THE 300 year reign into 1600 of the Earls of Desmond over their independent Palatine state straddling north Kerry and west Limerick gave rise to magnificent buildings. We have a far richer and more visually rewarding heritage in this regard than anything approaching The Pale.
This, Arts page learns from Dr Declan M Downey who provided the editorial background to a new guide, the 20-page ‘An Architectural Tour of County Limerick’, illustrated by Nesta FitzGerald. Launched at a thronged Glin Castle on Thursday July 28, they and the late Knight of Glin’s beloved Irish Georgian Society presented this pocket-sized guide of intelligence to the county.
Mayor of City and County cllr Kieron O’Hanlon and historian Liam Irwin addressed the party, as did antique dealer George Stacpoole and of course, the FitzGerald/ Downey team.
‘An Architectural Tour of County Limerick’ follows on from their first shared effort, ‘An Architectural Tour of North and West Kerry’. Another two are planned over the next years: City of Limerick’s edifices (from Thomond to Glenstal) is getting this pen and ink treatment in 2017 and County Clare thereafter.
According to Declan Downey, who co-directs the programme for Civil Law with History at UCD and lectures in Modern History and Japanese Diplomatic History, this privately sponsored series connects with the Wild Atlantic Way. Its purpose is to profile the Shannon region and especially Limerick more prominently.
A Tarbert man, he has stayed close to roots even though he was knighted by the Spanish crown in 2008 and awarded the Japanese Ambassadorial Commendation for high-minded deeds.
He recounts how so wealthy was the Desmonds’ Palatinate state that ultimately, Elizabeth 1 was moved to vanquish its power.
It was the preceding era of stability and commerce “that financed the splendid castles, tower houses, religious houses and churches, and their exquisite sculptural features,” this good doctor of law and letters explains.
“What we have done [for the book] is representative rather than present every building. There are three wonderful medieval towns in County Limerick, Kilmallock, Newcastlewest and Askeaton,” he says, citing various structures such as Askeaton’s Friary and Desmond Hall. “Adare is the jewel in the crown but we are drawing attention to investment in the fabric of these buildings”.
After the Geraldine dynasty came other nobs such as the Wyndham Quins, Southwells, the Perys and FitzGeralds who carried on renewing “the region’s tradition of grand edification”.
Published by IGS, ‘An Architectural Guide to Limerick’ is at local bookstores for €12.
