Republic of Ireland, Limerick

Limerick is a city and the county seat of County Limerick in the province of Munster, in the midwest of the Republic of Ireland. The city lies on the River Shannon, with three main crossing points near the city centre.

The population of Limerick including the immediate suburbs and environs is 93,321 (based on the 2002 census carried out by the CSO), which would rank it as the third biggest city in the Republic of Ireland if outlying areas located in the neighboring County Clare are included; however, the official population of the city itself according to the city boundary laws is 52,560, according to the most recent census of 2006. This figure has remained virtually unchanged for 25 years[citation needed], and places it as the fourth largest city in the Republic of Ireland after Dublin, Cork and Galway, and the fifth largest urban area on the island of Ireland (after Dublin, Belfast, Cork and Derry).

Limerick is at the centre of the Midwest region which contributes €8.224 billion (2002) towards Irish GDP. It is situated 195 km west of Dublin and is equidistant at 105 km from the cities of Cork to the south and Galway to the north.

History

The city itself dates from at least the Viking settlement in 812. The Normans redesigned the city in the 12th century and added much of the most notable architecture, such as King John's Castle and St Mary's Cathedral. During the civil wars of the 17th century, the city played a pivotal role, besieged by Oliver Cromwell in 1651 and twice by the Williamites in the 1690s. Limerick grew rich through trade in the late 18th century, but the Act of Union in 1800, and the famine caused a crippling economic decline broken only by the so-called Celtic Tiger in the 1990s.

The Waterford and Limerick Railway linked the city to the Dublin-Cork main line in 1848 and to Waterford in 1853. The opening of a number of secondary railways in the 1850s and 1860s developed Limerick as a regional centre of communications.

Government

Limerick City Council has responsibility for certain local services such as sanitation, planning and development, libraries, collection of motor taxation, local roads and social housing. The City Council comprises elected ward councillors (formerly termed Aldermen) with an appointed (full time) CEO as City Manager. The councillors annually elect a Mayor to chair the council and represent the City. As of 2006 the current Mayor is Councillor Joe Leddin; previous Mayors include TDs Donagh O'Malley, Stephen Coughlan, Michael Lipper, Jim Kemmy and Jan O'Sullivan.

Tourism

Limerick City is one of the country's main tourist destinations, the city is only a 15 minute drive from Shannon International Airport. Currently tourism is growing at a spectacular rate with over 1,000 new beds being opened in the city in 2006 thanks to the opening of 5 new hotels. The city is the first to provide visitors to the city with 'Street Ambassadors', people designated to help others around and make the stay in Limerick more enjoyable.

When in Limerick, there's plenty to keep visitors occupied including King John's Castle (1212), St. Mary's Cathedral, Limerick (1168), Hunt Museum, Tours (Angela's Ashes walking tour of Limerick City, Hop on-Hop off Sightseeing tour of Limerick City, The historical walking tour of Limerick and Boat tours along the River Shannon *Not all tours are operational year round*), Georgian house and gardens, Treaty Stone, and more in the city centre. University of Limerick is worthy of a visit at term time being a cultural hub in the suburb of Castletroy. Also a visit to Bunratty Castle and folk park, Adare village and the Foynes Flying Boat Museum (all on the outskirts of the city) are must see attractions.

Economy

Limerick is at the heart of the region dubbed "the Midwest". Also known as the "Shannon Region", this is primarily an economic and social concept. The region encompasses County Limerick, County Clare, North County Tipperary and Northwest County Kerry, with its focal point centred on Limerick and its environs within an eight kilometre (5 mile) radius

The area is possibly the main economic region outside of Dublin and Cork. Its economic success has been driven in part by the University of Limerick, Shannon Airport in Co. Clare and Shannon Development (an economic development agency), whose precursor was SFADCO (Shannon Free Airport Development Company), an economic agency that provided tax incentives to companies locating in the area surrounding Shannon Airport. As of 2006 Shannon Development are mostly concerned with disposing of valuable industrial park properties.

Hospitals

Mid Western Regional Hospital
St John's Hospital
Barringtons Hospital
Croom Orthopaedic Hospital

Climate

Limerick has a mild climate, with the average daily maximum in July at 20°C (68°F) and the average daily minimum in January at 4°C (39°F). The highest temperature recorded in the city was 31.6°C (88.88°F), and the lowest was -11.2°C (11.84°F).