In a captivating journey back in time, a collection of meticulously restored and enhanced historical images offers a vivid window into the life and times of Limerick, Ireland, from 1900 to 1910. This unique compilation spans a decade marked by significant events and personalities, capturing the essence of a bygone era.
The images feature a diverse array of subjects, including prominent landmarks, influential figures, and everyday scenes that collectively weave the tapestry of Limerick’s rich history. Among the snapshots is a glimpse of Woolworths Store, a testament to the changing face of commerce in the city during the early 20th century.
THE THOLSEL, MARY STREET, LIMERICK, 1900S
Notably, the Fenian Daly family takes centre stage, immortalized in a photograph that resonates with the spirit of the times. Their presence underscores the historical importance of Limerick in the context of Irish nationalism, as the city has been a cradle of political and cultural movements.
Brendan Bracken, son of Joseph Kevin Bracken, Ardvullen, Kilmallock, graces another image, leaving the Ministry of Information building in Bloomsbury alongside General Eisenhower in 1944. This photograph serves as a poignant reminder of the global impact of Limerick’s sons and daughters during times of war and diplomacy.
CHILDREN PLAYING AT THE TREATY STONE, LIMERICK, 1900S.
Maurice Fitzgerald Day, the Dean of Limerick, and his distinguished service as Bishop of Cashel, Emly, Waterford, and Lismore from 1872 to 1899, is commemorated in a photograph capturing the essence of his legacy. His death in 1904 marked the end of an era, leaving an indelible imprint on the annals of Limerick’s ecclesiastical history.
The images also shed light on the athletic prowess of John Joseph “Jack” Lewis, born near Adare in June 1903. A participant in the 1948 Olympics as part of the Irish equestrian team, Lewis hails from a family deeply ingrained in the Olympic spirit, with two brothers-in-law, Joseph and Michael O’Connor, also being Olympians.
PUPILS OF ST. MUNCHINS COLLEGE, C.1890
A striking portrait of Squadron Leader Levers, a Battle of Britain pilot born in Patrickswell, Co. Limerick, in 1904, provides a visual testament to the courage and valour exhibited by Limerick’s sons during times of conflict. His remarkable service during World War II is etched into the annals of Limerick’s military history.
Margaret Stack, the family cook to the prestigious New York Wickwire family, adds an international flavour to the collection. Hailing from Athea, County Limerick, Margaret worked from 1904 to 1911 for the owners of the Wickwire Wire Mills Factory, a reflection of the global reach and influence of Limerick’s diaspora.
KILLING HOUSE AND HANGING BAR, MATTERSON’ C.1900S
The early 20th century Olympics come to life through the achievements of John Jesus Flanagan, a Limerick man who competed for the USA and won the hammer-throwing competition in the 1904 and 1908 Games. His triumphs stand as a testament to the athletic prowess fostered in the heart of Limerick.
A captivating portrait of Patrick Joseph O’Shaughnessy, MP for Co. Limerick, painted by Sir Benjamin Stone MP in 1904, provides a glimpse into the political landscape of the time. The image resonates with the social and political dynamics that shaped Limerick during the early 20th century.
An invitation to the Theatre Royal in 1905 regarding the topic of devolution hints at the intellectual and cultural engagements of Limerick’s populace during this period. Meanwhile, a photograph capturing the Limerick Confraternity Procession on George Street in the early 1900s offers a glimpse into the religious and communal fabric of the city.
CASTLE OLIVER CO LIMERICK, C.1850:
Turn the pages of history, and one encounters the symbolic act of turning the sod for Limerick’s water supply in Clareville, Castleconnell, on September 5th, 1888. This event marked a significant milestone in the city’s infrastructure development, shaping its future.
The sporting spirit of Limerick finds representation in the Garryowen Rugby Football Club, winners of the Munster Senior Cup in 1890-1891, and the Limerick Commercials in 1887, the first All-Ireland-winning team in senior football championship history.
“The Swan of Erin,” Catherine Hayes, the world-famous Irish soprano of the Victorian era, adds a touch of musical elegance to the narrative. Born in Limerick City, she became a sensation of her time, earning the moniker “Madonna” in a recent article in London’s Daily Express.
BILLIARD ROOM, MUNGRET COLLEGE, LIMERICK, 1907
Peerless De Wet, winner of the inaugural Irish Cup in 1905 staged at Limerick, takes us back to the exhilarating world of horse racing, showcasing the city’s vibrant sporting culture.
Devon Castle in Newcastle West and Newtown Pery Mills on Canal Bank, both captured in the early 1900s, stand as architectural testimonials to Limerick’s evolving urban landscape.
The collection concludes with a nostalgic glimpse of People’s Park in the 1900s, offering a serene snapshot of everyday life in Limerick during this transformative period.
RELAXING AT THE DANIEL O’CONNELL MONUMENT, THE CRESCENT, LIMERICK, C.1900S
These restored images, carefully preserved and enhanced, serve as a visual time capsule, inviting us to reflect on the stories, events, and personalities that have shaped the dynamic tapestry of Limerick’s history. Each photograph is a testament to the resilience, creativity, and spirit of the people who have called Limerick home over the decades.
WOOLWORTH’S OF LIMERICK, 1910S.
NORA, AGNES AND ANNIE DALY, 1904. , BEFORE THE DEATH OF ANNIE IN 1908. DAUGHTERS OF FENIAN JOHN DALY. THEY ALL WORKED AT HIS BAKERY ON WILLIAM STREET, LIMERICK.
BRENDAN BRACKEN, SON OF JOSEPH KEVIN BRACKEN, ARDVULLEN, KILMALLOCK. HE IS SEEN HERE WITH GENERAL EINSENHOWER LEAVING THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION BUILDING IN BLOOMSBURY, 1944
MAURICE FITZGERALD DAY, DEAN OF LIMERICK. HE WAS BISHOP OF CASHEL, EMLY, WATERFORD AND LISMORE FROM 1872 UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN 1899. HE DIED ON 13 DECEMBER 1904.
JOHN JOSEPH “JACK” LEWIS WAS BORN NEAR ADARE IN JUNE 1903. HE PARTICIPATED IN THE IRISH TEAM IN TWO EQUESTRIAN EVENTS AT THE 1948 OLYMPICS. TWO OF HIS BROTHERS-IN-LAW, JOSEPH AND MICHAEL O’CONNOR, WERE ALSO OLYMPIANS.
BEAGH QUAY, LIMERICK, C.1900S.
SQUADRON LEADER LEVERS, A BATTLE OF BRITAIN PILOT FROM IRELAND, BORN MARCH 1904 IN PATRICKSWELL, CO. LIMERICK. DIED 22.11.93 IN SIXMILEBRIDGE, CO. CLARE.
SQUADRON LEADER LEVERS, A BATTLE OF BRITAIN PILOT FROM IRELAND, BORN MARCH 1904 IN PATRICKSWELL, CO. LIMERICK. DIED 22.11.93 IN SIXMILEBRIDGE, CO. CLARE.
MARGARET STACK WORKED AS THE FAMILY COOK TO THE PRESTIGIOUS NEW YORK WICKWIRE FAMILY, OWNERS OF THE WICKWIRE WIRE MILLS FACTORY, FROM 1904 TO 1911. SHE EMIGRATED FROM ATHEA, COUNTY LIMERICK, IRELAND IN 1902.
JOHN JESUS FLANAGAN A LIMERICK MAN WHO COMPETED FOR THE USA WON THE HAMMER THROWING COMPETITION AT THE 1904, 1908 OLYMPIC GAMES
PATRICK JOSEPH O’SHAUGHNESSY, MP FOR CO. LIMERICK. PORTRAIT BY SIR BENJAMIN STONE MP IN 1904.
INVITATION TO THE THEATRE ROYAL ON THE TOPIC OF DEVOLUTION, LIMERICK, C.1905
LIMERICK CONFRATERNITY PROCESSION ON GEORGE STREET, LIMERICK, C.1900S
TURNING THE SOD FOR LIMERICK’S WATER SUPPLY, CLAREVILLE, CASTLECONNELL, CO. LIMERICK, SEPTEMBER 5TH 1888
GARRYOWEN RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB, WINNERS OF THE MUNSTER SENIOR CUP (1890-1891) BACK: T. FOGARTY, J MURNANE, C. ROSS, J FOGARTY, H MCMAHON, W SWAIN, P HARTNEY, J PRENDERGAST, F HOOK. CENTRE: M KELLY, R LYNCH, T PEEL, J MCCAULEY, J O’SULLIVAN, M O’CONNOR, T MCMAHON, FRONT: P STAPLETON, G COLLOPY. (NOTE: THERE IS ONLY ONE OTHER PLAQUE ON THE BASE OF THE MUNSTER CUP).
LIMERICK COMMERCIALS IN 1887 WHO WERE BOTH LIMERICK’S FIRST ALL-IRELAND WINNING TEAM AND THE FIRST WINNERS OF ALL THE ALL-IRELAND SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.
“THE SWAN OF ERIN”, CATHERINE HAYES, THE WORLD-FAMOUS IRISH SOPRANO OF THE VICTORIAN ERA,. HERE SEEN IN HER FIRST APPEARANCE AT THE VICTORIA THEATRE, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH, 1854. SHE WAS BORN AT 4 PATRICK STREET, LIMERICK CITY. ACCORDING TO A RECENT ARTICLE IN LONDON’S DAILY EXPRESS, “HAYES WAS THE ‘MADONNA’ OF HER DAY”.
PEERLESS DE WET, WINNER OF THE 1905 INAUGURAL IRISH CUP STAGED AT LIMERICK, IRELAND.
DEVON CASTLE, NEWCASTLE WEST, CO. LIMERICK, C.1900S
NEWTOWN PERY MILLS, CANAL BANK, LIMERICK, 1900S.
PEOPLE’S PARK, LIMERICK, 1900S.
LIMERICK GAZETTE ARCHIVES
