KINSELLA’S PUB ON NEW ROAD THOMONDGATE – APRIL 2022
Kinsella’s Bar is located on New Road, Thomondgate and is in business since 1970
Thomondgate is a district on the north-side of Limerick city. In times past the district was located at an important portal from the west of Ireland and the then Kingdom of Thomond (now County Clare) into the ancient City of Limerick, which was then confined to the Englishtown area of the city.
Thomondgate was part of the “Northern” Liberties granted to Limerick in 1216. This area was the border between Munster and Connacht until County Clare, which was created in 1565, was annexed by Munster in 1602. Thomondgate was connected to Limerick by Thomond Bridge over the River Shannon.
The Treaty of Limerick following the 1690 Siege of Limerick is believed to have been signed in the area. The Treaty Stone on which it was signed is now standing on a pedestal on Clancy Strand.
Today, Thomondgate is a mainly working class district of the city and has grown rapidly over the past years. Thomond Park Stadium and Limerick Institute of Technology are located nearby. St. Munchin’s Church is located in the district at Clancy Strand overlooking the Shannon.
THIS IS THE POISED PORTAL BESIDE THE RIVER SHANNON AND IT IS BY EILEEN MCDONAGH
Eileen MacDonagh was born in Co.Sligo and has worked as a sculptor since the early 1980s. Her work has featured in many exhibitions, both in Ireland and abroad, including shows in Portugal, Scotland, India and Japan.Eileen has both organised and participated in many symposia, in Ireland and abroad; her work is included in numerous collections, such as the OPW, Kilkenny and Cork County Councils, Marlay Park, Dublin and Tawara Newtown, Osaka, Japan.
In the past I have had difficulty photographing this because of minor anti-social issues but this year there were no such problems. In fact, all I have to do was stand beside this for a few minutes and someone would engage me in conversation.I had a total of three lengthy discussions with three different persons and I learned much about Limerick and local disappointment with Limerick City and County Council.
Limerick City Council was the authority responsible for local government in the city of Limerick in Ireland. The council had 17 elected members. The head of the council had the title of Mayor. Limerick City Council was the smallest local council in Ireland by area (20.35 km2) and 30th (out of 34 authorities) in terms of population. It was abolished in 2014 when the Local Government Reform Act 2014 was implemented. It was succeeded by Limerick City and County Council.
The council was formerly known as Limerick Corporation after the City of Limerick received its Charter of Incorporation from King John I of England in 1197. The first Mayor of Limerick was Adam Sarvant. Between 1197 and 1651, Limerick City Council was dominated by English settlers.
The period between 1651 and 1656 was a break in the existence of Limerick Corporation. This came about by the surrender of the Old English settlers to Cromwellian forces in 1651. During this time, the city was administered by a Military Governor. In 1656, the corporation was restored, but under Protestant rule. Catholics who had previously run the corporation were excluded from taking part in local government. There was a brief Catholic restoration of power in 1687 when Lord Tyrconnal, appointed by James II of England, deposed the Protestant Mayor and his sheriffs and replaced them with a Catholic Mayor, one Catholic and one Protestant sheriff. Limerick Corporation would remain in Catholic control until the Treaty of Limerick in October 1691.
Between 1691 and 1841, Limerick Corporation was ruled by only a few powerful families. This period is known both as “The long eighteenth Century” and the “Corrupt Corporation”. The Corrupt Corporation was brought to an end after the passing of the Municipal Corporations (Ireland) Act 1840. The act also brought an end to Protestant control of the council.
Limerick had its first female Mayor in 1921 Alderman Maire O’Donovan was appointed Mayor while the incumbent of the position was fund-raising for the newly established government of Ireland in the United States. She held the position for seven months, from 21 May 1921 until 30 January 1922.
The Limerick City Management Act 1934 took away much of the day-to-day responsibilities from the Mayor and gave it to an appointed City Manager. The powers of the Mayor had been greatly reduced since the 1934 Act and the role was mainly ceremonial. The Mayor chaired city council meetings.
Following the enactment of the Local Government Act 2001, Limerick Corporation became Limerick City Council.
Throughout its history Limerick City Council has met in a number of different locations. One of the earliest known locations was the Tholsel building on Mary Street. This building had various different uses throughout its history. Prior to being demolished in the early 20th century, it was in use as a women’s gaol. In medieval times Limerick Corporation moved to the Exchange building on Nicholas Street beside St. Mary’s Cathedral. All that remains of the Exchange building is a row of Tuscan columns in the wall surrounding the graveyard of St. Mary’s Cathedral. The Exchange was replaced by the new Town Hall on Rutland Street which was built in the 1800s. The Rutland Street site continued in use until 1990 when Limerick Corporation moved to a new purpose built building on Merchants Quay.
On 28 June 2011, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Phil Hogan announced that Limerick City Council and Limerick County Council would be merged into a single local council. The merger came into effect following the 2014 local elections.
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