Parish of Donoughmore, Knockea, Roxborough and its environs in County Limerick by Thomas Toomey and Harry Greensmyth (1991)

An Antique and Storied Land: a history of the Parish of Donoughmore, Knockea, Roxborough and its environs in County Limerick by Thomas Toomey and Harry Greensmyth (1991)

Kenry: the story of a barony in County Limerick by Máirtín Ó Corrbuí (1975)

Kenry: the story of a barony in County Limerick by Máirtín Ó Corrbuí (1975)

The Story of Kilmallock by Mainchín Seoighe (1987)

The Story of Kilmallock by Mainchín Seoighe (1987)

Murroe and Boher: the history of an Irish country parish by Mark Tierney (1966)

Hometown: a portrait of Newcastle West, Co. Limerick by Patrick J. O'Connor (1998)