Limerick in Old Photographs

Originally a Viking foundation on the island, embraced by the Shannon to the west and the Abbey River to the east, the city stands at the head of the Shannon Estuary. It has long since outgrown its original island site, although the city anthem, ' There is an Isle ', recalls it. Despite a reputation which has often been painted in extremely lurid colours, not least by Frank McCourt, Limerick is an important and accomplished place. In addition, it contains some of the most coherent Georgian architecture outside Dublin. Sean Spellissy's chronicle of city life since the late nineteenth century focuses on commerce, sport, popular recreation and voluntary societies. Sean Spellissy has assembled a remarkably wide selection of images, all of them drawn from private sources and most of them never seen before in print.