King John's Castle (Limerick) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids King John's Castle / Limerick Castle |
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| Caisleán Luimnigh | |
| Limerick, Ireland | |
View of King John's Castle from the River Shannon.
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 King John's Castle / Limerick Castle
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| Coordinates | 52°40′11″N 8°37′32″W / 52.669722°N 8.625556°W |
| Type | Medieval castle |
| Site history | |
| Built | c. 1210 |
| Built by | King John of England |
| Events | Siege of Limerick (1642) Siege of Limerick (1650–51) |
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King John's Castle (Irish: Caisleán Luimnigh) is also known as Limerick Castle. It is a very old castle in Limerick, Ireland. The castle sits on King's Island, right next to the River Shannon.
The castle was built around the year 1210. It was ordered by King John of England. But people lived on this island much earlier. Vikings were here as far back as 922! King John's Castle is one of the best-preserved Norman castles in Europe. Its strong walls, towers, and defenses are still standing today. You can visit them and learn about their long history. During digs in 1900, people even found parts of an old Viking settlement.
Life Before the Castle
Long before the castle, Vikings lived on King's Island. In 922, a Viking leader named Tomrair mac Ailchi built a strong base there. From this base, he would travel along the River Shannon. He raided churches and other settlements.
In 937, the Limerick Vikings fought Vikings from Dublin. This battle happened on Lough Ree, and the Limerick Vikings lost. They were defeated again in 943. A local Irish clan leader joined forces with the King of Munster. The Limerick Vikings then had to pay money to these clans. The Vikings never got their full power back. They became a smaller group. But they still played a part in the many power struggles of the next few centuries.
The Castle's Early Days
Things changed a lot when the Anglo-Normans arrived in 1172. Domhnall Mór Ó Briain was an Irish king. He burned the city down in 1174. He did this to stop the new invaders from taking it. After he died in 1194, the Anglo-Normans finally took over. This happened in 1195 under John, who was then the Lord of Ireland.
In 1197, Limerick got its first special document, called a charter. This gave the city more rights. It also got its first Mayor, Adam Sarvant. This was given by Richard I of England. The castle was built soon after, around 1210. It was named after King John.
The castle was built by the River Shannon. This helped protect the city. It kept out Irish kingdoms to the west. It also guarded against any rebellions from Norman lords. With the Normans in charge, Limerick became a busy place. It was a good port and a trading center. The castle helped by watching over all goods coming through the port.
By this time, the city had two main parts. "English Town" was on King's Island. "Irish Town" grew on the south side of the river. Limerick became very rich. King John even set up a place to make coins inside the castle. You can see pennies and half-pennies from that time in the Limerick museum today.
Castle Under Siege
The castle walls were badly damaged in 1642. This was during the Siege of Limerick. It was the first of five sieges the city faced in the 1600s. In 1642, Protestants who were escaping a rebellion were inside the castle. An Irish army led by Garret Barry attacked it.
Barry did not have big cannons. So, he dug tunnels under the castle walls. He dug away their foundations to make them fall. The people inside gave up just before the walls collapsed. The damage was so bad that part of the walls had to be taken down later.
Modern Upgrades
Between 2011 and 2013, the castle got a big makeover. About €5.7 million was spent to make it better for visitors. They added a new visitor center. There are also fun, interactive displays with computer animations. You can also enjoy a cafe with great views of the courtyard and the river.
See also
In Spanish: Castillo del Rey Juan (Limerick) para niños
- King John of England
- History of Limerick City
- Limerick City Museum, just to the south
