AUTHORITIES CONSULTED. Murphy, “Cromwell in Ireland.” Grose, “The Antiquities of Ireland.” Gilbert, “Affairs in Ireland, 1641-1652.” Graves, “King’s Council in Ireland.” Joyce, “Irish Names of Places.” Parliamentary Gazetteer. Calendar of Carew MSS. State Documents. State Papers. Reeves, “Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, &c.” D., “Carlingford,” in _Dublin Penny Journal_. _KING JOHNS CASTLE, LIMERICK_ Limerick City is situated on the Shannon, ninety-four miles south-west by west of Dublin. The name is a corruption of Luimneach, signifying “barren spot of land.” King John’s Castle is one of the finest examples of Norman military architecture in the country. It was erected to guard Thomond Bridge, and was the citadel of the English town of Limerick. The curtain wall by the river is about 200 feet long, and is flanked at both ends by round towers, each having a diameter of 50 feet, and with walls 10 feet thick. A third tower protects the north-east angle, while the corner towards the town had a square platform raised to the level of the battlements and capable of mounting five or six cannon. In the lower part of this structure was the sally port of the fortress. The modern entrance is in Nicholas Street, but the former gate led into Castle Street, and was protected by a drawbridge. It was exceedingly narrow, and flanked by two massive towers, one circular and the other semicircular. The arms of the city surmount the gate. A wet ditch surrounded the castle, and was supplied with water from the Shannon. The oldest part of the structure is the tower nearest the bridge, which shows marks of bombardment. The dilapidations caused by the guns have been [Illustration: KING JOHN’S CASTLE, LIMERICK.] renovated with red brick, which was a happy idea of the contractor so as to preserve the old war marks. The ancient battlements were not removed until the close of the eighteenth century, up to which time they were a favourite city promenade. The castle, as its name indicates, was constructed at the command of King John, and the builders were ruthlessly encroaching on church land until the bishop remonstrated with the King, who issued a proclamation in 1207, ordering that the work should cease until his return, which was in 1210. He furnished the stronghold with every requisite of defence, and appointed a constable and chaplain. There was a long uninterrupted line of constables from 1216, when Godfrey de Rupe, or Roche, was appointed, until the office was prospectively abolished by Act of Parliament in 1809 to cease with the life of the constable of that date, the Right Hon. Colonel Vereker, afterwards Viscount Gort, who died in 1842. The chaplaincy was also an office of importance.