The Courthouse

The first courthouse was on Bishop Street near Carnegie library. Here the first ever Board of Guardians meeting took place in 1839. When the existing courthouse was built in 1842, the original was turned into a Market house but was later destroyed. Recorded on stone over the entrance, the proverb,

"An honest penny is better than a dishonest pound"

During the civil war, a British military garrison occupied the courthouse. On the night of Monday June 27th 1921, it was burnt down by a flying column of the West Limerick brigade of the IRA. According to "Limerick's fighting story", after the attack, "the customary reprisals were vented on the inhabitants of the town". The facade of the courthouse survived the fire.

The courthouse was left derelict and in October 1923, 16 year old, Robert Monaghan , was killed after a brick partition collapsed on him. The building was deemed a public danger. In the mid 1920's the courthouse was rebuilt and remains as it is today.