Stuck in the Stocks at King John's Castle

It is easy to observe that Ireland is invested in promoting its individual heritage, culture, and industries.  At the grocery store many vegetables, meats, cheeses and milk are produced in the country, and marked by obvious stickers stating something like "Buy me, I'm made in Ireland." In addition, since my arrival three weeks ago there have already been two cultural days on municipal and national levels.  Last Friday was Cultural Day in Ireland, so I and some friends set out to take advantage of the free admission to attractions.

The main stop for our evening was King John's Castle.  Built around 1200 for John, Lord of Ireland, its stone foundation has seen a wide array of history.  Ironically, King John never actually stayed in the Castle, and I don't believe he even ever visited, electing instead a representative to visit for him.

Today, there is a nice museum at the entrance of the grounds to walk you through important events in the Castle's history, such as its construction, the Irish Rebellion of 1641, the Williamite War (1689-91), the Plague, etc.  In the Irish Rebellion, part of the castle walls collapsed beyond repair due to tunnels dug by the Irish Confederate Army.  Some battles were actually fought underground when the tunnels of Limerick collided with that of the enemy.

Here are some images of the museum displays:

 

Weren't King Louis XIV of France and James II of England a real pair of lookers? The museum displayed quite a lot about British history because the English claimed ownership of the castle for much of its existence.  For many years, Limerick was divided into "English town" on the island around the Castle, and "Irish town" located on the other side of the Shannon. 

The very proper pairing of William of Orange, and his wife Mary II.  Why do they look so similar you ask?  Well it's not just that they are manufactured mannequins, they were cousins in real life as well...

The real fun at the Castle came from exploring the grounds and trekking up the winding stone steps of the towers to view the River Shannon.  We visited in early evening so the lighting was beautiful.

 On the sky-line you can see Munster's Rugby stadium, Thomond Park.

Last stop at the Castle was to stand in line for the stocks!  I think the picture is self-explanatory.

After our royal escapades, we headed to the Hunt Museum. The Museum houses the private collection of a rich Limerick resident John Hunt (1900-1976).  The collection was once located in the University, but was moved to the City Center in 1997.  The artifacts in the museum reflect Hunt's diverse interests.  There is a large Irish component, but also other items ranging from ancient Egyptian to Picasso.  In honour of Culture Day, the museum was hosting a contemporary music concert and showcasing painters at work.

These horses sit in the Museum courtyard. I believe they are by a Polish artist.

To top off the evening we sat down for a meal at an Italian bistro called O&F.  I ordered homemade pasta which was delicious, and we were entertained by a jazz singer and pianist.  Then we were off to Nancy Blake's Pub, one of the must-stop pubs in Limerick, where I ordered Beamish Stout at a bartender's recommendation (I'm really getting onto the stout thing!). There aren't as many Irish beers on tap as you might expect.  You will definitely see Guinness, Bulmer's Cider and Smithwick's (pronounced Smitticks), and sometimes Kilkenny or Galway Hooker (Hooker as in boat, not...acquaintance).  But there are also many popular imported beers like Beck's (Germany), Foster's (Australia), Heineken (Netherlands), Coor's Light (Canada/USA), and Budweiser (USA).  If you are interested in a Irish craft beer you end up paying a little extra for the bottle.

Cheers,
Shannon