About Limerick Archives
Limerick Archives is an independent digital history project dedicated to preserving, organising and sharing the social, cultural and photographic history of Limerick city and county.
The archive was founded by Limerick historian, author and former journalist and broadcaster Gerard J. Hannan. Its purpose is to make local history freely accessible while ensuring that the people, places and everyday experiences of Limerick are preserved for future generations.
Through photographs, historical articles, newspaper reports, biographies, personal recollections, books and original research, Limerick Archives creates a growing public record of the city and county across time.
Our Mission
Limerick’s history belongs to everyone. The mission of Limerick Archives is to recover stories that might otherwise be forgotten and to present them in a clear, engaging and accessible form.
Particular attention is given to ordinary people whose lives may not appear prominently in traditional historical accounts. Workers, families, shopkeepers, teachers, farmers, sportspeople, children, migrants, community leaders and neighbourhood organisations all form part of the wider story.
The aim is not merely to collect material, but to place it in context so that visitors can understand how Limerick changed and how those changes affected local lives.
The Collection
The growing collection contains more than 20,000 photographs relating to twentieth-century Limerick, including many images that have never previously been published.
These photographs record streets, neighbourhoods, workplaces, schools, sporting organisations, religious institutions, businesses, public ceremonies, family occasions and everyday life throughout Limerick city and county.
The archive also includes historical articles, biographies, timelines, newspaper material, local memories and research covering political, social, industrial, sporting and cultural history.
Our Publications
Limerick Archives supports an ambitious programme of historical publications examining the people and communities of Limerick across different periods.
These books combine carefully researched local history with extensive photographic collections. The long-term aim is to create a substantial permanent record of Limerick life through approximately one hundred illustrated books.
The publications are intended both for readers with a general interest in Limerick and for researchers seeking accessible material about the city and county.
Why the Archive Matters
Local history is often preserved through family albums, private collections, handwritten notes, newspaper cuttings and personal memories. Such material can easily disappear when photographs are discarded, homes are cleared or stories are no longer passed from one generation to the next.
Limerick Archives brings this material together so that it can be identified, understood and shared. Every photograph, document and recollection can contribute another piece to the wider history of Limerick.
Preserving this material protects more than dates and names. It safeguards the memory of places, communities, relationships, working lives and everyday experiences that might otherwise be lost.
Contribute to the Archive
Members of the public are invited to contribute photographs, documents, information, corrections and personal memories connected with Limerick.
You may be able to identify a person, street, building, workplace, school, team or event appearing in the archive. Even a small detail can help complete an important historical record.
Original material does not have to be permanently donated. Where appropriate, arrangements may be made for photographs or documents to be digitally copied and returned.
Accuracy and Corrections
Every effort is made to ensure that information published by Limerick Archives is historically accurate. Local history, however, continues to develop as new photographs, documents and personal accounts become available.
Readers are encouraged to contact the archive when they can provide additional information or identify an error. Names, dates, locations and descriptions may sometimes require correction or clarification.
Verified corrections and contributions are welcomed because they improve the archive and strengthen the historical record available to everyone.
Access and Use
Limerick Archives is committed to maintaining free public access to its online historical material.
Unless otherwise stated, photographs, articles and research published on this website may remain protected by copyright. Material should not be reproduced, republished or used commercially without prior permission.
Researchers, schools, community organisations, media outlets and publishers seeking permission to use material are welcome to submit a request explaining what they wish to use and where it will appear.
About the Founder
Gerard J. Hannan is a Limerick historian, author and former journalist and broadcaster with more than twenty years of experience in local media.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Media from Mary Immaculate College, a Master of Business Studies degree in International Entrepreneurship Management from the University of Limerick’s Kemmy Business School, and a Master of Arts degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.
His published work includes historical, biographical and fictional writing centred on Limerick and Ireland. Through Limerick Archives, he continues his work of preserving local photographs, recovering forgotten stories and making Limerick’s history available to a wider audience.
A Living Archive
Limerick Archives is not a completed collection. It is a living and continually developing record shaped by new discoveries and by the knowledge of the people who visit it.
Every contribution adds to our understanding of Limerick’s past. A remembered name, a corrected date, an old photograph or a family story can transform an incomplete record into something meaningful.
By preserving these stories together, we can ensure that the lives, places and experiences that shaped Limerick are not lost.
