AN online map of Limerick during the revolutionary years from 1913 to 1923 has been created by the County Museum as a guide to events being marked by the 2022 centenary commemorations.
The map, which can now be accessed on Limerick.ie, was created by William O’Neill on commission from Museum Curator Dr Matthew Potter to pinpoint locations in Limerick City and County pertaining to one of the most important decades in Irish history.
Explaining the rationale behind the map, Mayor Daniel Butler said that Limerick was a major theatre of activity during the Irish Revolutionary period.
“Both the city and county produced an array of figures who were willing to train, fund, and fight for Irish republicanism. In addition, there was also the Limerick Soviet, one of the most extraordinary events of the period, a general strike in which city’s citizens governed their own affairs independent of British rule,” Mayor Butler explained.
Dr Matthew Potter added that Limerick also had a disproportionately large number of both police and army barracks, garrisoned by the Royal Irish Constabulary, including the Black and Tans, the British Army and the Auxiliaries.
“Limerick was the scene of the Dromkeen Ambush in 1921, the most successful ambush by the IRA outside of Cork, during the entire War of Independence.
“The Civil War engulfed the nation in 1922 and 1923, and all eyes were looking at Munster, which was the scene of major engagements, such as the Battle of Limerick City and the Battle of Kilmallock,” Dr Potter said.
The information featured in the map is based on the work and research of Tom Donovan, Michael Hopkinson, Jennifer Levey, Helen Litton, Des Long, Sinead McCoole, John O’Callaghan, Padraic O’Farrell, Eunan O’Halpin, William T O’Neill, Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc, Matthew Potter, Des Ryan, Sharon Slater and Thomas Toomey.
The project also used newspapers such as the Irish Times, Freeman’s Journal, Limerick Leader and Limerick Chronicle.
The project is focusing exclusively on events in Limerick. Limerick people who fought or were killed outside the city and county boundaries have not yet been included.
Contact Limerick Museum at museum@limerick.ie if you have any edits that you wish to make to the map, including pictorial and other evidence that might enhance the story.
