Plassey, County Limerick facts for kids
Plassey is another name for a place called Sreelane, located about three miles east of Limerick city in County Limerick, Ireland. It's a historic area that has changed hands many times and is now home to a big university.
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What is Plassey?
Plassey is a townland, which is a small geographical area in Ireland. It's known for Plassey House, a grand building with a long history. Today, Plassey is mostly famous because it's where the main campus of the University of Limerick is located.
Early History of Plassey House
The story of Plassey House began in the 1700s. It was built by a wealthy man who had traveled far and wide.
Thomas Maunsell's Story
In 1762, a man named Thomas Maunsell (1726-1814) bought the land known as Sreelane. Thomas Maunsell was an officer in the East India Company, a powerful trading company that operated in India. He had served under a famous general named Robert Clive at a major battle called the Battle of Plassey in Bengal, India.
Maunsell made a lot of money in India. When he returned to Ireland, he bought land, including Sreelane. He then built a large, two-story house there. He decided to name both the house and the surrounding lands "Plassey" to remember his time in India. It's a common misunderstanding that Robert Clive owned the land, but that's not true; it was always Thomas Maunsell's.
Changes Over the Years
After Thomas Maunsell passed away, Plassey House and its lands, which included a mill, were passed down through his family. His daughter's marriage brought the property to Robert Hedges Maunsell.
Later, in the 1830s, a successful miller named Ruben Harvey bought Plassey. Around 1860, the house, mill, and lands were purchased by Richard Russell (1803-71). He was a well-known businessman from Limerick city. Russell made big changes to the house, transforming its original Georgian style into an Italianate design by adding new sections.
Around 1908, the property was sold again, this time to William Bailey, who owned a rubber plantation in Malaysia. After Bailey's widow died in 1933, Patrick Keating, a retired British government worker from the colonies, acquired the house.
Plassey Today: A University Hub
The biggest change for Plassey came in 1961 when Patrick Keating sold it to the National Rehabilitation Institution. This organization helped people recover from injuries.
In January 1970, Plassey House and its lands were transferred to the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick. This institute later grew and became the University of Limerick. Today, Plassey House serves as the main administrative center for the university, meaning it's where many of the university's important offices are located.
The Black Bridge
Within the grounds of Plassey House, there's a special bridge called the Black Bridge. This bridge crosses the River Shannon, connecting Limerick (on the Mill Side) to County Clare.
